Spotlighting diversity of human suffering: “Soft White Underbelly”
Exactly last January, thanks to YouTube’s autoplay, I was randomly directed to an engaging and perspective-changing video of an escort woman named Frenchie when the video had just been uploaded on the Soft White Underbelly channel. The video made me immerse myself deeper into the channel, and I immediately became one of its subscribers. Human suffering and misery are different, just like the famous opening lines of one of my favorite novels, Anna Karenina: “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” This channel enriched my common sense and sympathy for people who are suffering and struggling in their own ways.
It is a documentary series on YouTube by photographer Mark Laita, who interviews wounded, ridiculed human beings who can be found in every corner of this world, not only in the United States.
This channel is the epitome of what I believe: everyone has something unique in their life to write about and a story to tell. Many of the interviews are of sex workers, drug addicts, runaways, victims of molestation and all sorts of abuse, gang swingers, the homeless, and many more that most “well-off” people see as misfits and scurvy in today’s society.
Mark occasionally acts unethically and presses the interviewee to respond, and there are some backlashes, but his endeavor to create awareness of things that cast shadows on humans and tell stories that “everyday people” like me would find difficult to understand and the emotions and discoveries elicited by these conversations alone make it a binge-worthy channel. At 18, I hadn’t developed much sympathy, a sense of humility, or consciousness, and I used to wonder why people in more developed countries with better opportunities became homeless and lived in misery. All I thought was that a lack of understanding and the hiring of people with felony convictions were two of the reasons. Through this channel, I get to know why some people end up on Skid Row and how abuse or neglect manifests itself on the outside as well as the inside. I want to pinpoint three videos in this post that touched my heart deeply.
She is such a free-spirited, smart, and talented woman—a great narrator and wordsmith. Just as an example, she wrote, “We’re all voyeurs in our own way, looking for strange, crazy, sad, intense, one-of-a-kind, and entertaining fucked stories to keep our fucked minds entertained! Why ? “Why does it always have to be extreme or sad to be impactful or interesting?” As a twin, I’m aware of how comparison with the other twin affects the mental health, self-esteem, and confidence of twin children. However, I used to object that two brains perform significantly better than one mind and brain whenever a middle school teacher said that if the two of you were one person, you would be brilliant and an altar student. She tells her story in an unapologetically honest and authentic manner, which moved my heart and soul. I also believe the choices we make sculpt our lives, and it is true that we only relate to what we know. Therefore, sometimes it is better to hold onto your judgment and condemnation in your mind.
His story explains how childhood trauma manifests in all aspects of adult life. I’m impressed and saddened by the way he shares his life story and experiences because he’s gone through unspeakable events. In fact, for those suffering from PTSD, it is so much easier for them to talk about what has been done to them—to tell a story of victimization—than to notice, feel, and put into words the reality of their internal experience. People who have been through a lot of trauma can’t find satisfaction in the mundane because frightening and overwhelming events and their marks on the brain block their ability to live fully and securely in the present. They’re depersonalized by their internal emotions and physical sensations. I want to believe that people suffering from PTSD could regain function, form loving relationships, and heal with the right care, but sadly, he died of a drug overdose earlier in January🕊 May his soul rest in peace and reincarnate in a loving and caring family.
I respect all religious ideologies and believe that if we give them careful thought and consideration, they may bring us peace and help us become better people. His interview definitely gives hope, positivity, and encouragement to people who’ve gone through the same path. Understanding the power of forgiveness, he gained wisdom and a loving heart. Through religion, he learned how to turn hatred into love and heal from generational trauma. It is true that “the core of the issue is people’s hearts,” and with so much hatred and resentment in our hearts, we can’t be better people than our parents.
There are numerous episodes to choose from on the Soft White Underbelly channel. You will feel, think, and realize a lot while hearing about many walks of life, their beginnings, and the stories they want to share. Therefore, I hope many people take the time to listen to their stories and sympathize with the people around us. After you start watching Soft White Underbelly’s videos, you will realize the importance of “cultivating love and kindness in a child to sow the seeds of compassion, and only then you will build a great civilization, a great nation.”
