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Volume 6, Number 1 - Fall 2007
Youth Corps Writers Respond to What They Read
In
response to “Thank You, M’am” by Langston Hughes:
Mrs.
Jones showed Roger that you do not have to steal in order to get
something in life. You can ask or get a job. Roger showed Mrs. Jones
that you can trust some people you do not know.
Lee
McFarland
In
response to “Mother Dear and Daddy” by Junius Edwards:
A
time that I received some bad news and didn’t believe it was when I
found out that my grandma was going to die…I knew that my grandma was in
the hospital, but for her foot, so that’s why I didn’t want to believe
it…One morning we got a call and they said that she had passed away…I
was fine all that day and even on the car ride to the funeral home, but
as soon as I walked in and turned my head, it felt like I was finding it
out for the first time.
Frank
Mancuso
In
response to “Homework” by Peter Cameron:
I
used to think that my whole life was a problem. I used to feel unloved
and very depressed all the time. I still feel that way once in a blue.
The reason for me feeling that way is because I wasn’t raised too well.
Then I became insecure about everything about me…I came to the
conclusion that maybe half the problem was me…In order for me to live a
better life, I have to change what I’m doing that’s making me so
unhappy…Now I can truly say I am a good friend to have.
Missy Coleman
In
response to “Chin” by Gish Jen:
One
time I was in a store, and somebody comes in the store and says, “Can’t
nobody steal like black people.” So I said, “Why would you put your own
people in that category?” He said, “Because it’s true,” so he and I end
up getting into some fighting words.
Lonnie
Houston
The way I see it, [Mr. Chin] lived a good life until he and his family moved to America. I think that by him going from being a doctor to a taxi cab driver really hurt him. His family relationship was a very stressful experience. Mr. Chin was a very strict person with his son. Beating him made him feel strong but also bad. I think the reason why he beat him is because his life was a living hell, so by beating him, it was like a punching bag. He felt very low, so beating his son for the littlest reason made his son feel as low as he did. Kenwania Moses
In
response to “Raymond’s Run” by Toni Cade Bambara:
Don’t
let anybody tell you who you are. Nobody will know who you are till you
know yourself. Be yourself, don’t try to be like somebody else. That
will only get you in trouble or in jail. Be the leader, then everybody
else will follow. As long as you are doing the right thing, you are
going to be successful.
Jaquan
Wade
In
response to “American Horse” by Louise Erdrich:
I
think people in the U.S.A. are still racist. Because everything is all
about colors…Black people feel that the cops are always on them about
everything. Well, that’s almost right. Cops are still pulling people
over for no reason. The cops will lock a Black man up because he looks
like or has the same clothing as the person they are looking for. They
will beat and hurt you or try to shoot at you. There are some good cops
out there who will help you. Those are the cops I like most.
Anders Awode