MultiEthnic Reporting Class Review

Mr. Reisner's approach to the various topics in Multi-Ethnic is very different from any other professor at Florida International University. Reporting in a multiethnic community class requires that you have an open mind and that you don't get offended by anything that is said.   Professor Reisner dares to say and ask things that no one would say publicly and that in retrospect opens the door to a sea of discussions.

The class explores the many different stereotypes created by our own generations and society itself. I can't help emphasize on how much this makes a class interesting. Everyone openly discussing what they hear or think without anyone getting offended. What's most enjoyable is that you get to hear the different views from the different cultures. It helps us better understand the people around us. Everyone at some point has experienced the stereotypes we talk about making it easy for us to discuss. The class is also interesting because of the experience we have to go through. Putting ourselves in an unfamiliar environment that makes us uncomfortable and writing/talking about it. It's challenging because who wants to be somewhere that makes us uncomfortable hence giving us something to experience, write and talk about.

I think this is a good class for any reporter to take. It helps open your mind and explore the thoughts that go on in your head out loud.

If there was one thing I could change about the class would be to challenge us more. Reisner did some test's at the beginning of the semester to help us see what our stereotypes were and I thought that was interesting. To see everyone's result and discuss it  was interesting. Something I would have liked to have seen more of. .

Overall I think the class is great. Thank you for this experience.

JESUS was my savior

I found myself sitting at the bar again Thursday night at Cozmos sipping on glass of house pinot grigio. There were two girls in the bar dancing with the male entertainers as they giggled and placed money around the dancer's tighty whiteys.  Across the room where small groups of 3 or 4 male dancers who shamelessly showed off their ASSets while chatting away with customers .  The music was loud but not loud enough to draw in a crowd. I'd be able to find my pet gerbil if I ever lost it of how dead the place was. I was quite entertained as I got to see the effect of alcohol on people as the night progressed- my idea of reality t.v.

I noticed a tall man staring at me. I was drawn to him only because of how dark and mysterious he seemed. I turned to Kev the bartender and asked him for a refill. As I started to sip a voice whispers "Do you have JESUS in your life?" Startled at first I said "No. No I don't. I'm not really religious. I mean I believe that there is something greater, I just don't know what." He gave me a wicked smile and said "Well, I am Jesus and I am your savior." I laughed and looked at him oddly.  He took my hand, kissed it and  introduced himself as Jesus, my savior.

"What is such a pretty girl like yourself doing at a gay bar by herself? Are you  really going to sit here alone?" he asked. "Well... yea. Is there something wrong with sitting by yourself?" I responded. "No. But your just too damn pretty to be here alone. Come on sit with me. I'm here with my cousin and a girlfriend," he said with an inviting smile.

I was a little unsure of his sexual preference or if this invitation would end with embarrassing tagged pictures on Facebook, but I accepted regardless.This is how I met Jesus and how our friendship blossomed.

Jesus and I exchanged numbers and since then text at least twice a week. Since I met him at Cozmos we've gone out twice and I have visited his apartment once. 

Jesus is tall; probably between 6'2 or 6'3. He has the silhouette of a football player but looks cuddly like a teddy. His shaggy brunette hair hides most of his forehead. You can barely see his eyes when he smiles cause his cheeks are so big. He credits Martha Stewart for all of his cooking and Prada for giving him fashionable taste.

He is 28 years old and a nursing student at Miami-Dade College. He was a dancer for the Miami City Ballet and worked there for five years before he left to New York three years ago. "I left to New york cause it's something I always wanted. While over there, I found love. But it didn't find me. I'm use to it. Usually the men I like aren't gay," he said. It then dawned on me that there was a broken heart in the room.

Jesus admitted to liking only straight men. He says he can't stand the flamboyancy of gay men."I like men because they're masculine. How does it make any sense for me to like a gay man? I might as well be straight and love you!" he said.  I was baffled. I had never met anyone who was gay and liked straight people. But according to Jesus there are a lot more gay straight men out there than we'd like to believe. "I have been with numerous men and just because there's a beautiful woman in his arms doesn't mean he's not going to sleep with a man at night" he said.

He then asked me "Do you have Jesus in your life?" and winked. I laughed. "Yes, I have A Jesus in my life." He then leaned over to me and hugged me.

