By Jalen Vaugn
My homestay with a South African family this summer was an eye-opening experience that underscored the differences and similarities between my hometown of Indianapolis and Durban, where my homestay family lives.
In Durban, I noticed that the city showed signs of years of urban decay and gentrification.
A former Durban city manager said there had been a migration of whites out of the city in the post-apartheid period.
Only recently have residents started to come back to downtown Durban, which is expected to result in widespread economic development and growth.
In my home city of Indianapolis, the same is happening to prime downtown real estate. Downtown Indianapolis serves as the headquarters of many large companies. Commuters from the suburbs don't want to deal with long trips to work and, as a result, the area is becoming home to primarily white residents. As a result a rising rent and property taxes, many predominately black homeowners are unable to keep a residence that may have been in their family for 20 years or more.
While these two cities have a lot in common in terms of gentrification, they are very different in terms of attitudes towards the police.
Prior to traveling in South Africa, I had a negative view of the police due to high-profile incidents of young black men dying after altercations with officers in the U.S.
I spoke to a lot of residents regarding life in South Africa and community-police relationships. The one thing that struck me was the respect that was displayed throughout a vast majority of the conversations. The police are viewed by people of diverse backgrounds — Zulu, Xhosa, Sutu to name a few — as there to help those in need.
In contrast, many people in my neighborhood in Indianapolis view police officers as a force of harassment and scapegoat them when they are caught in illegal activities. This attitude is especially evident in poor areas among black teens.
Living in an area where gunshots, emergency sirens and health violations are the norm, it is not uncommon for teens to fall into a cycle of poverty and violence. Many people I know hate and blame the police for their circumstances, and media coverage of violent altercations with the police do nothing to help the situation.
My experience in South Africa showed me that it doesn't have to be that way. Regardless of poverty or circumstances, South Africans do not blame others for their misfortunes. They just tried to move forward.
Jalen had the opportunity to travel to South Africa through The Experiment in International Living, which provides innovative and immersive summer abroad programs for high school students. The Experiment is a program of World Learning, a nonprofit organization empowering people, communities and institutions to create a more peaceful and just world.
Why different places have different attitudes towards the police
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