The UNACCEPTED of Society

Diana Meza
Anthropology 346 / TR: 2:00p.m.

Professor Scheld

Final Narrative
The Homeless Community

with

Jacqueline Martinez

The Homeless Community

            Society’s individuals tend to focus onto themselves rather than caring about someone else. Working on the research with Jacqueline Martinez, we question the circumstances the homeless community comes across. As they experience discrimination and impolite mannerisms from society, we question why society views them in certain ways. Does anyone acknowledge their existence? Our focus was the homeless individuals and their marginalization affect on the rest of the society and the public judgment on this social class.

            Why the homeless? The homeless are part of our communities. Every day it’s a daily struggle for them to survive. They lack family, money, shelter, and food. There are a variety of reasons that may have placed them in those circumstances but who really knows their situation. They are mostly located at public parks or on the streets or bus benches. When we go to the park we always question, “Why are they here? Don’t they have somewhere else to go?” In reality, these people have no support of anyone. The homeless community was brought to my attention because this world is tough. Life is hard and I just can’t imagine how difficult it would be to be homeless. As the recession struck here in California and the natural disasters nationwide occurred, thousands of people lost their homes, cars, and jobs. Many became homeless. Those who hit rock bottom and lost everything suffer from depression. To get out of that hole they need persistence and hope for improvement.  At the end, they lack motivation and fail. They fall into hopelessness.

            In order to investigate the reasons and the behaviors of people, I explored the park’s space. I plan to ask adults and the youth how their presence is affecting them or influencing them as a person. On my first visit to the field site, I visited the Sun Valley Park at one thirty in the afternoon. It’s Friday at mid-day and its 85-90F degrees. The day is beautiful and warm. It’s one of the warmest days from the entire week. In my opinion, I view it more a motive to come out and get situated at the park and cool off for people and specially the homeless. Personally, I have not been at any park for a long while. It’s rare for me to come and visit this type of area. In order to get familiarized with the park; I walked around the entire park to get a view of its different locations. I seen at one corner there were benches facing the main street and next to it there was a parking lot. As to the center of the park, there was the sand box with swings for the children. Next to it, it was the softball/baseball field. Behind the field, it was the pool and also the basketball courts. The air and atmosphere was very fresh feeling and to breath, due to the amount of trees the park has. At about one-forty five and I settled myself to one side of the park to have a view of who walked to the park and left. The sand box, swings were straight ahead from where I was situated. To my right I was able to grasp if any incoming vehicles arrived and parked or any newcomers by walking or bicycling arrived from the main street Vineland Blvd. I was focusing if any teens arrived. While I was observing, to my left there were 3 men lying down on the grass and with their bicycles just relaxing. A woman arrived in her vehicle with her 3 children. One of her children was a about a 5yr old girl and she ran towards a tree to chase after a squirrel. She had an older daughter of about 12 yrs old which ran to the swings. By two o’clock, I was sitting on the grass when I noticed a regular looking man with long hair, tied in ponytail, skimming through trash cans on my far right side. He went from one trash can to another. Then a nice fresh air breeze blows through the park. It felt very refreshing. Meanwhile, I also hear cars honking and birds chirping. There are many noises at once. Four boys between the ages of 15-21 are playing basketball in teams of two. As I’m sitting and observing, with all the activity and commotion occurring, children/parents shouting, cars honking, it gives me the impression as though time is this particular place goes by very slow. It’s approximately 2:15 p.m. and there is no visual of any homeless man/women walking by the park or resting at the park. What I do see is a mother and her son walking towards the sand box and the small 2yr old boy running around the swings and slides. A young boy maybe of 16 yrs old with his backpack and headphones crosses across the park. I noticed in the far left of the park, three young females riding their bikes. I’m enjoying watching two squirrels chasing after one another from tree to tree. Then suddenly, a man in his mid 50’s on a tiny green bicycle approaches the men I had mentioned earlier that were lying on the grass, and they shook hands and they all left on their bikes heading south on Vineland Blvd. Meanwhile a Hispanic man is pushing a cart of ice cream across the park but none of the children bought ice cream. I seen a woman, Caucasian, with a big bag on cart arriving to the corner of the park and she sat down at the benches. I was observing to see what she was going to do next. I was going to approach her but then as I’m walking towards her, I seen that she got herself comfortable on the bench and she lay down. I chose not to disturb her anymore and to let her rest from the hot long day she may have had. Her clothes looked worn out. Her hair was not fixed. As for the homeless, I see how the park is a peaceful public space for them and serves them as a home. As for today and at this time of day, it was rare to see any homeless person. I only saw one woman. Everyone majority minds their own business. From the time I was here, a great amount of activity occurred. It was due to the time of day it was, being midday. Many children are not out of school yet. A few young adults were playing ball and children at the swings. Majority of adults who were just relaxing at the park were men, either by themselves or with a companion. Women majority arrived with their children bringing them to the playground.

