I want my first article to be about an inspiring person. A story about an old Danish photographer named Jacob Holdt. He got rewarded internationally in 1977 for his breathtaking pictures of the contrasts between America's lower class and the upper class.
Jacob arrived to the US with 40$ in his pockets, and ended up staying for more than 5 years. Living and hitch-hiking across the nation and selling blood plasma two times a week to buy camera film, to record his experiences. He lived with the ones that were poorest, those who ate cat food and dirt to satisfy their hunger, and often lived in rat infected areas.
The weak and cynical
Strong but, economically weak mother and her children
He didn't only want to know the weakest in society, but he also wanted to understand everyone else like racists and nazis. So he became member of the Ku Klux Klan and anticipated in their meetings. He concluded that most of the members had experienced a traumatic child hood. Filled with maltreatment, rape and rasistic brain washing. Jacob didn't make fun of them or brag about their world view, but rather lived under the mentality that there is always something good in people, even in the most cynical ones.
I saw the pain and the suffering and I felt, when I showed the pictures to people, they didn’t even know the suffering that was going on in the midst of their own cities.
When he returned back home to Copenhagen, Denmark; he published the book American Pictures. It had a big impact on youths across Europe. Especially on Scandinavians and Germans. It was his intentions to support anti-apartheid struggle building a hospital with the money he earned. That didn't happen when KGB approached him and wanted the book to be evidence against president Carter, to show that human right's were viloated just as much in America as in Russia. As a result of the meeting, he decided to not publish his book and got it canceled, but re-published after end of Communism. And today the book needs your resteem.
Where we are today
Far-right radicals are alive today. It has been a shift for anti-immigration and anti-integration towards groups that are deemed to be udesireable - rather than characterizing themself with elitism; which is an attitude that certain ancestry, high intellect and wealth is attributes that should be favored. You may also use elitism to describe scenarios were power is in the hands of few people. Many countries today houses intense amounts of elitism, and it is not beneficial.
Jacob Holdt is one of many unknown heros
He showed that it's possible to love your enemy and to peacfully co-exist. Yes, immigrants are overrepressented in crime statistics. But look, they are usully living in city districts that are even more overrepresented in the statistics. The police, policies and scocieties around the world today is undoubtly hard on blacks, muslims, natives and other minorities. I don't believe that solves anything - look where we are today. I believe the best measures against criminality and radicalization is to have a legal income. To work that out, we need to invest in strong social services. And If we do, I am conviced we will be able to harvest fruits such as low crime rate in the near future.
Pictures by @Jacob Holdt
Let me know your questions in the comments. Remember! Love your fellow Steemians ♥
This post received a 1.2% upvote from @randowhale thanks to @realm! For more information, click here!
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Keep up the good work #minnowtowhale
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Jacob Holdt must have had a very interesting life thanks for sharing i have been wanting to create a post about my thoughts on race in general and this helps.
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I'm glad it helped. Jacob is a good example for promoting peace without being offensive - by looking between ideology and ethnicity.
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I hate racism, as an most anti-human and primitive type of collective thinking. But also think, that we must find a balance between a healthy tolerance, and a reckless accepting everything in a fear of being named "R" world. We must help immigrants, but not blindly help. And first thing all good people should stand for is to put a pressure on government to end war in Syria, STOP DESTROYING MIDDLE EAST YOU DAMN WESTERN IMPERIALISTS!
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You seem to have a good view on the matter :) Makes me happy!
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This sounds like an amazing person! He must have been a very peaceful person I think.
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Me molesto el racismo... i'm asian but i wanted to say that racism bothers me in the language of the future... espanol! (^_^) thanks for the tip! I follow now. That cult leader program is working bro!
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Racism bothers me in any language
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I am glad to know about Jacob Holdt. He is one of the persons who truly makes a difference. It's inspiring that he was selling his blood plasma to buy camera films. @realm
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Right? Even tho I'm not sure if inspiring is the right word :O lol
Take care!
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Welcome Realm. I come here to say i enjoy our conversations. And the name you chose!
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Thanks for stepping by.
Indeed! We are on the same wavelenght
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