314 Journal 15/09

The ghetto is a notorious term that many people these days associate with poverty stricken, crime infested areas, teaming with drug dealers and prostitutes. Even though these are characteristics that were and are present in ghettos, there is more to it. Especially in the Jewish Ghetto and other ghettos of it’s kind, where people were forced to live in this certain area.
When people are not free to go and leave as they please, and have restrictions on what kind of jobs they have, they are being set up for failure. We are all made differently, with a different set of skills, and if yours do not fit into the prescribed jobs available, what option do you have?
I am currently reading ‘Kaffir Boy’, which is set in one of South Africa’s infamous ghettos, Alexandra, and I am learning about how the men are hardened from all the trauma they have to suffer, the kids see no point in school and a future as they are fighting simply for survival, and how they perceive people outside of this ghetto and how people perceive them.
Ghettos are breeding pits for stereotypes. When people are forced to live in a certain area or come from the ghetto, others looking in can believe whatever they want about the people, that they are lazy, alcoholics, criminals because they don’t come into contact with these people in a positive environment. When everyone is telling you that you are these things your whole life, it is hard to believe that you aren’t. It works the same way in reverse, people in the ghettos assume crazy notions about ALL people outside the ghetto, and the result is hatred brews in people’s hearts.
Ghettos truly are terrible things, and it is extremely sad to see the cycle of hate and malice that has been going on for so many centuries. So often people see only the action instead of taking into account the circumstances. It is cheesy to say, but perhaps if both parties stepped out of their comfort zones and came together to try see things from another point of view, we would accept our differences, use our strengths and work together to break this cycle.