Jeweler

David was one of the last ones I chose for the cast because he was the only one I didn’t know personally. From the beginning, I had a very strong sense of the type of EuroAmerican man I wanted – a middle aged man who was racist and didn’t know it, but might be willing to hear a different point of view. I asked a friend of mine, Spencer Brewer, if he knew anyone who might fit that particular description, and he said he knew just the perfect person. When I met David, I wasn’t particularly impressed. He definitely looked unassuming, but the moment he started talking, he emerged as the exact kind of person I was looking for. He talked about how Blacks were irresponsible and couldn’t be trusted, Chinese wouldn’t share anything, and Hispanics often took siestas.

In retrospect, I have often wondered why he didn’t mention any of these stereotypes during the filming. What I have finally come to realize is that he probably didn’t because he was only one of two white men in a room filled with a majority of people of color – a situation that EuroAmericans seldom have to experience, unless they are on vacation in another country. And so, finding himself in this situation, he became a “brother” to everyone.

In private, David later revealed that he thought Victor was on welfare and that most of the men of color hadn’t gone to college. When he discovered that he was the only one who didn’t go to college, he became “a brother” to all the men. Funny how not being in power changes one’s perspective and sense of safety.