On my second listening post, I met with Hazel Rodriguez again at Flea Market USA, and we conversed about her life as a girlfriend, mother and wife.
Hazel went to elementary school in Carol City. When she was young, she didn’t understand why she was the only Spanish girl that attended her class. Her classmates would bother Hazel because of her hair. She felt sad because she felt she was different, but as she grew older, she felt accepted. In her later years, she had a boyfriend that was black.
Hazel was 13 years old when her parents got divorced. She was both sad and happy when the divorce came about. When she used to live with her father, he wouldn’t allow her to wear skirts or to have boyfriends. She believes that if she was still raised by her father, she wouldn’t have been married, and her sisters would have not gotten pregnant. Hazel and her siblings were rebellious when her parents separated. They moved a lot because of the children’s behavior. When her parents were together, her father used to drink a lot, and he still does. She would always see her father arguing with her mom.
When Hazel would behave badly, her mother would send her to New York until she started behaving well. Once Hazel started behaving well, she moved back to Miami. In one of the visits to New York because of her bad behavior, Hazel met her ex-husband and ended up staying there. Hazel didn’t mind missing school because she didn’t like going to school, and it did not affect her emotionally. She enjoyed traveling. Eventually, Hazel did not end with good grades because of her absence.
Hazel had her first baby when she was 18 years old. She planned to get married in New York with her boyfriend, the baby’s father, but she ended up being pregnant with the baby before marriage. She was 3 months pregnant when she got married. Her boyfriend and she both wanted to get married regardless before the pregnancy occurred. The father of the baby was her first love, and she wanted to have children with him. Both of her children are from the same father. She got divorced because her ex-husband cheated on her with another woman. Hazel says her ex-husband was a good father. She was surprised to find out that he cheated on her.
Hazel had some relatives that worked with him in Foot Locker at New York, and she was informed that he was cheating on her. She had another proof when she caught her boyfriend’s co-worker who was a girl flirting with him and kissing him on the neck.
Her ex-husband dropped out of high school. Hazel got her GED. When she got married, she didn’t worry about her ex-husband’s salary because he was getting paid well at Foot Locker since he was the manager. She didn’t think that not obtaining his degree really affected him. Her ex-husband likes to drink and party and she didn’t like for him to go out with friends. Hazel feels that she drove him away, and it was partially her fault because she restricted him from doing things.
When her ex-husband cheated on her, Hazel grabbed her clothes and children and moved to Orlando with her mom for a few months till she got her own place. Hazel’s ex-husband wanted a second chance after he cheated on her and she gave it to him.
She did not forget him, but once he moved to Orlando, he started working at a factory with Hazel. Hazel tried to make him jealous by flirting with a co-worker of hers. She wanted revenge for what he did to her. In her ex-husband’s Myspace, Hazel found out that the girl that he cheated on her with was writing that she was pregnant with her ex-husband’s baby. Hazel’s husband at the time found out Hazel was talking to the man at the factory because he found a letter saying that he wanted to take her out, but Hazel admits that they were just friends, and he was younger than her.
Her ex-husband started talking to the girl he cheated on her with in New York. Her ex-husband moved back to New York. Hazel’s mother moved back to Miami, and she rented an apartment. When Hazel’s mom decided to move back to Orlando, Hazel stayed in Miami at the same apartment she had. Hazel met her new boyfriend at her apartment complex. She met him while he was trying to preach to her about his religion. Her admirer asked her out, and she said she was going to think about it. Eventually, Hazel said yes to her friend.
In the beginning, the separation with her ex-husband affected her children, but now it doesn’t affect them, and they get along with her new boyfriend. Her new boyfriend is not jealous. She is planning to get married again with her new boyfriend. He is Christian, just like her. She says that Christians have to be married before living together.
Hazel is able to see all things in a different light because she is Christian, and when she was young, she didn’t conclude what she really believed in. Hazel was raised in Opa Locka and Carol City. Her dad lived in Carol City, and he still lives there. Her mom moved to Opa Locka after separating from her father. Her mom is currently living in Orlando.
