LP 2

The second time around at the Purple Palace was much easier. I wasn't nervous when I walked in the door because I had made a connection with some of the guys.

I learned that being myself around them led them to open up ore and show me different sides of their personalities.

The bar and pool table on the inside.

The guys working.

I went on a Thursday, which happens to be a slower day at the shop, but it allowed me to get to Brandon better.

He complained about how he felt weirs, almost having to beg the few customers that walked in to let him cut their hair. "I have to stay here all day from 12 to eight to make up the difference."

Greg walked in around 3pm and came over to shake my hand. He sat in a barber chair close to me and asked how I was. He was very intrigued about what I was writing. the most interesting part was when Brandon came to sit next to me on the couch and Greg told him not to. He told Brandon he'd had enough time with me, and that now it was his turn. It was funny and kind of flattering.

I was trying to take a candid picture of Greg, but he caught me.

Unfortunately I only learned a little about Greg that day. His name is Greg Motes and he has two sons. The younger one is 10. Greg drops him off and picks him up every day from school. His older boy is 13 and walks home after school. He brings his younger son to the shop to cut his hair every Tuesday.

He got a phone call in the middle of our conversation and had to leave, so Brandon came over to talk.

Brandon Jay Vernon is a big guy (in a muscular, football player kind of way). Despite his appearance, he's very talkative and very mature for his age. He's sweet, and willing to answer all my questions. We talked for an hour and a half , and he even gave up some customers to another barber so he could keep talking to me.

I asked him what kind of people he hangs out with. His immediate answer was "progressive people". He told me he associates himself with mainly black male friends. He likes people who are "going somewhere". His group consists of four or five guys, mostly football players. They like to hang out and just catch up with one another.

Brandon

I asked him about his views toward women. He told me he was raised by his mom and his aunts. He saw how hard it was for his mom to make ends meet. "She loves so hard and works so hard." He told me how he looks down upon abuse. How he would never put his hands on a woman. "I don't want to hurt any woman, why would you want to?"

He said he's not willing to just settle for anything. "I love women. Doesn't matter what color, shape, size, i love it all. If they;'re willing to talk to me and I feel a good vibe, then that's all that matters. I need substance."

We talked about respect and about his life growing up. He told me how important it is to be "street smart". He's not afraid of anything. He said if you demand respect, you'll get it in return. His size also awards him more respect. He says people are intimidated when they see him, so they don;t mess with him.

He told me it was hard growing up . He got involved with a bad crowd and saw and did things he regrets. He wouldn't disclose too much information, but he did mention he had shot at people before. I was shocked when he told me this, which took him by surprise. He just said it in such a calm way, just in passing. I told him I wasn't used to that and I had never spoken to anyone who had shot at people before. He said, "Silence is the key to survival."

He told me that growing up in the Miramar/Hollywood area was a place where many boys had to fight for their respect. "you have to stand on your own two feet. You have to give respect, but you have to demand respect."

He told me he wants to get out of his neighborhood. He wants to go to school and make something of himself. "My dream job would be something where I don't have to work for anyone. I hate the routine."

I found we had a lot in common. He said, "I hate fake people, and I hate cowards. I don't trust anyone that doesn't look me in the eye." He said that cocky people are insecure about themselves. It's clear to see that he is genuine. He has no problem expressing his opinion.

He is starting to trust me more. He even asked my advice about a girl he likes, and told me he needs a woman's point of view. I hope that next time I can get to know the others and go on a busier day so I can talk to some of the customers.

JL 2

Over the past two weeks I've really learned a lot. I've started understanding the things we've been talking about in class because I've been able to go out and experience it for myself. I never thought that doing an exercise like the listening post would open my eyes and my mind as much as it has. I just went to the Purple Palace again yesterday and I'm thinking of going again tomorrow. The people there have really embraced me. Two of the guys especially, Brandon and Greg, are willing to talk about anything and everything I ask them. Even they have started asking me questions and wanting to get to know me better.

I understand now how important it is to go beyond the "bubble" we live in. As reporters, we have to get out there and hear the stories of people that just want someone to listen.

It brings to mind the 60 Minutes report we saw in class about Mr. Lopez and Mr. Ayers. I had actually seen it by chance that previous Sunday and I thought it was a great story. It just shows you that you never know who you'll meet. We shouldn't discriminate others based on race or religion or even on the way they're dressed. Every one has a story. And more often than not, you'll find you have something in common with them.

