| Max Moline participated in a three-week visit to the Deep South coordinated by Operation Understanding DC (OUDC), a program that builds respect between African-American and Jewish students in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. The students meet biweekly throughout the spring of their junior year to learn about each others’ cultures before heading on the summer trip. The experience taught Max more than the history of African-American persecution; he also confronted his own subtle prejudices and stereotypes.
During the program’s orientation retreat, two African- Americans and two Jews occupied each hotel room. According to Max, roommates rarely interacted in the beginning, but after a day of icebreaker activities, most participants opened up to each other.
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"I realized that we had more commonalities than differences," says Max, describing his relationship with his African-American roommate Donnell. "After all, we are all made b’tzelem Elokim, in God’s image." Before long, the two had bonded over their loyalty to the Washington Redskins, their love of comedy films, and their similar political views.
Mutual respect is the key to a good friendship, says Max, who now facilitates diversity workshops throughout the community. “I want to pass on what I have learned,” he says, “so others can see that despite our differences, no person is any better or worse than any other.” |
