Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a NationAmazing Grace is a book about the hearts of children who grow up in the South Bronx - the poorest congressional district of our nation. Without rhetoric, but drawing extensively upon the words of children, parents, and priests, this book does not romanticize or soften the effects of violence and sickness. One fourth of the child-bearing women in the neighborhoods where these children live test positive for HIV. Pediatric AIDS, life-consuming fires, and gang rivalries take a high toll. Several children die during the year in which this narrative takes place. Although it is a gently written work, Amazing Grace makes clear that the postmodern ghetto of America is not a social accident but is created and sustained by greed, neglect, racism, and expedience. It asks us questions that are, at once, political and theological. What is the value of a child's life? What exactly do we plan to do with those whom we appear to have defined as economically and humanly superfluous? How tough do we dare to be? |
Other editions - View all
Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation Jonathan Kozol Limited preview - 2012 |
Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation Jonathan Kozol Limited preview - 2012 |
Amazing Grace: Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation, The Jonathan Kozol Limited preview - 1996 |
Common terms and phrases
addicts AIDS Anabelle Ann's Avenue Ann's Church answers Anthony apartment asthma baby Beekman Avenue believe Bernardo black and Hispanic blocks building Calderon called Castro Charlayne chil child Children's Park cited city's David died doctor door Edgar Allan Poe eyes feel floor Flowers ghetto girl goin Gouverneur Morris grandmother hand Harlem high school Hispanic homeless hospital Hunts Point inmates kids killed kitchen live look Manhattan Mario Cuomo Medicaid mother Mott Haven needles neighborhood Newsday night percent poor poorest prison Puerto Rican rats replies Reverend Overall Rikers Island Ruth Messinger says seems segregated shot sitting sleep someone sometimes South Bronx speak street talk teacher tell There's things tion told voice walk Washington woman women words York City York Daily
References to this book
Poverty and Place: Ghettos, Barrios, and the American City Paul A. Jargowsky No preview available - 1997 |