            Another day Jacqueline Martinez and I arrived to the park. It was sunny and warm. There was plenty of activity happening at the park. There were a lot of small children playing with one another. It must have been part of a fieldtrip or program that they were there. As walking around the park, we walked towards the basketball court. I saw a young lady with a jacket with the description “Volunteer” on the back scooping up the trash at the edge of the field. She was wearing denim jeans, her sweater on, and listening to her headphones. I walked across the court to approach her curious to interview her on her thoughts of the homeless. She seemed a good candidate since she was young and a volunteer for the park. Jacqueline went to look around to whom else would be interesting to interview.

I’m identified as DM. She’s identified as DL.

DM: Hello. My name is Diana. I wanted to ask you a few questions regarding the homeless community, if you don’t mind.

DL: Hi. Yeah, sure. What is it about? Are you part of a program?

(She gave me a pretty smile and took off her headphones from her neck)

DM: its a few questions in regards to the homeless. It’s having to be for a project for my Urban Anthropology class.

DL: That’s really interesting. Okay I’m ready. (She set the garbage bag on the floor and the stick by her leg)

DM: How is the homeless community affecting you? In other words, do you feel that it has an impact on you or an inconvenience when you come to park or while you’re volunteering, as I can see?

DL: (she giggled) At times it is pretty weird and awkward having to be nearby them and seeing them laying there while I walk across to do my job. But, no not really. I mind my business, as they mind theirs.

DM: Do you come to the park often or other parks? (We can hear the small children shouting having a fun time)

DL: I usually don’t go to parks but since I’m a volunteer now is when I come more often. On my own time no. But where I do see a lot of them is by where I live in Burbank.

DM: If you were able to contribute and help them out, in what ways would you?

DL: It depends. I mean I know they have no homes and no jobs but sometimes is like some of them have addictions in which threw them to where they are at. They are around everywhere. But yeah I feel bad for them. If I could, yes I will help.

(She had black glasses and squinting her eyes.)

DM: Well thank you for your time. I didn’t catch your name, what was it?

DL: It’s Diana. (She giggled) We have the same name.

DM: Oh isn’t that cool. (I smiled) Well have a good day Diana.

DL: Oh Thank you, you too.

            We wanted a male’s perspective now. Me and Jackie went to sit down by the basketball courts and while sitting this fluffy brown down came running towards us, sniffing and sniffing our boots. The dog belonged to a young male playing basketball. As he was leaving, that is when Jackie and I approached him. He was tall, stocky, and built. He was wearing black basketball shorts and matching Nike shoes with his green t-shirt. He also had his fluffy dog walking along with him, which she was hyper and running around.  Here’s how the interview went about.

Carlos is identified as CS. Jacqueline identified as JM and me as DM.

DM: Hi I’m Diana. Would you mind if we asked you a few questions in regard to the homeless?

CS: Go ahead. (deep voice)

JM: Do you feel uncomfortable or intimidated when you come to the park and you see homeless individuals hanging around in the park?

CS: Well…not so much as for me because I don’t have small kids. But I think as far with small kids there should be and there is an intimidation. I would be, if I had small kids like that. It’s not that I don’t pay attention but yea there is conflict with their presence.