Cozmos

So I've been meaning to write an updated blog.. but it has somehow managed to slip my mind the last few weeks. I wanted to share with you my experience at Cozmos. At first when I drove by the shopping center it seemed dead.. but a crowd of loud flamboyant men assured me it the place was open. So I parked my car, (disregarding the parking meter) and put some makeup on and walked to Cozmos. I approached the door and a  young Asian looking guy asked for my I.D. He smiled and said "Thanks Beautiful. Have fun inside. Drinks are free, remember to tip your bartender." I was happy to hear that. I walked in and there was an empty room. At least it seemed empty. Ever heard of the saying "there was an elephant in the room"? Well, that's what it felt like. There were maybe 25 people or 30 I suppose. The young male dancers wore tightie whiteys and were seen across the club mingling with the guests or dancing on the stage. When I first saw the group of girls sitting on the couch in front of the dance floor I thought, "oh great. These lesbians are going to think I'm gay and are going to hit on me." I didn't make a glance at no one. I walked straight up to the bar and asked the only person I considered a friend at this point (the bartender) for a glass of pinot grigio. Secretly, I wanted a beer but I thought the beer would give me a butch look and that I'd get hit on, so I went with wine instead. As soon as I sat down and took a sip of wine a guy approached me. "Are you seriously going to sit at the bar by yourself?" he asked. "Yeah, what's wrong with that?" I said. "Well, nothing. Why are you here by yourself?" "I'm a freelance reporter and I want to learn about the gay community." I said. He introduced himself as Kev. He was one of the bartenders there. He invited me over to sit with his cousin and his cousin's gf. We hung out and talked for a bit. I must admit, my surroundings was very disturbing. It was hard not to notice the 65 year-old-guy making out with his hand down the crotch of a young teenage guy. I was truly shocked at the few men who were there and claimed to be 'straight'. The bartender himself told me he was straight and I saw the owner of Cosmos (who I also met and is also gay) Vito, with his hand on Kev's ass. I was honestly grossed out by everyone there. They all seemed to not care who they were talking to or who was touching them.

My 79st 2 min scare

I had to be at work today at 4 a.m. Where I work isn't necessarily the best neighborhood. I have to go through NW 79th st right off 95 and go east towards the beach a.k.a. North Bay Village. There are always these bums that hang out at the light right off the exit and beg for money. Considering the time I was headed to work (3 a.m.) I made sure my doors were locked. I always try  to avoid the bums that wait so patiently for a stopping car at the light. It just scares me to have someone (who looks like a crackhead) walk up to my car (Being I am the only person at the light) and beg. I usually take the red lights in bad neighborhoods because I don't feel safe stopped alone in the darkness. Anyways, today was different. I actually waited for the green light. The same bum who is always there was there. He looked over at me ( I could see him through the corner of my eye) and when he saw I made no eye contact, he turned around and continued his business. (looked like he was eating something.) I usually avoid making eye contact with bums to avoid them approaching me. So when I saw he turned around, I stared at him. I was thinking about random things that related to him (why he's there, how much it sucks..etc). I had questions that I have always wanted to ask a bum. He noticed me looking at him and seemed kind of hesitant to wheel his way over to me. We exchanged stares. I couldn't help but feel bad for the guy when I saw the he was actually eating something and perhaps just this one time this bum was really hungry and wanted money for food. (which made me feel really guilty about throwing away a publix sub prior to leaving my house this morning.)
So I started scrambling through my purse and he must've have seen what my intentions were because he came over to me. I pulled my window ALL the way down, smiled and gave him what ever change I had in my wallet. All of it. He smiled and said "Oh ma'm thank you so much. God bless you. Thank you for taking the time to help me. Thank you. I have aids and I'm dieing. Thank you for helping me. God is watching you and has seen the good you've done today." I replied with a smile "no problem, thank you." Then we sat there in awkward silence for about 12 seconds, then he said, "My name is Michael. What's yours?" and I replied with "Jackie. Nice to meet you Michael. My brother's name is Michael." The light then turned green and he saluted me and said thank you for the last time.
 I have to admit. It felt really nice. That was the first time I had ever given him money. It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be. I wish I could have chatted with him longer but I had to work. Besides that, like I said, the area isn't a good neighborhood. I was happy to have helped him and somewhat confront my fear. Now I don't have to take the red lights anymore..

An Experiment I did..

I was in Orlando over the weekend and I was wearing a shaw (looks like a hijab) and I decided I would place it over my head to cover my hair the way muslims do. I wanted to see how people would look at me. To see if they would treat me any different. I went to cracker barrel with a group of 10 friends wearing my shaw. They sat me and my group in different tables.  I could feel everyones eyes on me. A few people pointed. Usually when you sit at a restaurant you get bread and drinks first. They didn't bring it till 20 mins later. When they brought bread, they didn't bring us plates. When we asked for it the waitress shrugged her shoulders and said "oh i'm sorry.  i don't know what to tell ya" and walked away. The party that came with us who sat in another table ate and got there check before we even got our food. Considering both tables set our orders at the same time. We got our food an hour and a half later. WE ended up complaining to the manager and got our food on the house. The place didn't seem busy so I don't believe it was because of that. I don't even know if it was because of what I was wearing. Point is, I felt uncomfortable and unwanted. 

I did this as an experiment just to see how others around me would react and treat me.