Left to Right: Anita Lynn, John aka Stank, Tony, Jala Lynn

Determined world changers having a good time at the Taste of Chicago 2009.

CONVERSATION WITH SONI

Blog Name: Soni

Topic: Black People Stop Killing Each Other T-shirt

Conversation:

Small Talk:Do you like the t-shirt?

SONI:No. I’m a person of comfort. It makes me uncomfortable.

Small Talk: Why don’t you like it?

 SONI:I’m not black and I don’t know how to respond to. What is the Correct Response?

I would never wear a shirt that says White People Stop Killing Each Other. Because it’s around death and violence and its not something I want to wear on a shirt.

Small Talk: What will it take in the whole wide world for you to Wear this shirt?

SONI: I don’t know. I would not know peoples response to me i.e “who are you to wear that shirt?”.  I think I would be viewed as some what of racist for wearing it.

Small Talk: What if you saw a person on the street with this shirt?

SONI: I would think “That’s an interesting statement” and then I’ll probably ignored it .

Small Talk: Does the shirt make an impact on you?

SONI: It would certainly catch my attention, I guess it’s a good thing to say…It’s a very poignant about a very specific topic.

Small Talk: If you saw a black guy with this shirt on,How will it effect your affinity of black men?

 SONI: I would probably be turned off from that particular guy.

sidenote:There are certain things about that black culture that I don’t understand or relate to:

1)      African-American culture seems so communal yet exclusive.

2)      I feel there is a little bit of a Preachiness within some diologue of African-Americans.

If I saw a black person wearing that shirt, my first assumption will be that he is very pro-black and not very interested in white people. Now, Im not saying that is true, that would just be my initial interpretation.

Small Talk: Is this the Boldest Shirt you’ve ever seen?

SONI: One of the Boldest without being very raunchy or sexual

Small Talk: Do you hope this shirt is effective?

SONI: I definitely hope it’s effective. Anything that promotes peace and attention to something important is good, whether I relate to it or not.