Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol

          “Amazing Grace” by Jonathan Kozol, mentioned about the poor neighborhoods and how five of every three students have reduce lunch. This reminds me of every school I went to. At my elementary school, I remember every student had reduced lunch. There were lots of Hispanic kids, a few blacks, and the least were the whites and Asians. We all were from the poor, or known as “ghetto” neighborhood (Kozol). In relation to “An Indian Father’s plea” by Robert Lake, his son was neither from the city nor the ghetto society but from the woods and the wild. The teacher labeled his son as a “slow learner” because he has never been exposed to the city, the people and the school environment (Lake). Like the kids from the ghetto, they are placed in a different environment where nothing looks like the environment they are used to. Each kid is from a different environment, whether it’s from an African American back ground or a Hispanic, Asian, White or Native American, no child would feel comfortable being in school until they find something they can relate to.

            I can’t help but feel bad for the students who have to deal with fear, anxiety, stress, and those who are living in an environment where they can’t breathe because of the smokers in their household (Kozol). With the kind of obstacles and problems in their life, they will have difficult times learning in school. Just like an “Inspiring Mind” mentor had said, “If the child hasn’t eaten that morning, all they’ll think is about food instead of focusing on the subject that is being taught in the class.” I believe a child’s mind will think like that for all kind of things such as for stress, fear and anxiety, not just food. It is harsh for children who grew up in “South Bronx,” because their environment is basically a junk yard and an addict’s neighborhood (Kozol).

            Coming from a different or a rough back ground shows that you are different and like the Indian father has said, “He is not culturally ‘disadvantage,’ but he is culturally ‘different’" (Lake). Not every child will be the same, some kids comes from rough back grounds, such as the “South Bronx, New York, orphanage” (Kozol) and others had culture impact. I like the example that the Indian man stated about the difference between school system education and cultural education. His example was about “how many months are in a year?” and for his child he would’ve replied 13 because in their culture there are 13 full moons in a year and that’s the first that shows the similarity (Lake).  I’m not sure if I had encounter racism before but I feel bad for the little Indian boy who couldn’t make any friends and fit in because of racism.

            I dislike the community that South Bronx represents because there are crimes, prostitute and AIDs going around in that society. I know they are in need of great help because they’re the disadvantage people who are more likely to be cast out of New York. Relating to “White Privilege” by Peggy McIntosh, the whites have the privilege to do things that others can’t, such as being in a particular place that only allows whites, or having the tittle to work in better jobs then a person who’s a different race. The people in South Bronx have no job, no health benefit and no support of any kind. From McIntosh view, she stated about her experience and said, "As a white person, I realized I had been taught about racism as something which puts other at a disadvantage…" (McIntosh). It’s sad, that the people in “South Bronx” are disadvantaged and have to be terribly sick or on their death bed to be able to get SSI. SSI is a program for the sick to receive money for their inability to work (Kozol). 

Although there maybe some kind of violence in the society, it's good that in today's economic, people has become more aware of poverty and racism and less like the society in "Amazing Grace" where people are left to die because they have no support and health benefit. Speaking of health and education, the society that we, "Providence," live in has become more focus on those who are in need of help.

Bibliography

Kozol, Jonathan. "Amazing Grace." The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a nation 1995: 1-12.

Lake, Robert. "An Indian Father's Plea." The Institution of Education 1996: 1-4.

McIntosh, Peggy. "White Privilege ." White Privilege and Male Privilege 1988: 1-4.