Jonathan Kozol: Amazing Grace

Premise

-the suppression of the communities in the South Bronx and surrounding areas
-the lack of government support for the issues in these communities
-the lack of appropriate health care for the inhabitants of these communities
-the question of whether or not poor people did something wrong to deserve their underprivileged lifestyles
-the emotional and physical effects from living in the South Bronx
-the notion that some people in power do not use their power to help the destitute and instead pretend that the problems do not exist. Consequently, those who are underprivileged are not seen or heard in society

Author's Argument
-Kozol argues that for the most part, those who are underprivileged in society do not become that way due to their own mistakes and lack of hard work and ambition but instead, are afflicted with certain detrimental situations that negatively affect their persual of financial independance and success.

Evidence

1. Kozol gives the example of Alice Washington and how her impoverished lifestyle was no reflection of her own values but rather an effect of domestic abuse combined with her failing health.
2. Kozol notes how many people believe the government has done nothing to help their situations. He quotes David, "what the rich have done to the poor people in this city is something that a preacher could call evil."
3. Kozol notes how people who lose their welfare payments have to go through a tremendously difficult process to get it back and this causes people's financial situations to weaken which leads to destitution

Questions/ Comments/ Points to share

After reading this article, I was deeply disturbed. Although most people are aware of the nightmare- like conditions that inhabitants of the South Bronx face, reading first hand accounts of their situations was like being doused with cold water. I was infuriated to read about the lack of health care and the awful conditions patients have to contend with when forced to go to the hospital. I would really like to know how these hospitals can even pass state inspections.