Rudy wrote on his blog about the struggles of his nephew at a Christian College. I think it is a good entry to read. Here is a taste of what he wrote :

AND ANOTHER THING: My nephew said something illuminating about “urban plunge” mission trips. For some students, he said, going on an urban ministry plunge is THE WRONG thing to do. Often, at ministries like Harambee, volunteers tend to see the worst in the urban / black / latino communities. For someone with no experience with minorities, this type of experience just reinforces the stereotypes that are already out there: that minorities are broke, busted, uneducated, down and out, need someone’s help, addicted, jacked, tweaked, and “other.” The crazy part is that a person like me, in a ministry like Harambee, can unwittingly perpetuate this whole stereotype.

I’ve thought about this for years. It’s the reason why we emphasize positive images and hope. Take a look at our Harambee web site, at the photos therein, and the stories. We work hard not to misrepresent ourselves. What this discussion made me think is that I need to keep investing in showing positive role models, in showing ordinary people doing well, and I need to make a concerted effort to do this. It’s hard, because there is still great need all around us; it’s a mixed bag. Yes, some fit the description above, but most don’t.