In Jonathan Kozol Essay Example for Free

In Jonathan Kozol EssayIn Jonathan Kozols novel Amazing Grace, theology plays a dominant role throughout the book. As Kozol describes the community in poverty of Mott Haven and the myriad horrible circumstances that they face everyday, religion provides their one and only salvation and solace. It is much easier to ask what these children fagt face than what they do. They face people dying daily, pro recollectiveed sickness, crime, drugs, abuse, alcoholism, asthma, poverty, dirt, dilapidated housing. They see people die horrific deaths whether it is from AIDS or a little girl falling down an elevator shaft that nobody would fix. They are denied medical care or given substandard care, which means people applyt get better. They attend substandard schools where they receive less than adequate education. What they dont face is a lot of compassion or empathy. At a time in America when neo-liberalists would like to get rid of government control of the economy, which results in cutt ing social programs that directly benefit the brusk, religion is their only means of hope. Incidentally, neo-liberalists do not have any problem with government subsidies or benefits for businesses.With the move up sentiment of I didnt breed themI dont sine qua non to feed them (128), this nations poor are shoved away and hidden more and more. They are blamed for the problems they face, and less is cosmos done to help. As Reverend Overall says of the lack of mention of 97th Street, though 96th Street is featured in tourist guides,, The papers ignore realities like the elope burner, but they do it in a way that tends to neutralize the dangers almost instantly (187). 97th Street is poverty, and America turns its back on these people in the forebode of neo-liberalism.The American public believes as Kozol states, If only enough children, we are told, would act the way heroes do, say no to drugs and sex and gold chains and TV and yes to homework, values, church service and abstine nce, and if only enough good parents, teachers, volunteers, and civic-minded business leaders would assist them in these efforts, we could turn this around (240). This again is blaming the victim, not the society who created these conditions at all. As long as the poor are hidden away in places we run from, the inequalities will continue to exist.And when faced with such an extensive list of problems, what can these people do? They can turn to religion. Religion provides them hope. Churches provide them with food and clean needles and community organizers as well. Church becomes the focal point around which their lives revolve. As acquire Glenwith Miller says, Many here a great count more devout then people you would meet in wealthy neighborhoods. Those who have everything they want for need have often the least feeling for religion.The rich are very busy storing everything they can accumulate wealth, power, or prestigeStill I think it grieves to hear of perfection when human bei ngs created in His image treat other human beings like filthy rags (78). This quote says a great deal more or less why people of Mott haven are so religious with a comment about the social responsibility of humanity as well. stack from Mott Haven come to church in order to escape bullets and crime for a brief respite. They use church to take away the harshness and dark of their own lives.Church is someplace where they can hope and dream for something better than they have. Kozol wants the reader to truly understand the power religion has to buoy their spirits against the rising tide they must face everydaythe guns, the violence, the drugs, the sickness, the in effectiveice. A nightly prayer for Mrs. Washingtons children is divinity bless Mommy. God bless Nanny. Dont punish me because Im black (69). Others express the sentiment that god provides a better place after death or are just thankful that God has allowed them to live.Kozol asks Shirley Flowers, a friend of Reverend Overa lls, Do your children have the same belief in God that you do? She replies YesThey do. This family talks to God (169). And when a student of Gizelle Lukes is asked Who do you look up to? , he replies I look up to God, my mother, and myself (33). These quotes are used to show just how measurable religion is as a force in their lives. Father Glenworth Miles discusses the importance of God in this community. We are not literal fundamentalists hereWe see God as a liberating force who calls us to deliver people from oppression.The apparent consensus of the powerful is that the ghetto is to be preserved as a perpetual catch-basin for the poor. It is not about annihilating segregation or even about transformation of the ghetto, but setting up programs to teach people to adjust to it, to show a running(a) adaptation to an evil institutionAs a religious man, I see it as my obligation to speak out against this, not to bend the poor to be accommodated to injustice but to empower them to fig ht it and to try to tear it down (81).He determines it to be