Book review of Fist, Stick, Knife and Gun
Fist, Stick, Knife and Gun is a firsthand account of a boy growing up in poverty and low income neighborhoods. The author Geoffrey Canada, explains in detail the progression of how kids go from innocent children to gun toting criminals, becoming members of what is now the “hand gun generation” (Canada, 1995). He answers the question, how can a 13 year old be callous enough to take another’s life, where and what went wrong in the lives of these children? His purpose in writing this book is to educate the outside world on what it means to grow up in the “hood”, and gives a firsthand account of actions, thoughts and cultural beliefs that are hard to understand or interpret without experiencing them firsthand. Bringing to light the perspective of what is affecting an entire generation of children “growing up in conditions of war, war on children, war on adolescents, war on adults, war never-ending” and entire wasted generation with no hope for themselves or their future (Canada, 1995).
Canada’s account and recollections of his life …show more content…
Canada states that you “cannot save children, and you cannot save families, without saving communities” (Canada, 1995). On the ground all-encompassing programs is what is having the biggest impact. He is responsible for success in achieving this, by first understanding what is needed to accomplish this. Communities need to be active, they need to come out their homes and communicate with each other, to better establish common goals and trust. Understanding, that kids need a safe place to go and belong, to get them off the street and active in enriching activities, and for the schools to understand and accommodate the diverse culture within the inner city. However good these intentions are, they take time, resources, and people willing to go in, implement and
Fist, Stick, Knife and Gun is a firsthand account of a boy growing up in poverty and low income neighborhoods. The author Geoffrey Canada, explains in detail the progression of how kids go from innocent children to gun toting criminals, becoming members of what is now the “hand gun generation” (Canada, 1995). He answers the question, how can a 13 year old be callous enough to take another’s life, where and what went wrong in the lives of these children? His purpose in writing this book is to educate the outside world on what it means to grow up in the “hood”, and gives a firsthand account of actions, thoughts and cultural beliefs that are hard to understand or interpret without experiencing them firsthand. Bringing to light the perspective of what is affecting an entire generation of children “growing up in conditions of war, war on children, war on adolescents, war on adults, war never-ending” and entire wasted generation with no hope for themselves or their future (Canada, 1995).
Canada’s account and recollections of his life …show more content…
Canada states that you “cannot save children, and you cannot save families, without saving communities” (Canada, 1995). On the ground all-encompassing programs is what is having the biggest impact. He is responsible for success in achieving this, by first understanding what is needed to accomplish this. Communities need to be active, they need to come out their homes and communicate with each other, to better establish common goals and trust. Understanding, that kids need a safe place to go and belong, to get them off the street and active in enriching activities, and for the schools to understand and accommodate the diverse culture within the inner city. However good these intentions are, they take time, resources, and people willing to go in, implement and