So, for the last 3 years of my life I’ve had the privilege of being part of the lives of a group of beautiful, bright, affectionate kids who live in government subsidized housing about 15 minutes from my home. Starting a few years ago, I organized a day camp for these kids over the summer. That was when I was a junior in high school. I was so touched and motivated by these kids, that I kept going back to their apartment complex to just hang out, play with them, and be a part of their lives. Eventually, I got to know their parents too- I’ve somehow found a way to make my whiteness blend in with this particular black community. I have a great vantage point… While there may be families who do little to nothing to help themselves or their families, these families work hard- and while some have made poor financial decisions and disastrous mistakes regarding contraception and the parenting of their children, most of the adults I’ve spent time with over the last few years have been economically responsible and attentive of their kids- all have been respectful to me. Yet, their children are dirty. There is no food in the cupboards. The house is in shambles. The kids are misbehaved.
What happened here? What goes wrong?