JM: If you were able to contribute or help them out in any way, what do you think you would do?

CS: I don’t know…some of them can be…they can, I don’t know somehow get habilitated. You know I think it can be possible but as my main time just I don’t know nobody does that.

DM: Do you believe this is space for them?

CS: No it shouldn’t be. Because it’s a park. It’s a kid’s park. You know…they dump everywhere. (Looking down at his dog) That’s why I keep an eye on my dog she just running around everywhere. Yea... they be everywhere…Sometimes they don’t even care...They do it front of everybody. But again it goes back to…you know… like it doesn’t bother me at all as an adult. But you know it should not be allowed for kids looking you know.

JM: Very good Carlos. Thank you for your time.

DM. Thank you Carlos

CS: Thank you girls. Have a good one.

           

            People have their own viewpoint on how they see the homeless. These two individuals demonstrated an attitude as though the homeless are a threat to the rest of society. Others have the impression that they are not civilized. Everyone as individuals have their own beliefs and attitudes. But, there tends to be misjudgments of the homeless community. Nobody will know how a homeless person became homeless until there’s communication with one. Generally, nobody from the parks interacts with a homeless person. Criticism results into stereotypes without knowing the story behind that individual. In reality, some don’t have the fault on being homeless and losing everything. On the other hand, I have to recognize some have provoked their downfall by an addiction and hopelessness. Society has a tendency to categorize and label people by following and believing the critiques that someone else experienced and therefore assume every homeless person is the same. We’re all a constituent of a city to function and progress. Particularly the youth being our future, they are social targets and majorly impacted. The rise of homeless individuals has risen. The youth are heavily dependent of their parents. Once the adults are unable to provide economically and lack support, the youth terminate in the streets. The youth are prone to visually being impacted on seeing the homeless when visiting the parks are young children. That’s when they firstly are able to distinguish the inequality social resources.

            One of the readings from the class was relevant to the research Jacqueline and I performed. We studied a social space within societies division of classes in cities.  In Friedrich Engels article called “The Great Towns,” he provided many ideas on how to describe and critique a city. He critiques that a city to be a city, inequality is a cofactor that has to exist in order for a city to function. Therefore, the rise of the homeless community has risen as of 2012 due to the greed and economic inequalities. There is a high division between the rich and the middle/poor class. The way the infrastructure of a city is designed, it shapes how the flow of income will flow to the individuals. The structure is shaped in the way that its intended for the rich not see or come across the living standards of the poor. The burgoiuise class just focuses on producing and receiving additional money without viewing or worrying about the invisible. The poor are just growing in population without being acknowledged. Unequal distribution of opportunities, money, and space is the explanation for the production of poverty.

            People make a city function and proper at its center. But their work ship isn’t recognized. The entire landscape is obscure classifying class differences. The buildings and paths to the homes of the working class are demolished. There is a sharp division between the bourgeoisie and prolerates just seen with terrain of the difference of the homes and surroundings.  What person of wealth will come across at a type of place with low conditions? No money is devoted for the improvement of livelihood for the individuals in low living standards. Poverty is the result. This relates how the homeless community remains in the status without levitation for better living conditions since no contributions and help are offered. The greediness the wealthy possess affects others. Here in L.A. many cities are examples. Cities that comprise capital contain beautiful buildings, high quality service and unlike the poor communities show cracked streets and fractured buildings. The inequality is extremely visible but the products of this inequality, the poor, are invisibility seen. That’s why it prompts on asking how does survival undergo for the unnoticed? The people are sited in certain areas within a city, hidden. Unlike the wealthy are exposed and are revealed to society showing their faces. This uneven system remains occurring in our cities. The most affected are the poor and the homeless in which do the most of the hard work and to result in for the rich guy can acquire new luxuries. With the system like this, it’s difficult for the unfortunate to progress. They are only trapped in the gap of being poor or homeless and I ask myself if there is a way of tearing the gap in the future. It intrigues me to find if those people aspire to move forward or something keeps them at that social status.

