Understanding Racism
The beginnings of wisdom31 total reviews
Comment from RPSaxena
Hello lancellot,
Nice piece of Biographical Non-Fiction having captivating flow throughout from the beginning to the end, beautifully depicting the pros and cons, real meaning as well as source of Racism in an impartial
way.
Best of Luck in the contest.
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Hello lancellot,
Nice piece of Biographical Non-Fiction having captivating flow throughout from the beginning to the end, beautifully depicting the pros and cons, real meaning as well as source of Racism in an impartial
way.
Best of Luck in the contest.
Comment Written 22-Jul-2020
Comment from Coco Jane
What a powerful account of a boy trying so hard to be good amidst the anger of his peers. Good for you, refusing to go along with the vandalism and assault. Wisdom beyond your years to see that lawns are clean because people work to keep them that way.
Nicely done!
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What a powerful account of a boy trying so hard to be good amidst the anger of his peers. Good for you, refusing to go along with the vandalism and assault. Wisdom beyond your years to see that lawns are clean because people work to keep them that way.
Nicely done!
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
Comment from elchupakabra
I rate this four stars because for it to be promoted this highly, there are quite a number of spelling/grammatical/typo errors (more than 10 from my initial count) that need to be cleaned up.
Now for the content, I am really struggling with not so much the story here, but how you have perceived it. I don't think it necessarily had to do entirely with racism, but aspects of classism and gentrification as well. I think what you have written here is incredibly dangerous, particularly this part "I didn't fully understand that our neighborhood was a rat infested shit hole because we, the black folk who lived there, tossed our trash on the ground with indifference and so the rats simply stayed were the food was plentiful."
I just find that incredibly disheartening, because I really believe that kind of lack of belief or hope is having to do with one color, and that color is green.
Ultimately, your piece made me think at the very least, and I respect your story and do not wish to diminish your personal experiences, but I just hardheartedly disagree with much of what you have written in this story. Later daze.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
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I rate this four stars because for it to be promoted this highly, there are quite a number of spelling/grammatical/typo errors (more than 10 from my initial count) that need to be cleaned up.
Now for the content, I am really struggling with not so much the story here, but how you have perceived it. I don't think it necessarily had to do entirely with racism, but aspects of classism and gentrification as well. I think what you have written here is incredibly dangerous, particularly this part "I didn't fully understand that our neighborhood was a rat infested shit hole because we, the black folk who lived there, tossed our trash on the ground with indifference and so the rats simply stayed were the food was plentiful."
I just find that incredibly disheartening, because I really believe that kind of lack of belief or hope is having to do with one color, and that color is green.
Ultimately, your piece made me think at the very least, and I respect your story and do not wish to diminish your personal experiences, but I just hardheartedly disagree with much of what you have written in this story. Later daze.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
Comment from Raul1
This story meets the requirements for the contest. It is clear and concise. Well written. Excellent work! No grammatical errors. Good luck in the contest!
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This story meets the requirements for the contest. It is clear and concise. Well written. Excellent work! No grammatical errors. Good luck in the contest!
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
Comment from richie b
Lancellot,
Your story is intriguing. You show the reader all the
sides to the problem. In this case the injustice is rooted
in factors outside a nice clean neighborhood.
Much of the racial imbalance is due to unequal
opportunity.
Thank you for shedding light on this problem that has
plagued our country forever.
Peace,
Richie b
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Lancellot,
Your story is intriguing. You show the reader all the
sides to the problem. In this case the injustice is rooted
in factors outside a nice clean neighborhood.
Much of the racial imbalance is due to unequal
opportunity.
Thank you for shedding light on this problem that has
plagued our country forever.