Now that Hazel has her children of her own, she doesn’t want her father to be a bad influence to her children by making them think that drinking is good. Hazel is able to see all this in a different light because she is Christian, and when she was young, she didn’t know what she really believed in.
After Hazel’s new boyfriend moved in with her, her ex-husband ended moving back to Orlando with the girl he cheated on her with because he liked the Orlando ambiance. His new girlfriend was 8 months pregnant. After setting in at Orlando, they ended up back in New York because they couldn’t manage there.
While in New York and while Hazel was rooming with her new boyfriend, Hazel’s ex-husband contacted Hazel because he wanted to get back with her. Hazel wanted to give it another try because he was the father of her children. Her new boyfriend moved out, and he understood her situation.
When they were living together, Hazel and her ex-husband would bring out the past and insecurities will build up based on past relationships. He would ask her what she did in the sofa with her recent boyfriend, and they would argue. Hazel realized that she had stronger feelings for her new boyfriend. Her ex-husband was confused, and Hazel told him to go back to New York with the girl he was seeing. Hazel now speaks to her ex-husband at times over the phone because of her children. Hazel’s new boyfriend picks the children up from school, and he babysits them. When Hazel left her ex-husband and told him to leave to New York, her new boyfriend was understanding and accepted to establish a relationship with her once more.
In addition, Hazel feels she doesn’t have to worry about her new boyfriend because he does not smoke, drink or go out clubbing like her ex-husband does. Her new boyfriend spends time with her at the park, movies and at church. She has many Christian friends now.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Journal 2
The week of September 9th, we discussed what place we would be attending for our listening post. A list was posted, which allowed us to see what place was most suitable for this assignment. The place that was chosen for my assignment was a flea market, which I was a bit skeptical about. I haven’t been to a flea market since I was a little girl, and the last thing I remember doing at the flea market was scratching the rashes I had. It does sound a bit awkward, but I am allergic to dirt, and the flea market that I last visited was outdoors. Between the heat, dirt and allergic reaction things couldn’t get worst.
An interesting article that we viewed in class and we discussed was about the author of a story. We all had our own views on Robert’s Samuels race. At first, I did not think that he was black because I thought that he would be more familiarized with what was going on, but I realized afterwards that he was. “Optimism still reigns on Northwest 62nd Street and Seventh Avenue, where talk is all about the new supermarket and the old businesses selling President Barack Obama T-shirts,” Samuel says. After looking more in depth at his writing, I realized that he knows the bad aspects of living in a community with violence. According to Samuels, Brewton and others want the same for their now-infamous patch of Northwest 15th avenue, a business thoroughfare where few businesses exist. Here there are no trees and the street's asphalt melts into the concrete of the sidewalk, worn-down like the residents who walk upon them. The road offers a glimpse of the Liberty City that revitalization has not fully touched. The way Samuel describes Liberty City makes me think that he is not black. He explains how the street’s asphalt melts into the concrete of the sidewalk, worn-down like the residents who walk upon them. I believe that the description of the residents could have been restated into a more positive or at least less biased illustration. Because of such description, it made me think that Samuels was white and viewed the people at Liberty City as being very different than any other individuals. I sometimes wonder how people think sometimes about others within their own race. When people live in an environment that is not so good, they usually want to strive for a better lifestyle, but once they get to a level of success, they view those that were once part of their community as low individuals.
My debate is how can people not be able to live amongst others, and only like to live amongst those of their own race and be fine with it, but once they can obtain a better house, a better lifestyle, they deal with others of different races. A well off community is going to have a variety of people of different races, and when an individual of low class reaches that level, they mostly get along with high class people. They no longer would like to live in a poor or low class community where individuals of their own race are living at. It seems that successful people try to avoid these environments, making me think that they’re ashamed of it. With this in mind, Samuels seems to have implemented his high standards ideology to those individuals that are not as privileged as him, he has done so by such description of Liberty City.
