Talking Points 1

Amazing Grace
by: Jonathan Kozol

1.) “As confident and grown-up as he sounds, he has the round face of a baby and is scarcely more than three and a half feet tall” (Pg.8).
~This quote was talking about Cliffie. Sometimes I think you forget Cliffie is just a child because he has been through so much in his life. I found myself sometimes thinking he was older. It is sad how most kids who live in these grow up so fast.

2.) "I believe that we were put here for a purpose, but these people in the streets can't see a purpose. There's a whole world out there if you know it's there, if you can see it. But they're in a cage. They cannot see”(Pg.24).
~ Everyone in the world does have a purpose. The people who can’t see it are the people who are on drugs or committing crimes. They believe that the only why they can succeed is by committing crimes. I believe that if the people that don’t see the purpose moved some where else they might end up finding their purpose. I also know that money is tight and it would be hard to move. It is a shame that some people can’t see their purpose in life.

3.) "Heroin's making a comeback in our neighborhood. There's something different in it from before, so it's stronger and, I guess, more lethal. He tells me one of the street names for the drug is "DOA"-dead on arrival” ( Pg.24).
~ It is sad how in this neighborhood that most people do drugs and die from them. The street name for Heroin says it all once you try it you most likely are going to get addicted and die from it.

I really enjoyed reading this piece. The stories kept my attention and I couldn’t stop reading it. The stories were very sad and I felt bad for all the people that were in these stories. When Cliffie was talking all about his neighborhood I really felt bad for him and his family. I don’t think it is right that it might be hard for Cliffie to go to college because of money or something else because he is a very smart kid. I like how Cliffie always stayed positive I think that his religion was one of the reason for him to stay positive. I like how St. Ann Church was a sanctuary to the children when they got out of school. Overall I enjoyed this piece so much. The part when Kozol talked about the city not listing to the people who need welfare or assistance reminded me when Delpit talks about how the teachers of color where not being heard by the white teachers. I would like to know when the children of these neighborhoods grow up what do they do. Like how many children go to college, get jobs, sell drugs.