Jonathan Kozol: "Amazing Race"

OVERVIEW:

The read itself was easy to comprehend and interesting, but the harsh reality was hard to grasp. It was hard to relate and imagine living in such a neighborhood. This article was a major eye opener. I was aware that neighborhood like this, in the Bronx, existed but I did not reality how troubled they really are. The high number of AIDS, drug addicts, and death rates in one community was the most mind-boggling. Also, the hospital was filled to capacity, which leaves germ infected people waiting in the waiting room for days.

Clearly, this community is not sanitary at all. But to make some progress, there are places which give out free condoms and needles, which in a way are supporting the bad behaviors, such as prostitution and drug using. But it is so second nature to most people living here that in a way it is helping solve further more problems, like AIDs. I also realized that is that children in this neighborhood are similar to children in any other environment. The seven-year-old boy who guided Kozol around the neighborhood, seemed be like any other seven-year-old boy. He was “cheerful” and “buoyant” according to Kozol. This young boy is fully aware of what is going on in his community, and yet he’s upbeat and outgoing to the stranger. Although some children may appear to be happy, according to Kozol, most children in Mott Haven do have depression symptoms, live in fear and anxiety, and also suffer from medical illness, commonly asthma.  

QUOTES:

1.      “Nearly 4,000 heroin injectors, many of whom are HIV-infected, live here. Virtually every child at St. Ann’s knows someone, a relative or neighbor, who has died of AIDS, and most children here know many other who are dying now of the disease.”

This to me is crazy because I do not know anyone who has died from AIDS. I also think it’s safe to say that not many, if any, knew of anyone who did in my public schools growing up. This show just how bad this neighborhood truly is. It is common to see someone you know die of AIDS, which to me would be stocking and unusual.

2.      “God told us, ‘Share!’”

Although Cliffie’s family is poor, he is still is brought up to share and have manners. When a homeless man asked Cliffie for food, he gave him some of his pizza, even though there was barely enough to feed his family. Most would believe that his parents would be mad or upset for them giving away their food. But when he was asked if his parents got mad, he was puzzled as to why they would be. He was also willing to share his cookies with Kozol.  It show his innocence for doing a good thing, not being selfish, especially when most people, both rich or poor, would have not bothered to share with a homeless man. Living in a bad neighborhood does not always have a negative effect on people living there.

3.      “At 96^th Street, all of the other white people leave the car I’m in, but several black and Hispanic...”

The community is made up of mainly blacks and Hispanics, which relates to “The Trouble We’re In” from Privilege, Power and Difference by Johnson. It is a clear demonstration of white privileged because of the fact that no white people live in such a community. White people are expected to have a good job and be successful, and because of that they are not seen to be living in such a neighborhood. But on the other hand, it is not unusually to have this community filled with black and Hispanics, according to Johnson.