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Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago
Through two award-winning National Public Radio documentaries, and now this powerful book, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman have made it their mission to be loud voices from one of this country's darkest places, Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing project.
Set against the stunning photographs of a talented young photographer from the projects, Our America evokes the unforgiving world of these two amazing young men, and their struggle to survive unrelenting tragedy. With a gift for clear-eyed journalism, they tell their own stories and others, including that of the death of Eric Morse, a five-year-old who was dropped to his death from the fourteenth floor of an Ida B. Wells apartment building by two other little boys.
Sometimes funny, often painful, but always charged with their dream of Our America, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman reach out to grab your attention and break your heart.
Set against the stunning photographs of a talented young photographer from the projects, Our America evokes the unforgiving world of these two amazing young men, and their struggle to survive unrelenting tragedy. With a gift for clear-eyed journalism, they tell their own stories and others, including that of the death of Eric Morse, a five-year-old who was dropped to his death from the fourteenth floor of an Ida B. Wells apartment building by two other little boys.
Sometimes funny, often painful, but always charged with their dream of Our America, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman reach out to grab your attention and break your heart.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1997
109 people are currently reading
2211 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 334 reviews
May 29, 2012
A very powerful book. At times, it can get too heavy-handed and narrowly focused for my own tastes, but I give it four stars for how excellent it is for teaching. One of the greatest challenges of working with ninth graders is teaching empathy, but the direct quotes and narration from the denizens of the Ida B. Wells has somewhat helped my students put themselves into another person's shoes. It is a very powerful book, and it lead me to do a lot of fascinating other research to augment my lessons, which is where it got really valuable for me. My students like the pictures a lot, and it was nice to be able to incorporate visual literacy into my curriculum, as well as finding more recent pictures online to add into lessons.
I can't put my finger on what's missing, though, but something is definitely missing. If my students weren't enjoying it so much, I would have given it a three star rating, but it is getting a strong response from the kids, which is the whole purpose of reading it.
I can't put my finger on what's missing, though, but something is definitely missing. If my students weren't enjoying it so much, I would have given it a three star rating, but it is getting a strong response from the kids, which is the whole purpose of reading it.
April 22, 2014
Read this in the seventh grade, just reread for an English class. I think it's one of the must-reads. It is brilliant, honest, and heart-breaking. Always gets me on a personal level because I am a Chicagoan that lives on the Southside. Nobody ever likes talking about "that" part of the city, just like everything else that makes us uncomfortable.
November 28, 2016
Thanks to Anne for recommending this moving book. I highly recommend it, the narrative format is unconventional (the two boys were given tape recorders and these are the transcripts of their interviews and conversations), but makes for easy reading, at least structurally though certainly not emotionally. I have ordered a class set for my juniors to read this year.
July 24, 2020
This is such a quick read and a super important story about life in the projects in Chicago. If you’re looking for a book written by a black author and want to educate yourself more on race, this one is great! I loved both narrators.
May 18, 2023
I read this book because I was supposed to take over a class 2nd semester. This along with another text on climate change were the main focuses when I started. The job didn't work out. I had the copy of the books so now that rest nicely on my bookshelf as a souvenir of an almost timeline.
Our America is a journalistic investigative look into the Chicago Ida B. Wells homes that once stood tall. One day, a kid falls over ten stories out the window of one of the homes and tragically dies. Who pushed him? Why? LeAlan and Lloyd, two kids from the community are given the tools to begin their own investigate journey to uncover what truly happened.
What really makes this shine is the childlike wonder that follows from LeAlan and Lloyd. They interview fathers, other kids and tenants about the conditions of the homes. Often, this can be heart-wrenching and is a deep look into the cycle of poverty and how difficult it can be to escape it.
Our America is a journalistic investigative look into the Chicago Ida B. Wells homes that once stood tall. One day, a kid falls over ten stories out the window of one of the homes and tragically dies. Who pushed him? Why? LeAlan and Lloyd, two kids from the community are given the tools to begin their own investigate journey to uncover what truly happened.
What really makes this shine is the childlike wonder that follows from LeAlan and Lloyd. They interview fathers, other kids and tenants about the conditions of the homes. Often, this can be heart-wrenching and is a deep look into the cycle of poverty and how difficult it can be to escape it.