Peace,
Richie b
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
Comment from estory
I think this was a powerful essay and your honest voice really cuts into these questions of racism and where it comes from, and actually, what the answers might be. Told from a black perspective, it is even more powerful. You have all these roiling emotions here; misunderstanding, jealousy, fear, respect and anger, all tangled together. All the preconcieved notions of people who are different from you; whether it is black kids looking at people in a white neighborhood, or the cops looking at the black kids in the white neighborhood. The fact that you talk candidly about being motivated to do vandalism, indifference to the garbage in your own neighborhood and issues of respect and dignity make this all the more complicated and dig honestly into motivations in all of us. My father came from Nazi Germany, and that experience made him very sensitive to issues of freedom and respect for human dignity. When the churches who ran our private religious school wanted to exclude black kids coming from families who did not want to send their children to the public schools in their neighborhoods, my father was the deciding vote to let them in. That experience of going to a school that ended up 80% black shaped my outlook. I always try to treat each person that I meet with respect and give everyone a chance. If we all did that, maybe the world would be a better place. I'd like you to read my piece Blalock House and tell me what you think. estory
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I think this was a powerful essay and your honest voice really cuts into these questions of racism and where it comes from, and actually, what the answers might be. Told from a black perspective, it is even more powerful. You have all these roiling emotions here; misunderstanding, jealousy, fear, respect and anger, all tangled together. All the preconcieved notions of people who are different from you; whether it is black kids looking at people in a white neighborhood, or the cops looking at the black kids in the white neighborhood. The fact that you talk candidly about being motivated to do vandalism, indifference to the garbage in your own neighborhood and issues of respect and dignity make this all the more complicated and dig honestly into motivations in all of us. My father came from Nazi Germany, and that experience made him very sensitive to issues of freedom and respect for human dignity. When the churches who ran our private religious school wanted to exclude black kids coming from families who did not want to send their children to the public schools in their neighborhoods, my father was the deciding vote to let them in. That experience of going to a school that ended up 80% black shaped my outlook. I always try to treat each person that I meet with respect and give everyone a chance. If we all did that, maybe the world would be a better place. I'd like you to read my piece Blalock House and tell me what you think. estory
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
Comment from MickeyV
Great story. Well written with crisp honesty. I am a white woman and was working at 12 cleaning houses, and have not stopped working since. "White privilege"? Thanks for sharing this great story.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2020
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Great story. Well written with crisp honesty. I am a white woman and was working at 12 cleaning houses, and have not stopped working since. "White privilege"? Thanks for sharing this great story.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2020
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Spitfire
Seems the other boys learned from their parents the hate that goes along with racism. You observed differences in neighborhoods. Thank goodness, you didn't succumb to peer pressure. A story with food for thought. This should be included in a junior high literature book.
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2020
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Seems the other boys learned from their parents the hate that goes along with racism. You observed differences in neighborhoods. Thank goodness, you didn't succumb to peer pressure. A story with food for thought. This should be included in a junior high literature book.
Comment Written 21-Jul-2020
reply by the author on 21-Jul-2020
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Thank you very much.
Comment from Craigitar
Great telling of an incident that could have taken you in a different direction if not for the wise words of your brother and your willingness to think about those words--we should all have a little wisdom spoken to us, and we should all listen and think. Fine writing! Luck with the contest.
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Great telling of an incident that could have taken you in a different direction if not for the wise words of your brother and your willingness to think about those words--we should all have a little wisdom spoken to us, and we should all listen and think. Fine writing! Luck with the contest.
Comment Written 20-Jul-2020
Comment from Tpa
I admire the concept of racism through the eyes of a young boy. Once a resident of the Northwest side of Chicago and many years older than you, I found the city very racists. It took me a long time to know the bitterness of the blacks. Many were and still are cheated from the social justices that many white people take for granted.
By your excellent writing, it sounds you took a giant leap from broken glass and long weeds. I wish you well my friend.
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I admire the concept of racism through the eyes of a young boy. Once a resident of the Northwest side of Chicago and many years older than you, I found the city very racists. It took me a long time to know the bitterness of the blacks. Many were and still are cheated from the social justices that many white people take for granted.
By your excellent writing, it sounds you took a giant leap from broken glass and long weeds. I wish you well my friend.
Comment Written 20-Jul-2020