Analysis Of Robert Coles's Children Of Crisis

734 Words2 Pages

Robert Coles, a psychiatrist, wrote an essay called “Children of Crisis.” He focused on an interview that involved a young boy who was caught in the midst of desegregation in the South. The author’s thesis was as follows; “I think we tend to overlook the fact that Negroes—not only those from the skimpy Negro middle class – have had a widespread interest in education, though to be sure it has necessarily been education of a special kind.” The young boy interviewed, John, explained his troubles he encountered while dealing with desegregation within school. I think Negroes should have the same importance and treated the same as whites are. I do not agree with the other race having to live their life knowing they will be tormented by whites. …show more content…

Robert Coles begins by saying, “Many Negro parents would not allow their children to face the dangers involved…” This began his interview with John. I think the purpose of this interview was to give insight towards what really happened during this struggle. John was with a group of friends that were joking around with each other. They talked about the recent crisis in New Orleans of many riots that would soon be arriving in Atlanta. “…he heard some say yes, they would, some say no, they wouldn’t think of going through mobs or sitting through insults in a white school.” He signed up with a friend and when he later told his parents, his mother began to pray and quoting the Bible while his dad told him he would be killed. John had much knowledge of his parents experiences of terror, humiliation and repudiation. The author continued to inform the reader of his on going struggles. Him, as well as his family, received phone calls of harassment the week before school …show more content…

Some of them contained casual references to Negroes but these generally depicted them in menial, subordinate roles, more or less sub-human.” Negroes knew their life would involve desegregation from the beginning, especially within the school. John, in preparation for his future encounters of desegregation mowed lawns, emptying trash cans, helping his father at the gas station, contributed by selling cokes at the local baseball games. One of his concerns was his “strength”. In his ability to prepare himself a little better, he set up a routine of exercise. He was physically and mentally prepared to have a friendless experience when school

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