The commercial ads were a fun activity with an analytical discussion of what an audience thinks. How a commercial is perceived is very important because it can be a disadvantage to the company to create a stereotype amongst a race. For instance, customers are very essential to a business, and the word of mouth or the buzz is the best advertising technique there can be. How about if a customer watches a commercial ad, and perceives it in a wrong way or feels disrespected by it then this creates a problem. The problem is that this customer can tell family members and friends about this horrible commercial and the word starts spreading to a point where the company loses customers. Because of the importance in keeping customers, it is crucial for a company to know who their target is and to try to avoid any stereotypes.
An interesting article that we viewed in class and we discussed was about the author of a story. We all had our own views on Robert’s Samuels race. At first, I did not think that he was black because I thought that he would be more familiarized with what was going on, but I realized afterwards that he was. “Optimism still reigns on Northwest 62nd Street and Seventh Avenue, where talk is all about the new supermarket and the old businesses selling President Barack Obama T-shirts,” Samuel says. After looking more in depth at his writing, I realized that he knows the bad aspects of living in a community with violence. According to Samuels, Brewton and others want the same for their now-infamous patch of Northwest 15th avenue, a business thoroughfare where few businesses exist. Here there are no trees and the street's asphalt melts into the concrete of the sidewalk, worn-down like the residents who walk upon them. The road offers a glimpse of the Liberty City that revitalization has not fully touched. The way Samuel describes Liberty City makes me think that he is not black. He explains how the street’s asphalt melts into the concrete of the sidewalk, worn-down like the residents who walk upon them. I believe that the description of the residents could have been restated into a more positive or at least less biased illustration. Because of such description, it made me think that Samuels was white and viewed the people at Liberty City as being very different than any other individuals. I sometimes wonder how people think sometimes about others within their own race. When people live in an environment that is not so good, they usually want to strive for a better lifestyle, but once they get to a level of success, they view those that were once part of their community as low individuals.
My debate is how can people not be able to live amongst others, and only like to live amongst those of their own race and be fine with it, but once they can obtain a better house, a better lifestyle, they deal with others of different races. A well off community is going to have a variety of people of different races, and when an individual of low class reaches that level, they mostly get along with high class people. They no longer would like to live in a poor or low class community where individuals of their own race are living at. It seems that successful people try to avoid these environments, making me think that they’re ashamed of it. With this in mind, Samuels seems to have implemented his high standards ideology to those individuals that are not as privileged as him, he has done so by such description of Liberty City.
The commercial ads were a fun activity with an analytical discussion of what an audience thinks. How a commercial is perceived is very important because it can be a disadvantage to the company to create a stereotype amongst a race. For instance, customers are very essential to a business, and the word of mouth or the buzz is the best advertising technique there can be. How about if a customer watches a commercial ad, and perceives it in a wrong way or feels disrespected by it then this creates a problem. The problem is that this customer can tell family members and friends about this horrible commercial and the word starts spreading to a point where the company loses customers. Because of the importance in keeping customers, it is crucial for a company to know who their target is and to try to avoid any stereotypes.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Listening Post 1
I met Hazel Rodriguez whom spoke to me about her job. She works as a nail lady in one of the salons at the Flea Market USA. She is from Nicaragua and came to the U.S. when she was 8 years old. She is currently living in Miami, but she has lived in New York and Orlando.
Hazel says that New York is very expensive. When she lived in New York, her children would get sick because of the cold weather. She has two children, a girl and a boy of the ages five and six. Her grandmother, some aunts and cousins live in New York. She says her grandmother helps her over there, and she also has her aunts and cousins that she spends time with.
Besides all the places that Hazel has lived at, she likes living at Orlando. She says that Orlando is a cheap and nice place to live at. She lived in Kissimmee. She got her manicurist license at Orlando. She hopes to move back one day and live near her mother whom lives in Orlando.
Miami is also expensive place to live at, according to Hazel. Her father lives in Miami, but she doesn’t see him that often because he drinks too much. Hazel is Christian and so is her boyfriend. She says she doesn’t like to go party because of her religion. She is involved with church groups. She is currently living with her boyfriend whom is Dominican. Her boyfriend doesn’t have a job because he doesn’t speak English.
