- As Cadogan walks each city he visits he finds different challenges with each location. Kingston had the highest crime rates by far, it was radically politically divided and many strangers feared visiting the area. One thing that was different from the American cities was that they predominantly had a black population. Police in Kingston saw Cadogan just the same as every other person. In Lousiana, he faced the challenges of racism, systemically and publicly. People on the streets avoided him because of his race women which he has never seen in Kingston crossed the street to get away from him. Police also stopped him based on whether he was acting suspicious or not. “I waved to a cop driving by. Moments later I was against his car in handcuffs.” He made several rules for himself to avoid the watchful eye of the law and make people feel safe around him. He then returns to Kingston as an adult realizing that his real home is in Jamaica. When he returns to the U.S. he moves to New York City, he felt much more comfortable and included. He found a place to get jerk chicken not far from home, and he found love. He was still treated differently he was forced to adapt and maintain his rules which he taught himself in Louisiana. He often asked friends who were white to walk with him at night although he preferred walking alone he would rather appear safe to the police.
- I do not have many rules for myself for staying safe but I avoid getting out of the car in certain places to keep myself out of harm’s way but in the presence of the law, I do my best to remain calm and polite. The most important thing is to treat others the way youd like to be treated with respect and kindness.
- When I was younger we traveled outside of the country to Puerto Rico which isn’t far from America but it does suffer from poverty. Some places in the city near our hotel were considered to be very dangerous. When I was wandering the city with my father looking for a place my family and I could get dinner we were looked at possibly because I was different from them, we were tourists. My father and I were safe and my family managed to get dinner but there are places to worry about.
- Americans are not inherently racist but because they see a person as different they become afraid. It’s important to keep an open mind and treat people with respect and equally. I know many people who come from different parts of the world and they are all wonderful. There are bad people in every continent and it does not matter the color of their skin.