            One day that I went to the park, for some odd reason, I decided to sit on the grass other than walk around or sit on a table. It was warm about 79 degrees but as sitting on the grass I felt cool. I skimmed around to see if any homeless individuals were roaming around asking for change or sleeping. None were noticeable. I did see children at the playground playing with the sand and the swings. Their happiness and enjoyment was well expressed as I heard their shouting in the open space of the park. Nobody occupied the benches. It looks very lonely and separated from the rest of the park, as its own area. What really grabbed my attention was the feeling of freshness of the park. The appearance of the environment like the grass, the trees, and the air. The feeling and sense of smell of the atmosphere within the park itself very peaceful. The sound of the birds chirping and the cars in the street was as like noise in the background. As sitting in the space of the homeless, it made me realize the significance and the role of the park's nature to the homeless individuals. Not just to them but also to the rest of the public. They value the area differently as to others. Even though it’s an area for enjoyment, it’s also an area to rest and an escape to the rest of the city and home. The homeless utilize the benches, the trees, and the hidden spaces. Others are more in the open space enjoying the parks features and for fun.

            The economy and the government structure the division of the social classes by setting a control and regulations. Rules, laws, and policies get implemented to target a group. For example, the rise of incarceration rate has risen as well, due to racial pro-filing of blacks and Hispanics. As the economy worsens, poverty increases. People lose their homes and jobs. They make it difficult for individuals to rise to the top without opportunities being offered. As this research involved observation and interviewing people, there’s clearly not an answer of the despair from the homeless. There may have been reasons and explanations but not a comprehensible and obvious one. All is known is that these people are lonely.

The homeless community

Jacqueline Martinez

Anthropology 346 / TR: 2:00p.m.

Professor Scheld

Final Narrative

The Misfortune

            Throughout the existence of human beings, we have dealt with social inequalities and discrimination.  Majority of the past struggles were based on racial injustices.  The dominant group being the white community saw the black/brown people as a threat.  Therefore, they would do anything in their will to eliminate the colored population.  Unfortunately, today’s world is no different.  People are still excluding others for not having money, education and many other categories.  A group that is marginalized from the society is the homeless/poor.  These individuals are constantly finding themselves in difficult situations where they have no place to go, no food to eat, no clothing, no family, and no hope.  It is very important to try and help make a difference in the lives of the poor.  No one knows how their lifestyle was or what caused them to be in the situation that they are in.  Therefore, people should not judge the homeless or look at them as being pests in the society.  These individuals are human beings and deserve a second chance and by that I am referring to a helping had from the community. 

            Technically, what I have focused on about the homeless, has not been based on what I think, I have collected facts and personal information from them.  My goal was to understand the struggles that they face on a regular basis and to also obtain feedback from parents that attend parks, which is known to be a place where the homeless gather at night.  I have felt the necessity in me to try and find out why they are where they stand? How people usually treat them? What they do when they are constantly being looked upon as a threat to children?  It is very important to help change peoples perspective and views about the homeless. Instead of judging these individuals they should help them change their life around.  They are part of our population and of our city, if we do not help, the consequences will be that they will die knowing that they were never wanted in an injustice society.

            One early morning, I decided to go for a drive around the city of North Hollywood. I was looking around in every corner, in every dark empty space in hopes of finding generous individuals trying to help the homeless community. By that, I am referring to giving them food, money, clothing, etc. I notice the homeless community to be very thin, with a pale complexion. As a few of the men start approaching the streets to try and see if they can obtain any money to buy a meal, everyone they asked ignored them. Sadly, people made comments like, "no I do not want to give you money to use on drugs." It was just extremely lugubrious to witness and it just made me so angry of how people are so selfish that they cannot even spare a dollar. These people are asking for help and they are being rejected, excluded and deprived.