Flea Market USA is a place where Hazel feels comfortable because of the ambiance, the people that work and shop there have an influence on her belief. Most of the customers that shop at the flea market are of black and Hispanic races. She likes working at the flea market because she learns a lot from her customers, she explains that it seems that her customers don’t have anyone to talk to at home, and they speak to her about their personal issues. She also enjoys shopping at the flea market on her own time.
Being a student at Beauty Schools of America, allows Hazel to incorporate time into what she likes to do. She wants to get her hairdresser/cosmetology license because she wants to know how to style hair. She loves doing nails and hair.
In addition to my conversation with Hazel Rodriguez, I also met Louie Olmeda whom moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S. He was married in Puerto Rico and got divorced. He is now married here in the U.S. and he has children.
Olmeda works at the barbershop. He seemed very outgoing and told me that he wanted to own his own barbershop one day. He says he would be better off with his own business, and when I asked about where he would like to own a barbershop, he says that not in the area.
In his current job, Olmeda has to pay $150 to rent a chair for a week, and he explains that he earns around $250 a week. He asked why I was doing research at the flea market. He told me it wasn’t a good place and he explains that there is a fight there almost every week.
Overall, so far I was skeptical about going to the flea market because I really didn’t remember what it was like. The last time I can recall going to a flea market was when I was young. I learned how to relate to Rodriguez and Olmeda. So far, by what they aspire as individuals, it seems that they are working for a living and to better themselves. Rodriguez mentioned that she wanted to style hair, and Olmeda spoke about opening his own barbershop one day. They both come from different countries and are aspiring for more in life here in the U.S. They both have children, and they are both in a current relationship. I felt I had a genuine conversation with them. They seemed a little hesitant on providing me with their full name because they did not want to be involved in something that could possibly be published that would bring them issues. Revelation of their identity is the fear that these interviewees had, but they were able to trust me and open to a conversation where divorce, religion, alcohol and hopes was involved.
Hazel says that New York is very expensive. When she lived in New York, her children would get sick because of the cold weather. She has two children, a girl and a boy of the ages five and six. Her grandmother, some aunts and cousins live in New York. She says her grandmother helps her over there, and she also has her aunts and cousins that she spends time with.
Besides all the places that Hazel has lived at, she likes living at Orlando. She says that Orlando is a cheap and nice place to live at. She lived in Kissimmee. She got her manicurist license at Orlando. She hopes to move back one day and live near her mother whom lives in Orlando.
Miami is also expensive place to live at, according to Hazel. Her father lives in Miami, but she doesn’t see him that often because he drinks too much. Hazel is Christian and so is her boyfriend. She says she doesn’t like to go party because of her religion. She is involved with church groups. She is currently living with her boyfriend whom is Dominican. Her boyfriend doesn’t have a job because he doesn’t speak English.
Flea Market USA is a place where Hazel feels comfortable because of the ambiance, the people that work and shop there have an influence on her belief. Most of the customers that shop at the flea market are of black and Hispanic races. She likes working at the flea market because she learns a lot from her customers, she explains that it seems that her customers don’t have anyone to talk to at home, and they speak to her about their personal issues. She also enjoys shopping at the flea market on her own time.
Being a student at Beauty Schools of America, allows Hazel to incorporate time into what she likes to do. She wants to get her hairdresser/cosmetology license because she wants to know how to style hair. She loves doing nails and hair.
In addition to my conversation with Hazel Rodriguez, I also met Louie Olmeda whom moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S. He was married in Puerto Rico and got divorced. He is now married here in the U.S. and he has children.
Olmeda works at the barbershop. He seemed very outgoing and told me that he wanted to own his own barbershop one day. He says he would be better off with his own business, and when I asked about where he would like to own a barbershop, he says that not in the area.
