How Much Has Attitudes About Race Changed?

Has attitudes about race changed much? Unheard Founder explores this race relations problem afflicting the United States of America.

From April 19th to April 23rd, 2010, Unheard Voices founder worked with the New Jersey Environmental Federation, a non-for-profit organization. THE NJEF tries to get neighborhood support that will put pressure on our elected officials to make good on preserving our environment. Water and air are its main focus.

Canvassing was a great experience and getting people involved in environmental issues was a natural high for me. But I also found out that canvassing can be dangerous especially in all white neighborhoods. My first night of canvass came in Stafford Township.

I spent most of my night observing to learn how to canvass correctly. I was able to meet my requirements for that evening. The people that we met were nice and cared about their environment.

Going to the restroom can be an issue especially when you have to find a neighbor that is nice enough to let you use their bathroom. I remember one of the guys pissing outside because he could not hold it anymore. Guys definitely have an advantage when having to go to the bathroom especially when one is not available to them when doing a canvassing job.

My next night was in Neptune Township. There the neighbors were really nice and it was really nice to be canvassing in my old community. I had no problem asking a neighbor to use their bathroom. I give Neptune a B for their participation.

On my next day I canvassed in Middletown Township. Middletown is very big and the homes were very beautiful.

I thought I was going to have a rough time in the neighborhood but I was able to find a very nice woman that allowed me to use her bathroom.

I was starting to believe that my perception about whites and their fears about Blacks were not so true.

On my last day of canvassing I landed back in Middletown again. This time I was approached and almost physically attacked by a white man that must have been watching me while canvassing in the neighborhood.

He came out of no where when I had found a safe place to go to the bathroom, being that neighbors weren’t coming close to opening their doors for me. He had to the nerve to say to me that you probably have been in and out of jail – Wrong! You probably are not educated! – Wrong! And he had the nerve to threaten physical harm towards me.

Knowing that I was an all white neighborhood, I told the person that I did not want any trouble.

I was afraid that I would actually get jumped and beaten by this individual.

I also wondered why the lead canvasser had me canvassing on a street that had no side walk. Was he looking for me to fail? After the night was over, my stay with the NJEF was terminated.

I learned one valuable lesson that change is still needed in our society and attitudes about race haven’t changed much.