            While arriving to the park it was already dark but luckily the park was surrounded by lights and people. The weather around the atmosphere was pretty fresh, not too cold and not too hot, just about right. I noticed around my perimeter that there was no homeless men at the park and I am sure that it probably had to do with the fact that it was 6:30 in the afternoon. Several guys were either playing basketball, while others were playing soccer. I noticed that in the park there was an estimate of 50 people, 7 were women and the rest were boys and men. The men (males) that were arriving were heading straight towards the basketball court while women that were at the park or arriving were supporting their children during soccer practice or supervising their children play on the swings. I noticed a lot of men walking their dogs around the park and a few others sitting down smoking cigars. It was just interesting how everyone in the park focused on a specific activity.

            The next morning I arrived to the park and noticed a few people either playing basketball or walking their dogs. On the grass area behind a fence I noticed a homeless man sleeping, covered in a thin blanket. No one was really able to see him because most of the people that were at the park did not focus on anything other than themselves and their children/friends. In addition, I saw two young homeless men around their mid 20’s sitting on a bench with their face against the table, and the other laying on the bench as if though it were a bed. It was very sad to witness this and not be able to do anything about it. Around an hour later, the sun rose, they woke up and left the park.

As I drove around other parks to see if I saw any other homeless men or women, I noticed that they weren’t any. That is when I realized and had an understanding of how their schedule works. In the morning they wake up and try to find people that will spare some change and with the money that they receive they go and buy food. At night when it is really dark they go to the park, to a place they like to call home.

Interview

-Jason

How is the homeless community affecting you?

The homeless community affects me in a sensitive way, only a sympathetic way, you want to help those people who put themselves in that situation we don’t know their life story we do not know what they are going through. It affects me because it makes me a more sensitive person, it makes me more grateful for what I have, it doesn’t make everyone grateful for what they have because sometimes you see people just walking by and not caring. It makes me want to help but there is something that still doesn’t push me to help, like yes sometimes you throw in a couple of bucks or give them food but I think that there is more that we can do to help them with. It is hard to just pick some one up from the street and tell them to come home in to my house, you can live with me. I think that together we can start helping without the fear of, “this person is going to grab me and take advantage,” no I mean approach the person here and there and try to give them a second chance, don’t we all get second chances in life, why can’t they? But till this day it affects me and everyone else, I hope in a sensitive way, in a caring way, in a giving way, In a grateful way which makes us thankful for certain things that we have that they do not have.

            In Engels article he explains briefly how the city is separated into two specific categories, the working class and the rich.  The working class from his perspective is not really noticeable through the eyes of the rich. Unfortunately, the working class is not gratified for their hard work nor are they seen as people that should be admired.  The rich usually see the working class as being uncivilized.  Engels criticizes the rich as having everything that they are content with but they are unaware of who shipped them the items that they have or made most of them (shoes, shirts, socks, sweaters, etc).  He mentions that there seems to be a wall built in between, to separate the working class with the rich.  Therefore, the rich is lackadaisical towards the working class.

            The working class live in areas where they do not have proper sewage, live in crowded spaces and their surroundings is unsanitary.   The question is why? It is very detrimental to say yet truthful, we live in a world of inequality and injustice.  The dominant community, referring to the white will always supersede the working class. People that are rich are not going to care about anyone else besides themselves, if they live in a home, drive the nicest cars, have the best paying jobs, why are they going to care about helping or making a difference in the working class/ poor? It is a very despondent feeling for all, especially for the homeless.  The increase in poverty will continue as the years go by.  People that live in Los Angeles for example; Macarthur park, are surrounded by the homeless community and that has originated by the lack of jobs, money, and education. Lamentably, the working class work their whole lives to try and provide for their family.   As for Beverly Hills, has been depicted as the city of the “rich,” where the homeless or those of the working class are not welcomed.  The city is filled with shopping centers, the best hair salons, and the best brands.  It is just very aggravating to see Beverly Hills building more shopping centers while on the other hand, the working class is being left out of the picture.  Cities that need improvement or new buildings should be the ones that are receiving the help needed to make that happen, not cities that are already uprising and superseding others.  As Engels points out, a city will continue to be divided in two and the rich will continue to be blind, for they cannot see those who are suffering behind the wall. 