We also talked about the fact that journalism should be inclusive. It needs to include people of all backgrounds. Not just the people in the stories, but also those writing the stories. The Liberty City article we read in class is a perfect example. It only showed one side. It was negative and it was lacking heart and emotion.

Just because you are of the same race as those you are covering, does not mean you'll do a better job. In fact, I think if you cover something out of your comfort zone, you'll be better able to ask more questions and get more information.

We found out that Robert Samuels was a middle class black man. It just proves that someone not of the community might do a better job at writing the story. They may be better able to present both sides.

I remember Reisner saying that we need to choose how we write things. We have to present all sides of a story. We can't bring our prejudices or our baggage into it. The listening post assignment has really helped me understand that concept. I had to get rid of all my preconceived notions. I'm in their community, and I have to get the truth. I have to learn what their reality is like. So far, everything I thought before, has been wrong.

We also looked at ads last week. The one that stood out the most was the helicopter ad. It was offensive even though I'm not Muslim. To associate a helicopter attacking a mosque or any other religious establishment for that matter, is crazy to me. It leads people to think that the Muslim religion is evil. I know that it's absolute nonsense. That ad would never feature a church or a Jewish temple. People would be outraged!

The Jewish "Shalom" parody was both stupid and confusing. It was offensive, even though a lot of people in the class found it to be really funny. I found it obnoxious and I didn't understand the point of it. Maybe that's because I think the Budweiser commercials are really stupid and pointless too.

Overall I've learned to be more accepting of others. I look at people differently now. I've started striking up conversations everywhere I go, no matter what a person looks like. Everyone has a story to tell, and my job is to find out what it is.

LP 1

I walked into The Purple Palace salon/barbershop on Tuesday afternoon with a knot in my throat. I had just spent five minutes in the car talking my nerves down and making sure my heart wasn't beating so loud that someone might hear it. I had no clue what to expect when I walked in there. What would they say? What would they think of a white girl walking into their shop? Would they laugh and me and throw me out? Well, that was the worst case scenario, and I had prepared for it. Just the colors of the building alone made me nervous. Bright yellow and purple, you could see it from a mile away.

I finally mustered up the courage to turn off the car and walk to the front door. Once my eyes adjusted to the fluorescent lights inside, I was able to see the four men there had stopped what they were doing to stare at me. I walked up nervously, holding my notepad, not failing to notice the pool table with the purple velvet lining and the crystal chandelier hanging above it, directly to my left. I introduced myself and told them I was from FIU. I asked if the place got busier toward the end of the week, to which a young man, sitting on a black leather sofa responded, "Yea, but if you want to talk to us now, come sit over here!"

His name is Brandon. He's 22, and looks like he can tackle anyone on the football field. He's average height, but widely built like a sturdy house. He mentioned that they had just been talking about FIU's football team.

Ives, the "dad" of the shop told me the two main topics of conversation there were politics and football. He's heavier set, dressed in black and wears glasses and a mustache. He reminded me of a younger and skinnier version of Cedric the Entertainer

I sat down and took it all in. The yellow walls, the black tile, the huge television on the other end of the room. It was bright and loud, but there was something really calm and inviting about it all.

A man getting his hair cut by Ives asked me what kind of journalism I was studying. Ives asked me "Do you recognize this man? Have you seen him ESPN maybe?" I said no.

It turns out his name is Israel Gutierrez. He works for the sports section of the Miami Herald and has covered teams like The Heat and the Florida Marlins.

I instantly felt more comfortable. Who would've thought a reporter for the Miami Herald would come to the Purple Palace? He told me he is a regular, that he comes every 9 to 10 days.

The conversation quickly turned to football, and that happened a lot while i was there.

One of the first questions I asked was how they had gotten started cutting hair. Ives responded by telling me they had all started cutting hair on the porch or in the garage. "Just trying to make a few dollars to pay for things, and just happened to make a career out of it. I don't mind being around people or getting up and going to work."

"We all started at home, we all grew up around here", said Greg, one of the other barbers. He's handsome, tall, and muscular, with a diamond in each ear. To me, he looked like a lady's man, but i instantly noticed his wedding ring.

He and Brandon seemed to be the most curious. They asked me where I was from and what my background was. They were surprised to find out my parents are Latin. Greg said, "I thought you were a white girl." I had to laugh.


A young woman walked in the door with a small boy who turned out to be her nephew. Larissa told me she goes to school at BCC and is studying psychology.We talked about her aspirations and her family life. She told me her mom, Kathy Taylor, works at FIU.


