Well why spend time on the streets? To find out that being homeless involves being scared, not knowing what the future holds, living on dirty streets? What more do they experience by living on the street? Why not volunteer in a homeless shelter? Why not read a book on being homeless? Experiencing it is not a "real" experience.
Now I haven't read that book. I do remember a movie about a guy painting his face black (I think it was dan akroyd or someone) and another movie where a white guy got a black guy's heart
ok now let me go back to being serious. I will give that book a shot when I've got more free time. But let's say that the author discusses being called racist remarks...let's say that people want to lynch him for being black. Well at any point he can take off the black paint and go back to being "white". In the meantime, someone can just tell him "hey being black in the South in the 1960's means whites are going to look at you differently."
If the whole point of role play is to inspire people to do more, then it is inefficient. Wanting to live like a homeless person already indicates you want to do more. Working at a shelter might just accomplish the same thing.
So I still believe people need to relax and be open minded. Then and only then will they be able to talk and learn from each other. Often times, learning allows people to stop hating. Why not listen to black people when they feel they are discriminated against? Why not listen to white people who feel that affirmative action is unfair? But then again, most people listen but they don't actually hear someone out.
-Rudey
Quote:
Originally posted by Honeykiss1974
Well, I don't know Rudey. I mean, even though those kids will only spend a week on the streets, that does not mean that they shouldn't try. Who knows, after day 3 someone might be inspiried to do something more.
Even if you yourself were to become "black" for a week (or me become white) , I can guarentee that you/I will learn a few things that you/I will take with you/me , even after the experience is over.
When you get a moment, please read the book titled Black Like Me by Joh Howard Griffin. It is the true story about a white man that darkened his skin and went down South to experience life as a black man during the 1960's. It is a REALLY good book. i think there is also a movie about too.
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