This chapter explores the futility of temp work, the occupational evils of telemarketing, and the God-like power of debt collection agencies. In this chapter, I struggle to apply to government volunteer programs such Peace Corp, Americorp, and VISTA; while struggling to fight off bankruptcy. (more…)
This chapter explores life in two separate ghettos where I have lived. It highlights the American history of ghetto slums and explains why African-Americans are crowded into them. As a side note, I try to compare cultural differences between white and black poverty. This includes my father’s background with racial violence in Los Angelos. (more…)
This chapter explores how homeless people in Oakland and Berkeley can find food at various soup kitchens and food lines. It follows the food loop that many people travel each day just to eat without any money. (more…)
This chapter explores homeless shelters, drug addiction, mental illness, and the difficulty in getting off the streets. It also explores some of the flaws that I experienced while working as a VISTA/Americorp volunteer. (more…)
This chapter explores my time as a teacher in an adult school for homeless and illiterate Americans. Many people are stuck on the streets because they lack basic skills such as filling out an application form. My focus is on what motivates people to learn despite their poverty, and the inter-personal clashes that arise from this classroom exchange. The issue of white surpremacy is a strong theme in this chapter, especially as a student was drawing me into this mind frame.
This chapter looks at my struggle to remain a pacifist. It was inspired by actual dialogue with African-American martial arts experts. It includes discussion about the politics of tracking down one’s ethnic heritage and “white” identity. (more…)
This surrealistic chapter is based on true events that happened over a single weekend. It looks at the “race” of poverty. It studies how different races respond to economic hardships and the personal theories that individuals develop to cope. (more…)
Every now and then something happens that overturns your life as you know it. My time as a Vista/Americorp volunteer ended abruptly with the death of my father. For awhile, I relapsed into a homeless lifestyle and went wandering around the United States. During this time, I documented the situation at homeless shelters in various US states and attempted to explain the different tactics used to help the homeless. (more…)