Y.A.
My First Interview with K.G. on Sarvodaya
This was an interesting and engaging interview I had with someone I know. I asked him a few questions which he answered to the best of his ability, and truthfully. Afterwards, we had an interesting conversation about protests and nowadays how they’re a lot more difficult, and if they even work anymore.

1) Me: Q: Did your parents ever tell/lecture you about being discriminated or having a hard life when they were younger?

K.G: A: Yes, his parents had a hard life, they didn’t have luxuries like cars or stuff like that. They lived in a poor neighborhood. A small house with one bedroom with six people living together. Girls slept inside the room while the men slept outside. When they came to America, they lived in a small apartment, in a mostly asian populated neighborhood.

2) Me: Q: Do you know anyone personally from work or somewhere (can be anywhere) that was discriminated or segregated?

K.G: A: His father was discriminated when he lived in a different country. In particular at his work, he was discriminated for not being the same race as the others. Because of that he wouldn’t get a pay raise because he was from a different ethnic background.

3) Me: Q: Was there anyone in your life who was really against injustice and was always trying to be peaceful?

K.G: A: He again talked about his father and being discriminated in the workplace. Even while being blatantly discriminated, his father always kept his cool. He went with the flow and never spoke up against the injustice he faced, always being peaceful and trying not to lose his job.

 

4) Me: Q: Are you familiar with the word apartheid? If so what images or feelings come to mind?

A: He didn’t know about apartheid, so I explained it to him briefly.K.G: The name Nelson Mandela stuck out to him. He remembers how he was a peaceful person and how Mandela fought for other people’s rights.

 

5) Me: Q: Have you ever been in a situation where you resolved something peacefully, if not why and what were the circumstances?

A: He couldn’t think of any specific argument, so I asked him what he’d do in a future altercation if there ever was one.K.G: Him being a peaceful person he’d react and resolve peacefully rather than deal with someone with drama or dangerous.

 

6) Me: Q: Would you feel comfortable in a diverse neighborhood or a different one of your preference based on your identity/background?

K.G: A: He said he’d prefer a neighborhood based on his background. He would like to be with his “peeps”. Why, he said he’d feel more comfortable and more open to his neighbors. He made the assumption that in a diverse neighborhood he’d feel negatively looked upon and judged by others. In his safe neighborhood, he said he would feel accepted rather than hated.