            Engels perspective about the city definitely depicts my project on the homeless community.  The bums on the streets are begging for help and they are being ignored or neglected.  They try to get the peoples attention, yet, they are not seen as humans, they are seen as nothing.  It is very depressing to see these elderly people on the streets at night without any jackets just a simple thin blanket to make it through the night.  Inequality existed decades ago and it is still being seen in every corner.  As Engels explains the wall that is built in between the rich and the poor, I think of a homeless man knocking at the wall to try and get their attention, while on the other side of the wall, the rich are enjoying themselves in expensive restaurants/clubs.  Is this city ever going to unite as one or are we going to continue facing loss of hope?

            After searching around the selfish, yet self centered city of North Hollywood, my boyfriend and I noticed a homeless man sitting in front of Denny’s asking people that passed by him if they could possibly buy him food or spare some change. People that passed by him would not even glance at him, they would just simply ignore him as if though he did not exist or was not there. (He was bald, his clothes were dirty, looked pale, was missing teeth and looked around his mid 60’s.) Then my boyfriend thought that if he would possibly buy him a sandwich or a meal from Denny’s he would more than likely be willing to answer a few questions for us. And so my boyfriend asked and thankfully he agreed. I introduced myself to him and shook his hand, his name was Danny. We began walking and entered Denny’s, everyone seemed to look at us all weird as if though they felt disgusted.  It was not the best feeling for me personally, but it made me think about how Danny feels on a regular basis.  Soon after, a few minutes had gone by I handed him a menu and the first image that he saw of a sandwich with French fries was what he wanted. I ordered his sandwich and he began telling me a little bit about himself. In his childhood years he lost both his mother and father, as for his sister got married and did her own life. He would work as a mechanic and attended school for only a few years until suddenly he dropped out and could no longer continue. I asked him the following questions; “Where do you usually stay at or sleep?”, What do you do when it is raining or cold? How come you do not attend shelters? About how much money or contributions do you receive from people in a day? How long have you been homeless for? He told me that usually he stays at the park and that is where he sleeps. When it is raining or cold he mentioned that he tries to find a place where he does not get soaked but majority of the time it is very difficult. The weather is a constant battle for him due to not having warm clothing or a roof over his head. The reason why he does not attend shelters is because it is not safe and people usually tend to get beat or harass just for fun or to steal the little bit of stuff that they have. That is why he prefers to live on his own in the cold, rather than be assaulted in homeless shelters. (He was well disciplined, he first wanted to answer the questions before eating his food that had already been placed on the table. I told him to eat his food before it got cold and he said, “that’s how I always eat it.”) After the interview was over he was very appreciative and decided to give me a necklace which made me get a little emotional. I asked if I could give him a hug and he agreed. That right there was by far the best experience I have had in my whole life time.

　Before working on this project I was unaware of how difficult life really is for those that do not have the necessary funds to live a normal life. For instance; I always knew that they suffered and were not content with the life style they had chosen. I just never knew the extent of suffrage. Therefore, working on this project has helped me get a better understanding of what they do to obtain their money, where they usually stay at, and where they go in poor weather conditions etc.

            On Sunday the 18, I decided to go to Los Angeles, a place that is known to be overpopulated with homelessness. Under bridges, in cardboard boxes, on street corners, parks, anywhere you could name, right there and then there was a homeless person. It was very heart breaking to witness this with my own eyes and not be able to help these individuals change their life around. I knew that I had to get feedback of why they were in the place that they stand, therefore I decided to interview a women, a man and a few others.

            As I was exiting the freeway on James M Wood, I saw this man seated by the freeway exit asking for money when it was pouring rain.  Being able to see that with my very own eyes really crushed me inside. I could not just drive off and pretend that it was not going to bother me, this human being was in the rain, freezing, with no protective gear other than a torn jacket.  At that very moment I started analyzing how fortunate I was to have a home, a job and a lovely family.  Something in me immediately struck me and I needed to know a little bit about this man and so as I exited the freeway I found parking in front of a building near the freeway.  I remained in the car for a few minutes thinking over how I was going to approach the situation and wondering what questions I was going to ask. I got out of the car and made sure to take my umbrella with me, since it was still raining pretty hard.  As I began walking towards this individual I was a little intimidated for I did not know what to expect or how he would react.  When I arrived to his location we made eye contact and asked if I could ask him a few questions. In the beginning he did not seem too please, he kept asking me if I was going to call the cops on him, majority I am guessing had to do with the formal attire I was wearing. But of course, I said, “no” and tried to be as friendly as I possibly could.

