Amazing Grace by Jonathan Kozol

QUOTE'S

St. Anns Church, which supported a
lot of the families dealing with difficult
situations. 

In Amazing Grace  I was very engaged with the text. I loved how Kozol was able to give various examples of the lives of those living in Mott Haven. I really enjoyed reading their stories and learning about how tough they have it. As I read, I kept thinking about the children whose lives ended to early, who lost their parents, and the effect that the circumstances they lived had on them.  Although I really enjoyed reading this chapter, there were three quotes that caught my attention. Some of these quotes just made me say, "Why? " and "What has been done to help them?"

"The place that Cliffe is referring to turns out to be a waste incinerator that was put in operation recently over the objections of the parents in the neighborhood...The waste products of these hospitals, she says, were initially going to  be burned at an incinerator scheduled to be built along the East Side of Manhattan, but the sitting of a burner there had been successfully resisted by the parents of the area because of fear of cancer risks to children."(Kozol, 7)

When I read this I immediately thought that there was a lack of respect towards the people living in Mott Haven. Did the people in these areas not have children? Or was it that they were less susceptible to develop cancer? The parents of these children also fought against the construction of the incinerator in their neighborhood.  Also when they constructed this incinerator they were not thinking about the people who had HIV/AIDS, whose immune system were already affected. And the construction of the incinerator would have been another contributing factor to their health issues. Also, as I read on, Cliffe's mom explains how on Jackson Avenue near the expressway people go and dump their trash. Which makes me think, if the authorities didn't respect their opinion or the people living in Mott Haven, then people such as illegal dumpers won't respect the residents and their community. While searching online I found an article from February 20th 1994 where the resident of Mott Haven spoke once again against the incinerator, this time, to SHUT IT DOWN.

"At least 12 people, including two infants, says the Times, have died because of staff mistakes at Lincoln, which is the hospital relied upon by families in the St. Ann's neighborhood. "(Kozol,15)

Many of the residents of Mott Haven were tested positive for HIV/AIDS but the hospitals they relied on were hospitals that made many mistakes and had caused the death of 12 people. Those who had been diagnosed were not receiving the proper care they deserved. This quote adds to the many circumstances that made these people's lives more difficult. And these will always have an inevitable effect on those who try to prosper, like the situation of Alice Washington. She knew she had to go into the hospital but the disorganized hospital  only made it possible for her health to worsen. I will assume that many people living in Mott Haven didn't have health insurance, which made it difficult for them to get better health care without paying the high rates.

"My teacher says , ' We came here in chains and now we buy our own chains and we put them on ourselves.'Every little store sells chains. They even have them at check-cashing...."(Kozol,24)

The analogy that was used by David's teacher was very interesting. In the beginning of the statement the teacher refers to literal chains that enslaved many African Americans. And at the end of the statement the teacher refers to the chains that people have put on themselves such as drugs, prostitution, or engaging in situations that put their freedom/life at risk. This quote really caught my attention and really made me think about the temptations that exists. One example are the drug dealers and prostitutes in the streets who try to reel people into their "products". Or people who see the cocaine dealer making so much money, might want to do the same. But at the same time they may be putting their freedom at risk and literally putting themselves in chains. 

Throughout this article I saw a common statement that Johnson, Delpit, Kristoff and David (Mrs. Washington's son) made, that those with power should lead an example. THOSE WHO HAVE POWER SHOULD USE IT TO HELP THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE IT. 

   ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO SPEAK BUT ARE NOT HEARD.

This book was published  in 1995, I was able to find an article from this year that shows and explains some of the changes that have occurred  in these 20 years. 

CHANGES TO HAPPEN IN MOTT HAVEN!