Picture this: Girl. 18 to 22. Nike shorts. Oversized T-shirt. What’s the first word that pops into your head? For many Ole Miss students, it’s probably “sorority.” But this assumption might not be true. These are the kind of assumptions that Humans of New York (HONY) has been able to challenge.
If you’re unfamiliar with HONY, here’s how it works. Brandon Stanton, who started the project in 2010, stops strangers on the streets on New York and asks if he can take their picture. His original goal was to photograph 10,000 people; he never imagined capturing the attention of the national — and international — community.
Along with each photograph, Stanton asks the person one question that is often extremely personal. Questions include: What was the saddest/happiest moment in your life? What do you want to be when you grow up? When couples are photographed, the question is usually: What’s your favorite thing about (the other person)? These photos are then posted to his blog, as well as the Facebook page, which has amassed over 1.7 million likes. Several hundred of the photographs are now featured in Stanton’s new book, “Humans of New York,” which climbed to No. 1 on The New York Times’ hardcover nonfiction best-seller list.
Looking through the pictures, I am struck by the diversity displayed in the photographs. There are people of all ages, of all races, from all backgrounds and from all walks of life. There are college students and elderly couples; construction workers and businessmen; young children and teachers; street performers and immigrants; people whose faces are obscured by makeup and some who wear none at all.
We tend to just pass by other people, unless they stand out in some unexpected way; and, if we do notice them, we usually just pass judgment. Our day-to-day activities take precedence over the opportunities we have to connect with others. HONY, however, celebrates the value of each and every human being. We, as humans, are not simply objects to be overlooked as part of the scenery. Every person can offer a unique perspective, shaped by his or her own experiences and backgrounds. To function as a healthy and prosperous community, it is important to appreciate the wealth of perspectives our country has to offer.
Yet, despite the physical differences highlighted in the pictures, the subjects’ words reveal similarities. Each picture does allow the world a glimpse at a completely unique individual. But the stories often are based on common human emotions and shared experiences of humanity — hope and regret; joy and grief; life and death.
Some stories reflect pure happiness. One man, photographed holding a bouquet of flowers, told Stanton, “Sometimes, when I’m going home to see her, I think, ‘No one should be this happy on a Tuesday.’”
Others are steeped in grief. When asked about the saddest moment of his life, one young man responded, “When I got taken away from my mom when I was six.”
It is remarkable how much people open up to Stanton and share some of the most private, and oftentimes painful, aspects of their lives. But perhaps it’s because, as Brandon Stanton told The New York Times, “there’s a comfort, an affirmation, a validation in being exposed to people with similar problems.”
I think that’s the most important lesson one can learn from HONY: the idea of community and relatedness of human beings. While two people may look completely different in appearance, they often share similar stories of overcoming obstacles, experiencing sorrow at the loss of a loved one or the joy of falling in love. People express regret over past mistakes and hope for a better future. They share stories of financial hardship; offer pieces of advice for future generations and reflect on big accomplishments in their lives. Although the details of the stories may differ, common threads run through them.
Maybe the politicians in Washington D.C., could learn a few lessons from HONY. If we recognized the inherent value in all of humanity, it might be harder to support policies that degrade the dignity or respect of individuals. If we focused on shared experiences, rather than concentrating on the things that separate us, we could truly prosper as a community and a country.
Christine Dickason is a junior public policy leadership major from Collierville, Tenn.
-Christine Dickason
cndickas@go.olemiss.edu
