Amazing Grace Kozol Summary

The excerpt “Amazing Grace” from the whole book Amazing Grace: The Lives of Children and the Conscience of a Nation by Jonathan Kozol, introduces a little boy, Cliffie, who lives in South Bronx, New York. Cliffie takes Kozol on a tour through the poor and dangerous city from St. Ann’s Church. The government clumped all the people in poverty in the small area. Many drugs and diseases flowed through their environment, yet the kids managed to stay very happy and live the best of their lives. Kozel explains to us to always look towards the bright side, also known as the silver lining, where hope is with us. The illegal rich dumpers come to South Bronx to dump all their garbage they don't want. These pieces of garbage include broken televisions, beat up cars, old pieces of metal, boxes of bottles, old refrigerators, and other very lovely things. Although the rich might see these pieces as garbage, the poor in the South Bronx actually find many ways to reuse them. At first, Cliffie’s mother tells Kozel, “‘I was offended but later on I was also blessed.’” (p. 12 l. 235-236) They did not have enough money to afford for a bunch of things that were dumped. Cliffie’s mother took two chairs when somebody threw a pile of chairs and tables in the streets. Here, Kozel explains to us that although there are dark and tough times in life, many good
This includes the “... new born baby, in (Martha Overall’s) arm…” Martha Overall is a pastor at St. Ann’s Church, and the newborn shows that there is hope in the air, there is a new life, and innocence. This shows that although these people live in such a dirty and unpleasant environment, they are always as interesting as they can be. The look towards the bright sides of living in South Bronx. So, if the people can be so happy in a place like that, then we should be able to have confidence when we are in trouble