The Darkness of Homelessness

Everyday in Dakar you see income disparity, poverty, and an endless sight of begging, from the young, shoeless talibe to blind elders being led by their young. Whether right or wrong, one typically becomes jaded and unfazed of this obvious poverty. I’m not going to lie, I am one of them at times.

The hustle and bustle of Dakar’s downtown streets during the day typically blends this poverty into obscurity.

As the sun sets and the African moon brings faint light to the Ponty, the humbleness comes out and scenes that I will never forget. It is hard to miss individuals, mothers with their young, mentally disturbed, elders, and other homeless asleep along store fronts. Some are on cardboard boxes, but many are on the concrete. On cold evenings they are so close to seek the warmth of those around them. There is one group that sleeps under a mosquito net.

You wish you could do something to make a difference but go to bed wondering what. While going against sustainability, at times, helping them get to the next day might be what is needed. No simple solution to a never-ending midnight sight.

The one thing I have learned is that it is important to not let the sharp images of night be overcome by the obscurity of day.