“Better Than You” is a bimonthly column about ways for individuals to better themselves. From trying new foods to volunteer work, there are daily activities and tasks a person can do to make their own lives or the lives of others a little bit better.
It’s a common saying: never pass judgement because everyone has a story. This is true. We all have reasons for choices, actions and personalty traits. But upon meeting someone outside your usual social circle, it’s easy to forget all about this consideration. To bypass even saying hello and allow your preconceived ideas to take over.
I recently experienced one of these scenarios. I was working on a story for SCAD Radio and was interviewing a member of SCAD’s janitorial staff. On first meeting him I wasn’t sure how the story was going to pan out. While he spoke English, it was difficult to understand him completely and it seemed like there was a barrier between us.
But then something amazing happened. He began telling me about the difficulties of being a Mexican American, how he came to work for SCAD and the struggles to support his family. He lost his job, and after searching for work without any avail, he performed a desperate act and hoped that humanity would prevail. He knocked on his next door neighbor’s door and asked for help. This neighbor would be the one to send him in SCAD’s direction.
He told me about the brutality and harassment from police. The very people who are supposed to protect us and make us feel safe in our communities were the ones placing assumptions on him and his family. The authorities here don’t make him feel safe. They make him feel threatened, abused and unwelcome.
If I were in his shoes, I would be consumed by anger and lash out towards the closed-mindedness of Americans these days. Not a single one of us is blood and guts American; our nation was built on so many cultures and ethnicities. They don’t call us a melting pot for nothing. But instead of having this cruel, unfair behaviour take over his life and emotions, he turns the tables and hopes that his small acts will make big impacts.
During rides on the elevators in SCAD, he teaches students Spanish. Language is something that is truly important to him. The ability to communicate with others brings a smile on his face as well as the people surrounding him. He has seen first hand that language can separate us, and he made a point to learn English as quickly as possible. Being able to share his culture and embrace ours is an openness that all of us should possess.
With the growing awareness of conditions on the boarder and immigration, we are becoming more conscious of the prejudice placed on Mexicans. But on a day to day basis, it’s easy to forget that the simple act of driving down the street can turn into a scary situation for someone who is viewed unequally.
We hear about businesses denying people service because they cannot speak English. There are assumptions made that all Mexicans are illegal aliens. We blame them for increased crime due to the horrors that are broadcast about the Mexican drug cartel. With all the negativity surrounding the changing face of America, it’s hard to stop and think about the truth behind the matter. The injustice that these people are facing that so many before them fought, including blacks, women and gays.
It doesn’t take long to stop and exchange a friendly hello, to look at the clear emotional reaction on that person’s face, to listen to their story. On the outside we are all so very different, but within, we are all the same. We all want the same things: to provide for ourselves and our families, to build a community, to love and be loved in return, and have the fair chance to live a good life.