Meeting Keith

I met a homeless man on Friday. I saw him before he even sought me out. Instantly, I judged him. He was dirty and had a slight limp. He was asking every person he passed on Church St. if they would buy him soup from one of the restaurants on the strip, and every single person said no. Some even crossed the road to avoid being asked. Even I, in my head made up my mind to say no before he even reached me. It was then I realized, that I in good conscience couldn't possibly say no. I pre-judged that man because he was homeless and dirty. I didn't even give him a chance. How could I possibly say no to someone in need? He wasn't asking for money. All he wanted was FOOD.
He finally made it to us now. He asked. I said yes. Instead of soup, we decided to walk together to the 7-eleven to get food there. I learned his name was Keith, but all his friends call him Speedy, probably out of irony lol. He was polite and thanked us over and over again for helping him. In the 7-eleven all he got was a can of tuna with crackers, chips and dip. Then he was on his merry way with more thank yous. $7 and a few minutes of my time is all that it cost me. I could have easily told him no that I couldn't help him. But, I know if I were in that position, all I'd want is for someone to take a chance on me. To take a chance and out of the kindness of their heart, help me. We all need to remember that, that homeless person begging for money/food....they are PEOPLE, before we turn our noses up to those we feel is beneath us. They are PEOPLE too, and WE are all HUMAN.

-Jaxx

We The People

I wasn't raised to judge or hate someone based on their color, gender, or orientation. But, that doesn't mean that I don't think racism and prejudices don't exist. I don't live under a rock. I live it everyday, not only as a woman, but as a black woman. But, it still throws me off kilter when I hear people allow bigotry to fall out of their mouths like it's ok. Yes yes, I know, freedom of speech. But, why does the color of skin, if you're a man or woman, gay or straight, matter? People have fought, risked, and even lost their lives, to ensure we follow the very words our country was founded on. "We the people". We are all people. We have the right to be who, and what we are. It shouldn't matter about the rest. To loosely quote Martin Luther King Jr; don't  judge people by the color of their skin, gender or orientation, but by the content of their character. Let their morals, ethics, character and actions be what defines them. 

-Jaxx