Zack the Musician.

Today was a view changer. I went to Downtown Chattanooga in hopes of finding someone to interview. Someone that is homeless. My findings were...much more interesting than I expected. Also, if my parents are reading this, I went with a male friend, not alone! I was safe! Back to the Story. I went to Chattanooga expecting it to be difficult to get people to openly talk to me. I thought they would see me and assume I didn't want to have an actual conversation with them, like most pedestrians that walk by. It's safe to say that I was COMPLETELY WRONG.

As soon as i struck up a conversation with a 35 year old woman, Jackie, the other homeless people around flocked to us. I asked a question, they all answered me! They laughed at my jokes. They told me stories. They responded to me. I was shocked. 

Out of the ten people that joined the conversation, one guy stood out to me, Zack. Zack is an 18 year old, biracial adolescent, who began living on the streets when he was just 16 years old. He is an aspiring musician whose dreams and future career plan was despised by his mom. 

"My mom loved me...I thought. She told me music was a useless pass-time and that I would never get anywhere with my dream. That I was good at other stuff, but not music. That was the day I realized I couldn't stay there and accomplish my dreams." 

I sat there listening to Zack's story; thinking about the well-known stereotypes of people who live on the streets: Drug addicts, prostitutes, dead beats, criminals, gangs, scammers. But, this guy isn't any of these things.  He is a person who did nothing but follow his dreams. I always hear complaints about those who "do nothing with their lives", or who "steal the governments money through well-fair". Oh, and this is my favorite, "They are poor because they don't try." Hello! This isn't the case for every homeless person! Sure, there will be those who do, indeed, fit the stereotype. But we can't discredit the ones who ARE trying to accomplish thief dream because they reside in the same place as those who aren't. 

Zack was an awesome guy! My friend and I listened to him for a little over an hour. We tried to encourage him the best we could. My last question I asked him was a risky one. I knew I would either get a good answer, or that he would throw it back in my face: "Are you a Christian?"

"No! I have seen those Christians. They give money to us thinking that they are "helping" us. Money doesn't do crap! We hurt. Charity makes us feel even poorer."

My second question to him was this: "What is the best way to help?"

"Do what y'all are doing. We are people. We need conversation, not heartless charity."

Next time, don't assume things about a person's life. Find out. 

QUOTE:

"If you dont stop and enjoy the view, it may just pass you by"

-Zack