His name was Mike (About 5/6, skinny (malnutrition) White male, long hair, bushy beard, around his late 60s early 70s)

Mike(M)

Me (J)

(J) Hi, my name is Jackie and I was wondering if I could possibly ask you a few questions?

(M) I don’t know if that is a good idea or beneficial for me at the moment

(J) If you feel uncomfortable and do not want to answer any questions that Is totally fine and understandable, I was just trying to work on this project that was given to me for my anthropology course, all the information that is given will not be reproduced, it is just a homework assignment.

(M) I don’t know, are you sure you are not going to call the cops on me or anything like that?

(J) Yes, I am sure. I will not do this if I wanted to put you in an awkward or in a bad situation

(M) Well, Okay.. Go ahead

(J) Thank you. “How did you get to where you are now?” “What caused this to occur ?”

(M) (gasps) Ummm.. Well when I was just a little kid I began smoking pot… (stopped and looked disappointed)  after it just elevated to other drugs, (I stared at him but felt very uncomfortable to ask these personal questions) my dad knew that I was up to something but he never stopped me.

(J) “So your dad knew you were doing drugs or he knew that you were just acting suspicious?”

(M) He knew cause his friends would tell him that they had seen me with my boys  or popping pills (he looked down and shook his head)

(J) Okay so you were addicted to drugs, is that why you became homeless?

(M) Yes, my dad died due to lung cancer

(J) I am sorry to hear that

(M) He was a strong man and till this day I regret the lifestyle I was living, look at me now? No home, no family, no nothing.

(We had a moment of silence, I did not know what to say in that very instinct. It was a very tough situation, moreover, it was uncalled for)

(J) I am very sorry and I wish I could truly help, I only have ten dollars on me at the moment and I hope that you can get yourself at least something to eat. Thank you for your time Mike.

(M) No thank you, have a good day. (he was very grateful when I gave him the ten dollars, the smile that rose upon his face what priceless)

　

Second Interview with a homeless woman

While I was walking towards

Erin (E)

Me (JM)

(JM) Hi, I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions, its for a project that I am working on, regarding the homeless community?

(E) No… I don’t have anything to say. (She looked bothered, frustrated and unhappy)

(JM) Okay, thank you though.

(E) Yeah.. (She was living in a hidden corner, behind a laundry mat)

　

Now I tried a different approach, since usually the homeless people view the park as their home, I felt the need to ask those parents that take their children to the park how they felt towards the homeless being in parks?

Jodi (II)

Me (JJ)

(same question from above)

(II) I feel threatened for the safety of my children, I don’t think it is safe to leave your children unattended when they are playing in the swings.

(JJ) Now, when you come with your family to the park to try to have a good time, do their presence disturb you?

(II) No, They do not disturb me. Usually, they keep their distance or go to the end of the park where they are not seen or burdensome to the community at the park.

(JJ) Last question, If there was anything you could do to help them, what would it be and why?

(II) If I had the money necessary to make a difference in the lives of the homeless I would probably create more homeless shelters or certain programs to help them start fresh.

(JJ) Thank you so much Jodi, you have been very helpful.

　

           In conclusion, the problem that remains is how people are categorized in terms or

financial status, location, and race.  The government and majority of the laws that are now being implemented shows how we truly do live in an injustice society. For instance, the new law in Arizona known as the sb 1070, is racial profiling.  Technically, anyone that looks brown or as in immigrant is mandated to show their identification card to prove that they are not illegal immigrants. That is very prejudicial and it demonstrates my point on how we are still continuing these trends from the past experiences.  Unfortunately, everything around us is governed in a way that satisfies the wealthy and ostracize the poor. What is going to happen next?