3/12/20
Hannah Jones Reflection (by Selines A.)
Question 6:
Based on the Hannah-Jones, back in the 1940s, Mississippi was an apartheid state and defeated majority of the black population through horrific acts of violence. The white residents killed and hung more black people than those in any other state. Colored citizens had no legal rights. They were not allowed to vote, enter any public facilities, and find any other work besides picking cotton. It would be considered a crime if colored women went into the same room as a white woman was in, or if a colored woman bumped into another white woman. White people were more privileged than black people and that’s unfair on their part. Black people are just as equal as any other white person. They deserve respect and shouldn’t be treated any less than because of their skin tone. It’s a disgusting behavior which I one hundred percent disagree with. I can’t begin to imagine what this experience must’ve been like for those who had to go through it.
Homeless people now go through a similar situation. Because of their appearance, people prefer not to be around them nor offer any help. If they were to enter any public facility, they would be asked to step out. Sometimes they are physically abused if they beg for money. Homeless people become desperate for food because they go days without eating or drinking anything. People don’t see it from this perspective though, they see it more as a bother. Homeless people are also removed from corners of the street, they use to rest, by police officers. Homeless people are at higher risk of catching any disease or sickness because they are not provided with the proper care that they need. People usually believe homeless people are at fault for being in the situation they are in. Truthfully speaking, we do not know the real reason behind their situation. Homelessness can be caused by a number of reasons such as mental illness, substance abuse, medical issues that were left untreated, abuse and violence, traumatic situations, or not having enough money to afford housing. Instead of being judgemental towards homeless people, why don’t we stop and think to ourselves how hard this is on them? Why can’t we stop being so heartless and lend a helping hand to those who need it the most? Homeless people are not cared for and are treated less as a person, and so were slaves.
I completely agree with Selines A. about how black people were not treated the way they should be because they were not considered equal to white men. Most of them went through horrible situations and got killed without effective reason. They did not have free healthcare. They were left out, forbidden to go to library and be in the same room with white people and so on. White or black, we all are equal, and we all deserve the same amount of respect. Let encourage each other to do what is good for all of us.
I did not see the homeless people from that perceptive or point of view before reading this short paragraph, which is very realistic and true. Talking from my personal life experience, I once was closed to that kind of situation when I first arrived to America, but I have struggled to make things work and go to school. My situation was maybe not that bad comparing to others, which I agree. No one choose to be homeless, but the circumstances of life continue to surprise us. Indeed, homeless people have hard time begging people for money and food. I have seen people who were rich or responsible in the past ending up on the street. It is very sad to see how life can change in a few seconds. We all cannot face things the same way no matter what we do, which is understandable.
Homeless people are not really considered by society, which is true and very sad. In order to become stable in life, we all start from somewhere with a few money in pockets. With the few money that some kindhearted people give homeless people, they can at least feed themselves for a few days. They can also share their hobbies such as drawing, dancing, singing with others to get some money. We cannot always count on society, and everyone should know that. Homeless people are at higher risk to catch diseases or virus, that is true. And, there are some hospitals, such as Harlem hospital, Bellevue hospital that offer free healthcare to patients. All to do is just walk in and ask for help. I know that we do not have opportunities like that in all countries, then it is our responsibility as human beings to provide at least 1% of what we earn to those in need. Caring for each other is our responsibility to all of us. What do you guys think? From your perspective or own life experience, do you still think that homeless people are similar to slaves?