January 26, 2017
I loved this book! It is heartbreaking, especially when I think about how this could be written by two young people in Baltimore today. In fact, it made me wish that I was a Sociology professor, so that I could teach a "Special Topics" class about inner city life. Another book that would be on the syllabus is Gang Leader for a Day, by Sudhir Venkatesh. I would want to focus on hope and change -- How can we take the strengths of the young people here and help them to see options? to envision a new future for themselves and their city? to have hope? to believe in their own power to effect change?
If you can recommend other books or papers in this area for me to read, please let me know! :)
If you can recommend other books or papers in this area for me to read, please let me know! :)
April 21, 2020
I found the viewpoints of inner city kids who are self-declared (and rightly so) from the ghetto interesting, as their perspective is much different than mine (no way! Inner city Chicago is different than suburban Wisconsin? Wow! Profound! Sorry lol). LeAlan is a stronger writer and more confident than Lloyd in my opinion, however both of them bring a lot to the story. It's also of note that I read the book for black music history and probably wouldn't have found it or picked it up otherwise, but it was a quick read and gave me something new to think about.
One part of the story that I found very different, honestly the entire book was so different, and troubling is when LeAlan and Lloyd are bored they sometimes do crazy things to pass the time like drop rocks on cars from a bridge, sometimes with their windshields cracking. Now obviously there is no way the people in the cars will ever be able to catch them, however the lack of accountability is quite frightening. Throughout the book these are the two characters who're going to "make it out" or at least seem to be on that path also do incredibly off-putting things that I wouldn't dream of doing.
Another part of the story I didn't like was how repetitive it seemed. So much was talking about a better life and just sitting around. They conducted interviews with a lot of people who made a lot of good analogies and seemed to have a good heart for the most part, but then you would hear things about them that made you question their character as well as everyone else's so much more. There are two good examples of this: Lloyd's dad, an alcoholic who can never clean up and his final interview had to be conducted in a hospital, and "Little Wayne", a friend of Johnny, a ten year old boy who threw a five year old out of a 14 story window, who seemed to be decent (he was a friend of the narrators) but then we learned later on that he raped a four year old girl. This book is so traumatizing left and right that it paints such a depressing picture. I know that's the point, and that something needs to be done to help this situation, but it's impossible to find where to start. "The projects" may never be finished - I fear they will literally be projects forever.
Alternatively, I did find the hope from LeAlan and Lloyd inspiring. It takes someone stronger than me to do what they did, and I admire them for what they've been through and accomplished. They say some powerful things and make powerful points and analogies; for example, "their America" (the ghetto), is different from the rest of America, and that is something that troubles them (and me) deeply. To have such a different quality of life seems impossible to me, and it sickens me that this happens. But what will I do about it? Probably nothing but write this review at my laptop, which saddens me as well. Too many people look over the issues and don't have the heart to fix them. And while I'd like to, and be willing to help, I don't know what to do or how to fix anything, so I won't. Another person has read the book, and nothing has changed.
One part of the story that I found very different, honestly the entire book was so different, and troubling is when LeAlan and Lloyd are bored they sometimes do crazy things to pass the time like drop rocks on cars from a bridge, sometimes with their windshields cracking. Now obviously there is no way the people in the cars will ever be able to catch them, however the lack of accountability is quite frightening. Throughout the book these are the two characters who're going to "make it out" or at least seem to be on that path also do incredibly off-putting things that I wouldn't dream of doing.
Another part of the story I didn't like was how repetitive it seemed. So much was talking about a better life and just sitting around. They conducted interviews with a lot of people who made a lot of good analogies and seemed to have a good heart for the most part, but then you would hear things about them that made you question their character as well as everyone else's so much more. There are two good examples of this: Lloyd's dad, an alcoholic who can never clean up and his final interview had to be conducted in a hospital, and "Little Wayne", a friend of Johnny, a ten year old boy who threw a five year old out of a 14 story window, who seemed to be decent (he was a friend of the narrators) but then we learned later on that he raped a four year old girl. This book is so traumatizing left and right that it paints such a depressing picture. I know that's the point, and that something needs to be done to help this situation, but it's impossible to find where to start. "The projects" may never be finished - I fear they will literally be projects forever.
