The lives of two men are forged into the fibers of our nation’s history, unknown by many and for distinct reason. While these two men may seem very different on a physical, tangible level, they also share similarities harbored much deeper. The first man, Rick Bragg, and the second, Robert Peace. Each man’s individual story intersects to themes of race, socio-economic status, education, family, and more. Many can look at the lives of these two men and learn how people are able to shape their own situations for the better despite how their stories began. Rick Bragg and Robert Peace share commonalities even though you may have to dig to find them. They faced hardships in their childhoods. Both of their mothers worked extra hard to care for their
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To start, Rick Bragg is white and was raised in the rural South. The resources he had in his arsenal were very slim considering his area was basically obsolete. A steady access to education was difficult for Bragg because his mother was the family’s main caregiver. She had a job of her own and multiple children to raise. The family was also very poor and lacked their own transportation. He was destructive and would spend all their money on alcohol which never helped their situation. While his father was absent, Bragg still learned lessons from his dad, unfortunate as they may be. The main lesson he learned was violence. “it was common, acceptable, not to be able to read, but a man who wouldn’t fight, couldn’t fight, was a pathetic thing. To be afraid was shameful. I am not saying I agree with it. It’s just the way it was” (Bragg 7). Fighting and violence was basically a rite of passage during that time; you weren’t a man until you fought. This violence played out in Bragg’s adulthood with his relationships. His parents reality became a reality for him as well which caused him to make the decision to never marry. He was also exposed to racism as part of growing up in the South during the 1960’s. This style of racism was different than that of Robert Peace. Southern racism was very open and in your face. White people were quick to use the “N” word and put black people in their place. Finally, Rick Bragg’s story was able to live on whereas Robert Peace was short
To start, Rick Bragg is white and was raised in the rural South. The resources he had in his arsenal were very slim considering his area was basically obsolete. A steady access to education was difficult for Bragg because his mother was the family’s main caregiver. She had a job of her own and multiple children to raise. The family was also very poor and lacked their own transportation. He was destructive and would spend all their money on alcohol which never helped their situation. While his father was absent, Bragg still learned lessons from his dad, unfortunate as they may be. The main lesson he learned was violence. “it was common, acceptable, not to be able to read, but a man who wouldn’t fight, couldn’t fight, was a pathetic thing. To be afraid was shameful. I am not saying I agree with it. It’s just the way it was” (Bragg 7). Fighting and violence was basically a rite of passage during that time; you weren’t a man until you fought. This violence played out in Bragg’s adulthood with his relationships. His parents reality became a reality for him as well which caused him to make the decision to never marry. He was also exposed to racism as part of growing up in the South during the 1960’s. This style of racism was different than that of Robert Peace. Southern racism was very open and in your face. White people were quick to use the “N” word and put black people in their place. Finally, Rick Bragg’s story was able to live on whereas Robert Peace was short