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"A HOPE IN THE UNSEEN."
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Analysis of Ron Suskind's 1998 book.... More...
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Paper Abstract:
Analysis of Ron Suskind's 1998 book. Relates the true odyssey of a young African American man from inner city Washington, D.C. to Brown University and the Ivy League. The dream and hope of high school honor student Cedric to get out of the ghetto and achieve success. Discusses the personal, social and intellectual challenges Cedric faced. People who helped him achieve his goal.
Paper Introduction:
In 1963 the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered a memorable speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. “I have a dream,” he said, that black boys and black girls will be able to walk together as sisters and brothers, indeed to go to school together as equals. Dr. King did not live to see that dream come true. And in many parts of American society the dream remains an aspiration, a hope rather than a reality. For a young African American inner-city youth who grew up in Southeast Washington, D.C., many years after Dr. King’s speech, a dream of attending one of this country’s best white universities gives him purpose in life.
Cedric Jennings, an honor student at crime-infested Ballou Senior High has a dream of achieving success and of
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Along his journey arepeople who help or hinder him, and some who do both. But, asrevealed in Ron Suskind's book A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odysseyfrom the Inner City to the Ivy League, thanks to Cedric's fiercedetermination, intelligence and focus-and to Affirmative Action-he is ableto realize his dream. LaTisha does not have Cedric's big dreams. Mr. Taylor is someone Cedric cantalk to and confide in about his hopes for the future, and about his dreamto attend an Ivy League school. He is not by nature aloner, but his strict upbringing has made him one. A Hope in the Unseen. Shouldn't that be enough?" (28 ). LaTisha's positive impact on Cedric, however, has more to do with thefriendship and encouragement she offers him rather than academic interestsin common. delivered a memorablespeech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. She acts as a positive motivating force on Cedric who isbasically socially isolated from the other boys who make fun of hisambitions. This is crucial to Cedric'sdevelopment because as he told Clarence Taylor when they met briefly atBrown, he had always imagined the unseen "as a place...up ahead...where I'dbe welcomed and accepted, just for who I am" (33 ). "I have adream," he said, that black boys and black girls will be able to walktogether as sisters and brothers, indeed to go to school together asequals. There were many road blocks that stood in Cedric's way-poverty, aninferior school system, a violent, drug ridden neighborhood, alienationfrom his father, a loving but overly protective and rigid mother,loneliness, racism and feeling (often rightfully so) that he was anoutsider. She keepshis hope in the unseen alive. New York: Broadway Books, 1998. Cedric Jennings, an honor student at crime-infested Ballou SeniorHigh has a dream of achieving success and of getting out of the ghetto. Itis not a dream that is respected by his other schoolmates. When hegets discouraged with his dreary, hard life and thinks of giving up hisdream, LaTisha tells him "You got something special" (64) and that he haswaited too long to give up. When Cedric asks Mr.Taylor about his chances for getting into Brown University, the teachertells him that Brown University seems "to be more, well, accepting ofdiversity" (1 6). In 1963 the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. "It's just that your know inyour heart that you're gonna make it--and that's the key" (65). At Brown University, Cedric experiences difficulties not onlyacademically but in fitting in. Dr. King did not live to see that dream come true. Taylor does not discourage the boy bytelling him to attend a black college or a local one. He now feels "likeZayd's peer, his equal" (3 6). Zayd, the son of well-known radical activists, becomes Cedric's"first trustworthy white peer" (217). Although his unwedmother Barbara was the major influence of his life to date, this paper willdiscuss three other people from high school and college who helped Cedricreach his goal. Although his friendship with Zayd has its upsand downs, ultimately it grows to the point where he feels comfortablegiving Zayd advice, not just asking for advice (321). Work CitedSuskind, Ron. She chooses toapply to a "middling, financially troubled school" (48), but in spite ofher choice, she supports Cedric in his greater ambitions. Cedric knows nothing about friendship. Hetruly has never learned to relax and have fun. He doesn'twant to end up at a "no name college" (6 ). Eventually Cedricwrites, "Always looking at the same hues is really no fun/Maybe I'll justlet the colors run" (3 5). For a young African American inner-city youth who grew upin Southeast Washington, D.C., many years after Dr. King's speech, a dreamof attending one of this country's best white universities gives himpurpose in life. Overcoming these road-blocks made him into the kind of person hewanted to be: a high achiever, acceptance to an Ivy League school, and ayoung man with true friends who considered him their equal. His remark gives the doubting Cedric the push he needsto apply to Brown. And in manyparts of American society the dream remains an aspiration, a hope ratherthan a reality. At Ballou High School, honor students are encouraged by a fewteachers who attempt to give enrichment courses to the few who want them.But again, encouragement is what Cedric needs, and what he gets fromClarence Taylor, a chemistry teacher. WhenCedric is befriended by the very popular Zayd, he learns to become moreflexible, more open and this relationship helps him grow as a full humanbeing. It's not just his skin color and ghettoupbringing that sets him apart, but the monkish existence he leads. Another student turnsout to be the biggest influence on Cedric by opening up his life. LaTisha Williams, a smart, outgoing student at Ballou is similar toCedric in that she is not into drugs and street life, and expects to go toa local college. Her academic interests and concern give him the impetus heneeds to keep striving for excellence as only LaTisha and a couple of otherstudents offer competition in a school that has such low expectations forits student body that no fuss is made when students don't attend class ordo homework. His limited existenceconsists of school, church and the tiny apartment he shares with hismother. Its realization, however, is not a fairy tale with ahappy ending since racism still is a divisive force in American society.Nevertheless, the book has a hopeful ending. Zayd tells Cedric, "I'mwhite, and I like you. Cedric feels hehas sacrificed too much to settle for LaTisha's little dream. The true story of Cedric isset largely during his high school years through his freshman year at BrownUniversity. The personal, social and intellectual challenges he facesaffect his journey toward academic achievement. Zayd becomes a friendwho confides in him, not just someone he can confide in. He is ridiculed by his schoolmates for being an honor student, for"standing out." They call him "Nerd, Geek, Egghead...Whitey" (3). What makes him so special, he tells him, is notthat he is so much smarter than everyone else.
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