The topic of conversation among all of us was directed by the T.V. It went from Michael Jackson to football to the stabbing at Coral Gables Senior High.

A man sitting in Greg's chair named Jay contributed to the conversation by talking about today's youth. He wondered what will happen with future generations. About the stabbing he said, "I grew up around the same thing, but i didn't get involved with it."

We talked about rudeness. Kanye West, Serena Williams, and Congressman Wilson came up in the conversation. I got the feeling they don't trust politicians. Ives commented on how politicians are "crooks" and Greg added they are "thieves", ans some even "murderers". I plan to expand on that next time I visit.

I found out Greg has a wife and two boys. Brandon made sure to point out that the two boys were from the same woman, and explained to me that that was very rare. He told me how sad it made him, because most boys who grow up without a father, overcompensate by turning into tough, aggressive teenagers.

As the afternoon progressed, more customers came in. The majority were men. I noticed that many brought their young boys with them. They would sit down for a cut and then be set free to go play an NFL arcade game that was right behind me.

I found out more about Brandon after he came to sit next to me again. We got along extremely well, and we talked about his family life and his plans for the future. He told me he plans to attend BCC and get into the medical field, after he's done with barber school. His dream was to be a professional football player, but an ACL tear shattered those plans.

Brandon is half black and half Jamaican. His dad's dad was Cuban and moved to Jamaica where he met Brandon's grandmother. He has three brothers, two older, one younger. His mom works as a Registered Nurse and she is going back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner.
About his own education Brandon told me, "When I go back to school , it will be for the gusto. I have the passion now."

I asked him if Ives was the father figure in the shop and he said yes. about Greg he said, "He's like my brother. They put us in time out around here." He told me that Ives has known him since he was a little boy.

On my next visit I hope to delve deeper into their lives and really find out what they think about politics and about what's going on on their community.

JL 1

When it comes to race and religion, among other hot topics, things always seem to be swept under the rug. My dad is Cuban and my mom is Colombian. I grew up in Miami, constantly surrounded by other Hispanics. My first language was Spanish, but most people wouldn't know that if they saw me. I'm fair-skinned with green eyes and light brown hair. I look completely different from my mom's side of the family, and yet, they are the people I identify with the most.

This just goes to show that you can't judge people by what you see on the outside. We have preconceived notions and stereotypes about every race, religion, and ethnicity. I'd like to believe that I'm not racist, but the truth is, i am (many of us are). I will admit that I do lock my car doors when i go into "bad" neighborhoods, it's an instinct and I can't help it (yet lately I've been feeling guilty about it). I have not spent much time around people of other races. I went to catholic school most of my life, and the place where I've had the most interaction with other groups of people has been here at FIU.

We're all afraid of things we don't know. That's why this class is important. As journalists we have to be able to talk to all kinds of people, from all walks of life. We must be able to let go of our prejudices and approach things with an open mind. The best way to conquer our fears is by facing them. The listening post experience will broaden our horizons, and better prepare us for what lies ahead.

I was surprised by the online race an religion tests we took last week. In the religion test Christianity came out on top, followed by Buddhism, then Judaism, and lastly Islam. I've been raised Catholic so I expected that to be on top, and I have studied Buddhism, and find it fascinating. I was surprised though that the other two religions were so low on the page. I remember studying them in high school, but my word association on the test was horrible! The test was very accurate though because Judaism and Islam are not religions I follow or that have caught my interest.

As far as the race test, I just finished taking it for a second time and I got the same result: Your data suggest a moderate automatic preference for European American compared to African American. It's fair to say that this is true. I have not been around many African Americans and I've honestly never had a good black friend. There are more negative stereotypes when it comes to African Americans than any other group. We see them daily on the news and have come associate them with crime and all the other number of things we hear and see in rap music and music videos.

The Muslim/Arab test gave me the same result after two attempts: Little to no preference for other people over Muslims. Although I've never really had Muslim friends, a family member of mine is married to a Muslim man. I grew up around him, and so therefore I never held those stereotypes of them , not even after 9/11.

Diversity is important, and learning about all kinds of people is essential for a journalist. Unfortunately, not everyone thinks this way. It's important to give a voice to the voiceless, and many times, these are the same minority groups we have prejudices against. We have to get past our fears. We have to go out and interview as many people as we can and gather as much information, and hear as many stories as possible. Every person is an individual with their own thoughts and beliefs. By getting to know them as an individuals, instead of generalizing them into a certain ethnic or color category, we may discover that they are more like us than we ever imagined.