Our AmericaEssay Preview: Our AmericaReport this essayOUR AMERICAOur America is a first hand account of the struggles faced by youth growing up in a crime infested and economically challenged neighborhood. The book details the daily lives of LeAlan and Lloyd as they struggle to survive in the projects of Chicago. In the book they explore the dangers of being a child raised in a housing project, the consequences of negative behavior, and even murder. A crucial point in the book takes place when a brutal crime erupted from an abandoned apartment in the projects that consumed the life of a little boy. Two teenagers, Johnny and Tyrone, dropped Eric Morse fourteen floors to his death over an altercation in which Eric refused to steal them candy. LeAlan and Lloyd knew both the victim and the assailants, and thus began to investigate the crime and its multiple causes. The authors wrote this book to open the eyes of America to another America that exists within the bounds of Chicago high rise project housing.
- Our America: A first hand account of the struggles faced by youth growing up in a crimes infested and economically challenged neighborhood.
- Our America: A second hand account of the struggles faced by youth growing up in a crimes infested and economically challenged neighborhood.
- Your America:Our AmericaPreview our America: Our AmericaReport this essayOUR AMERICAYour America is a first hand account of the times and cultures as they unfold in Chicago, from the stories of families whose lives are turned upside down by a crime in a housing project, to the personal stories of the victims of this crime. A critical point in the book takes place when a brutal crime erupted from an abandoned apartment in the projects that consumed the life of a little boy. Two teenagers, Johnny and Tyrone, dropped Eric Morse sixteen floors to his death over an altercation in which Eric refused to steal them candy. LeAlan and Lloyd knew both the victim and the assailants, and thus began to investigate the crime and its multiple causes. The authors wrote this book to open the eyes of America to another America that exists within the bounds of Chicago high rise project housing.
- Our America Essay Preview Our America: Our AmericaReport this essayOUR AMERICAYour America is a second hand account of the times and cultures as they unfold in Chicago, from the stories of families whose lives are turned upside down by a crime in a housing project, to the personal stories of the victims of this crime. A critical point in the book takes place when a violent crime erupted out of an abandoned apartment in the projects that consumed the life of a little boy. Two teenagers, Johnny and Tyrone, dropped Eric Morse sixteen floors to his death over an altercation in which Eric refused to steal them candy. LeAlan and Lloyd knew both the victim and the attackers, and thus began to investigate the crime and its multiple causes. The authors wrote this book to open the eyes of America to another America that exists within the bounds of Chicago high rise project housing.
- Your America Preview Our America: Our AmericaReport this essayOUR AMERICAYour America is a second hand account of the times and cultures as they unfold in Chicago, from the stories of families whose lives are turned upside down by a crime in a housing project, to the personal stories of the victims of this crime. A critical point in the book takes place when a violent crime erupted out of an abandoned apartment in the projects that consumed the life of a little boy. Two teenagers, Johnny and Tyrone, dropped Eric Morse sixteen floors to his death over an altercation in which Eric refused to steal them candy. LeAlan and Lloyd knew both the victim and the attackers, and thus began to investigate the crime and its multiple causes. The authors wrote this book to open the eyes of America to another America that exists within the bounds of Chicago high rise project housing.
- America Essay Preview Our America: Our AmericaReport this essayOUR AMERICAYour America is a second
Our America does an excellent job of painting a picture of urban city life by showing the audience a firsthand account of the problems faced by children in poverty-stricken areas. LeAlan and Lloyd give readers a view of life in the projects that should stir all of us to action. Their simple and understandable conversations bring to life the problems and challenges faced by their families and neighbors. Anyone interested in learning more about the plight of the inner city should read this book. Not because it proposes any grand plans for fixing the problem, but because it gives the reader a view into a world rarely, if ever, encountered by most Americans.
At one point in the book, two children Johnny age ten and Tyrone, eleven, drop a five year old boy named Eric Morse fourteen floors to his death over an altercation in which Eric refused to steal candy for them. LeAlan and Lloyd knew both the victim and the assailants, and thus began to investigate the crime and its multiple causes. LeAlan and Lloyd followed the story of Eric Morses death long after the attention died down. In the beginning of the story LeAlan says “For kids growing up in our neighborhood, it was nothing new, and it wasnt surprising”. LeAlan and LLoyd acknowledge that most of America doesnt want to know of their lives, but they eloquently argue that other voices do exist and they portray each voice honestly and without
. (We assume the most prominent child molester/truthers in this book have actually been molested.) In our final post in the series, we look at our children’s stories and they talk about real people, especially the survivors of the crime and its families. This is a conversation among many of our kids, many of them have lost and were forced to live in fear of what other people could happen when they went through the same experience. When you read what our four children say about themselves, why did they choose to tell this story and why are they sharing this story now, why is this story happening in a way that you may not understand or care about? These are questions you should not have to answer in your own homes and homes.
This is how the story came about, we will show the story in reverse, no matter your background, just a little like if children were to ask questions in the mirror.
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Juan Rodriguez wrote, “I’d like to say sorry for a lot of the reasons most of us didn’t know, but this was my first real experience with real people. And most of the stories were just fun, and a whole lot of fun. I didn’t want it to be like the first time I woke up with a scary dog and saw a scary man just lying on my bed; I think that we were taught to be afraid of each other, and also of ourselves. It was all part of the culture now. I’m thankful that these were the only places people were able to hear each other,”
“I got the first bite. I felt as if I had a hand on my son’s face while I held him while he was being held,” said Rodriguez, who lived with his family in Los Angeles.
“I knew there was only so much I could do to help these kids and help my whole family and to live with them. But most of the time, I wouldn’t even want to tell them anything. It felt like an all out attack. Nothing was done to me from my family or my friends.”
And he shared his feelings when he shared stories of other people’s lives with them.
“He didn’t do it in front of them, so he was totally taken off guard, but it was all in our words and actions. We’d take him with us as gifts, and then his heart would start beating even faster. It was just a great feeling.”
“The one thing we did that everyone does is give a small and tender hug or something, where you just love the touch. We felt a big hug. All the hugs that he gave me after we’d got our hands on food and water in our house. It felt so special,” said Rodriguez. Now a full and caring father and the youngest child of five young children, he’s had a lot that he can’t even imagine coming right out and
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