There are no
Children Here’ is a story of two
young children in the Henry Hormet Homes, one of Chicago’s subsidized housing project in the inner city being poorly managed and in worst condition. Lafayette and Pharaoh’s family was one of the many under class families relied only on welfare and Federal assistance for their subsistence. They are deprived of many necessities and of most luxuries as they are in constant struggle to survive their everyday lives. The burden seemed to fall on Lafayette shoulders who tried to protect his family and to help his mother in their daily needs. The family lives in constant fear as the gangs control the entire housing project. They sell
drugs and hire residents to keep and store drugs and weapons, and even allure children to sell drugs in the neighborhood. Children living in the project seemed to have a very bleak future awaiting them if ever they could survive the dangers that constantly threaten their security. The story presents the inner dark life circle of the American society. The story mentioned that young
people as young as thirteen years old are already engaged in
violence and gang membership as well as in selling drugs. IThere are maybe several points that could be useful for anyone to be able to understand the
social of the urban
youth in American society. First, the story offers knowledge and understanding of the social behavior of the urban youth particularly in committing domestic violence. The author clearly point out that the young people are robbed of their innocence by their own environment; their attitude are molded by the violence that they encounter day to day; and the kind of life in the project. Their fear to do such violent actions is now replaced by their desire to justify their own safety as well as their needs as poverty looms in the area. Secondly, the story gives an idea that most of them, though caught in such environment with little chance of survival, innocent and helpless, yet if they will be given a chance, would excel in the field they would get themselves in. Pharaoh has exemplified this as he struggles because of the domestic violence he is witnessing; yet, when he was given a chance to study, he excelled in the academe. Thirdly, the story also reveals the gross violations of the human rights and the future of these young people. The very people, who are supposed to maintain peace and order as well as to look after the welfare of the people in the project, are the ones who corrupted the budget intended for the betterment of the building occupants. The Chicago housing authority personnel are the very people responsible for the mess in the housing project. Although the majority of the American youth may not have the same social condition with those living in the housing project, but most American young people face a different dilemma that makes their lives empty and miserable. This dilemma sometimes is caused by the absence of role models and parental care and affection. Another factor that the story reflects are the wide spread breakdown of families, broken neighborhood ties, and the time demanding works had made their own contribution in the miseries of many American youth. The story depicts the breakdown of parental authority to most kids as well as the neighbors’ concern on the children on the street. The children in the project at a very young age are already engaged in violence and drugs which reflects their parents’ inability to take care of their children. The social breakdowns in the project also reflect the general social breakdown of the American society because of the modernist culture that has taken the place of traditional culture of families. The proliferation of liberalism, consumerism, and individualism has driven the collapse of adult-youth relationship as well as the moral fiber of the American urban youth in particular and the society in general. The story opens one’s mind to the social impact of greed by some andthe degrading conditions of those suffering from extreme poverty. The reality is that most of urban youths do not care so much about endurance, hard work, and determinations. They care only of their own happiness, of their own pleasure. The case of the Lafayette and Pharaoh’s mother and sisters reflects their unpreparedness to handle tough responsibilities. Today’s youth with the benefit of technology and with much money to enjoy the luxuries of life are unprepared to handle much of life’s challenges and problems that lead them to a different path of moral and social catastrophe.
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