The Homeless Angel

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Every person who lives in a city of any size has seen them. You may have walked right by one without hardly a backwards glance, or steadfastly ignored them. You may have turned away in disgust, felt pity or even anger at the very sight of them. They are the homeless that walk the streets America, sleep in alleyways, under bridges, and in the door ways of stores. They are often dirty, unkempt, and sad looking. They are people without dignity or so you thought. On March 10th 2009 one woman changed America’s perception about the homeless.

Her name was Linda Hamilton. She was, unbeknown to her at the time, about to become an American Hero.

It began with the filming of a CBS show called What Would You Do? The shows premises is to present hidden camera situations and then tape how people react to these situations. In this particular show A stunt man posing as a homeless man carrying a bottle of booze suddenly falls unconscious to the ground. As the cameras roll person after person walks by and around this man. Most ignore him, some stare at him as they pass but no one helps him. Until a black woman with a cane slowly makes her way down the street. Seeing the man she begs others walking past to call 911. Her pleas are ignored.

Worry and concern clearly etched on her face, she stoops down, in what looks like a painful feat and removes the booze from the man and throws it away wanting to give him dignity. She then gives this man the name of “Billy” and talks to him in a sweet and caring voice begging him to hang on and letting him know that he is not alone, as she continues to beg for help.

At last someone answers her plea and calls for help. It isn’t until later that the woman whose name we learn is Linda Hamilton learns that the whole thing was not real, that the man was fine and was simply acting to see how people would react.

We learn that Ms. Hamilton is 42 years old, has suffered two strokes, and at times has been homeless herself. She is ill, and cannot afford medication. These troubles alone would leave most of us feeling sorry for ourselves. Not Linda Hamilton. She saw someone in need and not only tried to help him but gave him dignity, a name, and as the man himself later said an angel to hang onto until she get him help.

While the world all but ignored this man, whose life for all they knew could have been ebbing away on the sidewalk, This valiant woman stepped forward, showing love, caring, grace and dignity to do all that was in her power to save this person.

So touched were people who watched the show that they wanted to know more about this black woman with the angelic face and the courage to accost strangers for the sake of an unknown man.

They were later to learn about Ms. Hamilton’s own medical problems as the crew and producers of What Would You Do searched, located and helped this unforgeable woman. Many viewers have contributed to a fund to help her get an apartment and necessary medical care.

Emails to the show, have told of tears at her heroics and prayers for her. All well deserved.

But her greatest feat, was she has now put a face to the homeless, by giving the man on the sidewalk dignity and exhibiting dignity herself, she proved once and for all that the homeless, are not a drain on society. They may be down on their luck, poor, and in need of a helping hand, but they should never be ignored or abandoned.

They are people, with hopes, dreams, and courage. They are a part of us and the world we live in. They just might be the person who will someday come to your aid when you are in need.

We should never forget the Linda Hamilton’s of the world. They are the people who make us take a hard look at ourselves and at others. They make us appreciate we are not alone in this world, and they give us someone to look up too. A real hero in a day and age when not many heroes are left for us to admire.