Shame Dick Gregory

585 Words2 Pages

“Shame” by Dick Gregory is a fantastic story because it raises controversy about the perception of the poor and about the shame it brings to people. The concept of poverty brings shame and embarrassment because the others had qualities that he didn't. This story is about a poverty-stricken little boy, who was in love with his childhood crush, Helene Tucker. Gregory was trying to impress her by working hard and giving her gifts. Richard Gregory was poor and didn't have much in life, like a daddy or anyone to look up to. In the story, the others don't know what he feels and why he's in the story, the author was having a fundraiser donation for his classroom. The author chose to one-up Helene tuckers donation by double or in that vicinity. He saved up just for that day and the teacher called for donation but skipped the author. The author felt embarrassed that he wasn't getting his donation taken up, but little did he know the donation was for him. The main purpose of this story is to show the reader that society does not …show more content…

“...Helene Tucker, a light complexioned little girl with pigtails and nice manners.” the author applies devices such as imagery to illustrate her nice features. Helene Tucker wasa jewel in his eye. Her character is used as a comparison to the author. He was the complete opposite of her. He wasn’t light complected, wealthy or clean. She had these qualities that he didn’t have because she wasn’t in poor like Gregory. Living in poverty, during the story Dick Gregory had to struggle with hunger and lack of the main necessities to live. He explains that his struggle he said he had no water “id get a pot and go over to Mr.Ben's grocery store to scoop out some chopped ice, and that if the ice melted, he would wash his clothes in that water,” meaning that he had no water so he had to walk miles just to go and get water to support his

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