Saturday, September 13, 2014

Jonathan Kozol, Amazing Grace

Jonathan Kozol's "Amazing Grace" article goes in depth to show the struggle of the hundreds, if not thousands of men, women and children who live in the South Bronx area of New York, and more specifically, the area of Mott Haven. Kozol refers to Time Magazine on page five, who identifies the area around Mott Haven as "the deadliest blocks in the deadliest precinct of the city." Kozol states "If there is a deadlier place in the United States, I don't know where it is." The author goes deeper into this, explaining some of the back history behind just why these neighborhoods and areas have deteriorated as much as they have. On page four, Kozol mentions that two thirds of the homes in these areas are owned by the City of New York. They are looked upon as a residence for people who are poor, on welfare, or cannot support themselves or their families. Kozol also mentions on that same page about the severe drug addiction that plagues the area, and how many of these drug users are also stricken with HIV. Kozol's main focus in this article seems to be on the children, and the deplorable living conditions they are placed in. For some time, Kozol focuses on a boy named Cliffie, a seven year old chipper lad who happily takes the role as his tour guide through the streets of Mott Haven. Cliffie makes it to Cypress Avenue with Kozol where he then says: "Do you want to go down there?...they're burning bodies down there!" Kozol then goes on to say that "the place Cliffie is referring to [is] a waste incinerator [that burns] 'red bag' products, such as amputated limbs and fetal tissue..." It is remarkable that this seven year old boy seems unaffected by this thought of bodies being burned, but it shows that these kids have been through and have seen much worse. Connecting to Kozol's choice of the title, this idea of amazing grace seems to stem from the deep belief in God and the effect that religion has on the residents of Mott Haven, and the affirmed believe that there is a higher plan for their lives that God has yet to show. This can be seen on numerous pages, but surely on page eight as well, where Kozol states: "Unlike many children I have met in recent years, he has an absolutely literal religious faith." These people, especially the children, are taught to take religion seriously, as this is their saving or amazing grace, to believe in something you cannot see. Being a Roman Catholic, I can relate. Many people attempt to contest Catholicism with scientific evidence and what they believe to be factual, but religion is all about believing in what you cannot see, but imagining that you can, and that some day you will. I think with this article, Kozol attempts to tie all of this together, and tries to show that religion is held on a prestigious pedestal, even in the poorest of places. (The picture shows modern day Mott Haven.)

6 comments:

  1. I found your blog piece to be really interesting. I loved how you connected the title to Cliffie's religious beliefs as well as the other residents. This was a detail I originally did not even pick up on but now that you mention it, I agree with your interpretation of it.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I really like the last part of your blog. I liked how you related your catholicism to the piece in the article. Also being a Roman Catholic I agree with how religion is all about believing and not seeing and believing someday it will all work out.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing the information about Cliffie, I wasn't exactly sure how old he was but I made the assumption that he was older then seven, I am almost 20 and haven't experienced any of the things this kid has seen!

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also agree, I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I found your relation of the title of the article to the faith and deep rooted religion of the citizens of Mott Haven. I also agree that Cliffie's lack of emotion when it comes to disturbing happenings is very sad considering how young he is because it shows that he has seen way too much already for his age

    ReplyDelete
  5. I agree with everyone else your piece was really interesting in the part you gave information about Cliffie.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I really enjoyed reading about the connection between the article and religion. Coming from someone who went to catholic school since the age of 3 it is nice to know, just as Karissa said, that religion is all about believing not seeing.

    ReplyDelete