Our America: Life and Death On The South Side Of Chicago

The story is told by LeAlan Jones. He grew up very poor but with lots of hope. In his jounal he talked about the neighborhood of which he lived. He described broken glass on the street, abandoned buildings, grass srowing out of the cement, broken windows, and even some abandoned churches. Violence was also prevalent in his neighborhood. It spoke about it as if it was if it happened on a daily basis. LeAlan and his sibkling lived with his grandmother. His mother was mentally ill and was not able to take care of him and his sisters. His older sister, 17 years old, already has a baby. This type of lifestyle can either spoil your dreams or inspire you to do better. In LeAlan's case, he is inspired to beat the odds. I really didn't know what poor was until I read these journal entries. This article has brought me to be more appreciative of what God has blessed me with. Also it has enlightened me to consider where my students might come from. There may be some students like LeAlan in my class. I could be his hope. Not only do teachers provide instruction for success but they also provide hope. As teachers it is important to realize the potential that some of our students may have. It is our job to help our students reach his full potential.