Blog Post #3 - Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol (Reflection)

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    In Amazing Grace, Jonathan Kozol visits Mott Haven in the South Bronx. Which is said to be home to the poorest people in New York. Kozol interviewed many residents to better understand what they go through on a daily basis. I also believe that he wanted to make more people aware of the situations these residents live in. One of the first people he interviewed was Cliffe, who was seven years old. While they were walking around the neighborhood, it became more and more apparent that this was no a safe place for the children living there. Cliffe acted like the average young boy, saying hi to people he knew, eating cookies, and telling stories about his community. But then he'd say something that made me pause while reading. "I saw a boy shot in the head right over there," "They're burning bodies there ... The bodies of people!" "The day is coming when the world will be destroyed." In a different situation maybe this could be passed off as a kids say the darndest things moment. But this got me thinking about how where he lived might affect how he develops. Cliffe lives in a place where violence is an almost everyday occurrence, and where depression and insomnia are common in children. But even with all of that happening, there is still a community that cares about him. He has his mother. the people at St. Ann's Church, and the workers at the grocery store. With a piece like this, I think children's development is an important topic to consider. They briefly mention Cliffe's school, but I wonder how his school environment plays a part in his life. I'd like to end my post with this quote that really stuck out to me, "Our children start to mourn themselves before their time."
    Reading Amazing Grace, reminded me of a film I watched in my Urban Sociology class in high school. The documentary was called Lost Angeles: Skid Row is My Home. This movie is from 2010 and is about Skid Row in Los Angeles. It is a neighborhood that houses one of the largest homeless populations in America. The movie has similar themes of poverty, homelessness, addiction, and community that are seen in Kozol's writing. Like Amazing Grace, Lost Angels is very eye-opening. It tells the stories of many different residents of Skid Row, how they got there, and what their lives look like. I've linked the trailer and the full documentary which are both available on Youtube. If you liked this last reading I think you would also enjoy this movie.







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