Amazing Grace

Jonathan Kozol, Amazing Grace
Reflection

While reading this piece by Kozol I couldn't help but get emotional because I was a child who was born in the Bronx who saw some of these sad and depressing scenes.  I will touch up on my life history briefly but if you have any questions or comments please feel free to ask or comment on my post. My sister and I were born Puerto Rican parents who we were only with us for the first four years of our life. Then something amazing happened, we were adopted by loving parents who deeply cared for our well being and future.  But before we got adopted I remember growing up in the crime and drug infested neighborhood similar to the one Kozol references on in his article.  I remember seeing these numerous bright colored caps that  Kozol saw while walking with Cliffie.  I always compared them to that Dr. Mario game that consisted of all the colorful pill capsules.I  remember asking my birth mother what they were and all she would say is don't ever pick them up.  But yes they were everywhere.This article portrayed what I was living in when I was a child.  Though I don't remember seeing as many needles Kozol saw but I may as well.  Those first four years of my life had no structure and stability, at the time I didn't know any better, I just thought that's how life is.  Just like Cliffie in the story, although he was older than I was and disturbed by what he sees, it was just another day in the Bronx.  While reflecting back on those days, I can't imagine where I'd be if that social worker hadn't come to our apartment.  While looking back on that single moment, that was the best day of our lives.  As someone who has never been to the Bronx this would be a horrific and scary scene but if you've been there or actually lived there, you tend to agree and say that's the way it is.  When my birth mother was home, she would take us out and I remember she would always tell me to never talk to any strangers. I can remember seeing weird looking people sleeping in the hallways or outside back then but now reflecting back, they were probably drunk or high.  As a little kid you really don't give it too much thought of why they're doing what they're doing.  You tend to think behaviors like that are innocent like maybe he was just tired so he decided to take a nap.  Living in the Bronx was completely different from growing up in Raleigh, North Carolina.  After getting adopted, we moved from  Long Island, NY to Raleigh, NC.  These were the best years of my life.  I finally had access to an are where I was free to run and play without the worries of WHO and WHAT was around.  I had loving parents who cared and treated me like family and I also had my sister.

Questions/Comments/Points to Share:
While looking back as I have said, I don't think I'd be where I am today if it weren't for the fact that I was taken away from my birth parents because they were unfit parents or for whatever reason I don't know.  But I wouldn't be the man I am today if it weren't for my parents who provided me another chance on life.  It's hard to become successful in school if you have to worry about when are you going to eat next or the fear of when the city is going to turn off your electricity.  Not only are parents under pressure but so are the children.  Walking around in a poverty stricken and drug infested environment.  How are children supposed to succeed in school with so many worries and a city where crime and diseases fill the streets they walk in?  Where you have incinerators next door burning amputated body parts and bloodied linens and bandages.  Children have minds like sponges so they soak all of these visuals and behaviors and they just assume this is reality.  This is how it's supposed to be because everybody is participating in these negative behaviors.  This article meant a lot to me and I loved Kozol's quote "you hear the dealers call it out.  It's like they're saying, Come on over here. I'll show you how to end your life."  How would you propose to rid your neighborhood of drug dealers?
Check this out. South Bronx.  Another clip