Understanding Lester’s moral principles, values, and ethics allowed me to view the connections of Lester’s life that impacted his life choices. Throughout Lester’s interview, his stories honed in on the values of fairness and justice. His experiences with discrimination, racism, the police, homelessness, and poverty reflect his views of the inequality and lack of fairness that he has experienced in his life. Fairness and justice is also a value that I adhere to as I am deeply disturbed when human rights violations are allowed to persist, especially in the case of Lester. The lack of fairness provided in Lester’s life and community greatly impacted his life choices as he noted often feeling targeted and inadequate. He was left to not only fend
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He was able to demonstrate the strength of perseverance and resiliency. Through his struggle of poverty, inadequate education, and experience with homelessness, Lester decided to take things into his own hands. He stated one of his biggest accomplishments was finishing high school and finally obtaining his diploma. He mentioned how obtaining a job has always been an obstacle but having his diploma has eased his opportunities in securing long term employment. He also demonstrated the strength to persevere and remain resilient given his environmental variables. Newark is home to the “largest garbage incinerators, one of the most contaminated sites (Agent Orange Dioxin Factory), active and abandoned industrial facilities, close flight paths, and active truck routes” (The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, 2017). The significance of the environment has direct consequences for the physical and mental health of those residing in Newark. Although Lester expressed how he’s never been able to experience a time not being sick, his battle with diabetes, and difficulty managing his high blood pressure as he ages, he continues to search for employment and develop a secure foundation for his life. One limitation that Lester expressed regarding his family, is understanding the impact and interconnection of losing his brother and encounters with police. Lester has yet to accept the loss of his brother and therefore has not fully grieved. He also had negative and distorted beliefs on how the police investigated his brother’s death and correlated this with how police abuse their power in the
He was able to demonstrate the strength of perseverance and resiliency. Through his struggle of poverty, inadequate education, and experience with homelessness, Lester decided to take things into his own hands. He stated one of his biggest accomplishments was finishing high school and finally obtaining his diploma. He mentioned how obtaining a job has always been an obstacle but having his diploma has eased his opportunities in securing long term employment. He also demonstrated the strength to persevere and remain resilient given his environmental variables. Newark is home to the “largest garbage incinerators, one of the most contaminated sites (Agent Orange Dioxin Factory), active and abandoned industrial facilities, close flight paths, and active truck routes” (The New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, 2017). The significance of the environment has direct consequences for the physical and mental health of those residing in Newark. Although Lester expressed how he’s never been able to experience a time not being sick, his battle with diabetes, and difficulty managing his high blood pressure as he ages, he continues to search for employment and develop a secure foundation for his life. One limitation that Lester expressed regarding his family, is understanding the impact and interconnection of losing his brother and encounters with police. Lester has yet to accept the loss of his brother and therefore has not fully grieved. He also had negative and distorted beliefs on how the police investigated his brother’s death and correlated this with how police abuse their power in the