Analysis Of Debra Dickerson's Who Shot Johnny?

In 1921, physicist and philosopher Albert Einstein offered a quotation that is still relevant today, telling us, “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he has learned in school. It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education.” It is incredible that nearly one hundred years ago, Einstein could make such an assertion, that is still applicable to this day. Einstein was insightful, I believe, in that education today has become increasingly systematic to the point that it has gotten away from the curiosity born of knowledge and skill. Because of such curiosities, then, we can recognize a true education as one that goes to foster the creation of ideas and imagination.

Ideas fuel the future through innovation. Rand

Although the work does not specifically address writing in a direct sense, it teaches lessons about writing as a means of addressing problems within society. As an African American woman who graduated from Harvard, Dickerson creates a commentary on the problems faced by African Americans. This has allowed Dickerson to address a specific problem faced in her own life, the shooting of her nephew. In one sentence Dickerson is able to capture the essence of the entire piece, "We barely wonder about or discuss the brother who shot him because we already know everything about him” (Dickerson, 49). Here you see Dickerson making a statement about the racial issues being faced by African Americans at the time. In this piece, the reader can see the tone of the story change from serious, to almost mad or frustrated. As an author, Dickerson is trying to communicate to a reader what it is like to experience a traumatic event such as the shooting of a close relative. It is this realization that allows Dickerson to make the connection between this specific event and the broader idea of what it is like for an African American living in an era heavy with racism and hate. Also, throughout the piece you see Dickerson change as a person when she is writing. This is important for a writer because it demonstrates exactly how writing and expressing oneself can alter a person. It was incredible to see what was, at first, a strong speaker, become a broken soul because of the shooting of her nephew. Through her writing, Ms. Dickerson was able to inquire into larger issues, simply using a specific incident. This is one of the key points of the writing. Through the use of a specific incident, Dickerson has been able to broaden the topic and make the reader truly understand the reason for her