Ghetto Cowboy Sparknotes

In the novel Ghetto Cowboy by G. Neri, Cole, the main character, and protagonist moves to Philadelphia from his hometown: Detroit. Affirming Cole's belief, Philadelphia is a city ridden with crime and gangs similar to Detroit. Consequently, murder, theft, and violence is a common sight in the neighborhood Cole resides. However, horse racing, an activity foreign to Cole, is a pastime for a plethora of individuals who live in the area. Because gangs populate the street leaving innocent people vulnerable to violence, many go to the horse stables for safety. As the story progresses, a greater amount of people begin to respect the horses that inhabit the streets of Philadelphia which ultimately leads to a decline in violence. The story continues with Cole making peace with rivaling gangs that previously had a violent past. Since Cole was able to establish peace between two groups of people with horses, readers can assume more gangs will settle their differences with a common interest: horses. …show more content…
Neri follows the story of Cole in his point of view. Cole lives a life surrounded by gang violence where there is little to no peace. However, in Philadelphia, the city Cole inhabits, horses play a major role in establishing order. Many people go to the horse stables for protection. Since the horses are respected by the gang members, no violence occurs in the vicinity of the area. Furthermore, as more people begin to participate in horse-related activities, a greater amount of people do not partake in gangs. Cole will use the horse stables as a method to solve the violence in the city by providing people with a community. The horses, which have brought people together, and made a caring community for Philadelphia will bring peace to the city with Cole's