In his current job, Olmeda has to pay $150 to rent a chair for a week, and he explains that he earns around $250 a week. He asked why I was doing research at the flea market. He told me it wasn’t a good place and he explains that there is a fight there almost every week.
Overall, so far I was skeptical about going to the flea market because I really didn’t remember what it was like. The last time I can recall going to a flea market was when I was young. I learned how to relate to Rodriguez and Olmeda. So far, by what they aspire as individuals, it seems that they are working for a living and to better themselves. Rodriguez mentioned that she wanted to style hair, and Olmeda spoke about opening his own barbershop one day. They both come from different countries and are aspiring for more in life here in the U.S. They both have children, and they are both in a current relationship. I felt I had a genuine conversation with them. They seemed a little hesitant on providing me with their full name because they did not want to be involved in something that could possibly be published that would bring them issues. Revelation of their identity is the fear that these interviewees had, but they were able to trust me and open to a conversation where divorce, religion, alcohol and hopes was involved.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Journal 1
I really liked the interaction that took place within the first week of class. I felt comfortable hearing about different ethnicities and how one's viewpoints on others might be biased. The exercise that involved different chosen races within a community was an eye-opener that made me understand the different stereotypes that one has unconsciously about others. The activity proved the point that we are all stereotypical, which is only natural for us. It is essential to address questions to other races that I probably never thought of asking. Why should I be afraid, possibly because I do not have the same ethnical background, and they might get offended? Fear is the key of our failures, and as a journalist, I should overcome it.
Overall, I believe the movie Barbershop is a great example on how different races can relate to one another and influence the community. There is a white barber at the shop that apparently doesn’t seem fit enough to cut hair for black individuals. The black men that were waiting for a haircut did not want to cut their hair with him. Stereotypes are not just created with races, but with gender as well. When the black girl that works at the barbershop came in work, she was moody and that created a notion of agitation for her customer whom left and said he will be back later. Every person at the shop was different, but yet they all worked together within the same community.
I think it takes a lot of effort for a person to change his or her perspective on a place. In regards to Liberty City, people from a different race do not seem to want to take the time to get to know the community. There is good and bad neighborhoods everywhere. Within each race, there are different social classes and that creates a notion of prejudice. In regards to the article by Keith Woods, one can move beyond fears by reading, writing and talking, which makes sense because the more you know about the person and how their lifestyle is, how they think like, what they like to do, it will be easier to interact with them. Once a reporter interacts with the person and can relate to them then that creates a comfort zone, which can create a great source. I do agree that one should go beyond white and black because that allows you to see a person by their feelings and actions. What Molly Hennessy-Fiske did for the victim, Rashaun Williams, of the shooting was quite impressive because it portrays the human side of her, of not just a reporter or a journalist, but a person that is willing to help another individual no matter the circumstances.
Overall, I believe the movie Barbershop is a great example on how different races can relate to one another and influence the community. There is a white barber at the shop that apparently doesn’t seem fit enough to cut hair for black individuals. The black men that were waiting for a haircut did not want to cut their hair with him. Stereotypes are not just created with races, but with gender as well. When the black girl that works at the barbershop came in work, she was moody and that created a notion of agitation for her customer whom left and said he will be back later. Every person at the shop was different, but yet they all worked together within the same community.
I think it takes a lot of effort for a person to change his or her perspective on a place. In regards to Liberty City, people from a different race do not seem to want to take the time to get to know the community. There is good and bad neighborhoods everywhere. Within each race, there are different social classes and that creates a notion of prejudice. In regards to the article by Keith Woods, one can move beyond fears by reading, writing and talking, which makes sense because the more you know about the person and how their lifestyle is, how they think like, what they like to do, it will be easier to interact with them. Once a reporter interacts with the person and can relate to them then that creates a comfort zone, which can create a great source. I do agree that one should go beyond white and black because that allows you to see a person by their feelings and actions. What Molly Hennessy-Fiske did for the victim, Rashaun Williams, of the shooting was quite impressive because it portrays the human side of her, of not just a reporter or a journalist, but a person that is willing to help another individual no matter the circumstances.
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