Alternatively, I did find the hope from LeAlan and Lloyd inspiring. It takes someone stronger than me to do what they did, and I admire them for what they've been through and accomplished. They say some powerful things and make powerful points and analogies; for example, "their America" (the ghetto), is different from the rest of America, and that is something that troubles them (and me) deeply. To have such a different quality of life seems impossible to me, and it sickens me that this happens. But what will I do about it? Probably nothing but write this review at my laptop, which saddens me as well. Too many people look over the issues and don't have the heart to fix them. And while I'd like to, and be willing to help, I don't know what to do or how to fix anything, so I won't. Another person has read the book, and nothing has changed.
December 16, 2023
It was a good book, good plot and the stories comparison from how they live compared to how i go about my daily life is really interesting. i kind of wish the ending had a little more to it though.
March 29, 2024
lo siento ms davis i took ur book!
November 29, 2023
The book is set some 25+ years ago and it’s striking that the struggles have not only not improved but gotten worse based on the number of murders of black youth and bystanders. The book is raw and real and relevant.
January 9, 2023
First, my journey with this book, "Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago," began with the 'New York Times' obituary, dated Dec. 13, 2022, with the headline "Lloyd Newman, Teenage Chronicler of ‘Ghetto Life,’ Dies at 43." This book instantly caught my attention, and I knew I had to read it.
A young, barely teenage Mr. Newman no doubt was experiencing, while he was living in the Ida B. Wells Apartments on the southside of Chicago in the 1980s, projects owned and managed (and neglected) by the Chicago Housing Authority, symptoms of this inherited disease, which has no cure and ultimately ended his short life. But the book only mentions sickle cell anemia in passing toward the end, when he interviews his sister, who is at that time diagnosed with the disease and no doubt is not receiving the medical care she requires.
The interviews that he and co-author and best friend LeAlan Jones did in their south side Chicago neighborhood, including with school teachers, law enforcement and the judicial branch, which ultimately became this award-winning book, live on.
I must say right from the start that I don't understand why the Goodreads blurb says "For Use in Schools and Libraries Only." This book is for anybody, period.
Two young black men, teenagers, embark on a mission to interview the people who live in the projects with them. The first of the interviews take place in 1993 and the last ones take pace in 1996. But when you read between the lines, you see the interviews were really a means for these two young, intelligent men to find an anchor, a lifeline in the sea of physical and emotional devastation that was their playground, their home, their neighborhood. The questions they asked were a searching for meaning to their lives, a hook for somebody, a teacher, a relative, an adult, to give them hope that each had a future that made their lives worth living. Encouragement that they can make it.
So much authenticity rang through in their interviews, their diaries. They don't censor. They don't say what they think you want to hear. They speak from their gut, with love, with fear, with caring, with eyes wide open about what lies ahead for them. Few individuals interview under such conditions with such candor. Of his teacher, Ms. Tolson, Lloyd asks "What do you think we'll be when we grow up?" "What do you think of the people in eighth grade? What will they become in life?" Doubt, and self-doubt, permeate their lives, but they keep on asking the questions.
Thirteen year old LeAlan interviews his grandmother, and asks, "Tell me about my mother's mental illness." "How do you think I"ll end up?"
They probe like professional correspondents: Of his sister, LeAlan asks, "You smoke marijuana?" "No I don't," she answers. "Yes, you do! Tell the truth!" Or "How do you feel about all these deaths when you just sit around and think about it?"
The interviews never get tiring, each one is fresh. The interviews alternate between LeAlan and Lloyd. The questions reflect a young, intelligent black man the edges of whose universe seems to be precarious and shrunken. These are young men who grow up in a life where falling off the edge may be imminent at any age. LeAlen asks June, his grandmother, who has has introduced herself as "June Marie Jones, your grandmother. "What good experiences have you had in the last few years?"or "Granddaddy, what changes have you seen in me since I was young?"
I've read few books that have such a pulse.
When the book's Part II begins, these young men dig in, trying to expose the underbelly of life in the projects. If things looked bleak to us on the outside, we can only imagine how they seem to those on the inside. But the interviewers, these authors, spare nothing and nobody, spare no question, no avenue of investigation. It's difficult for us to read. How much more difficult to be born into this type of life, to try to develop a life of hope and meaning.
What I noticed throughout is the lack of vocabulary of feelings - feelings of anger, betrayal, confusion, disappointment, of the young people growing up here. Most of the young people act out their anger, when there is nobody to coach them through acknowledging these feelings. I hope this has, in the years since, changed.
These two men are, I would argue, heroic. The tragedy of the talented and creative Mr. Newman's early death acknowledged, one can only hope that Mr. Jones continues to utilize the talents he has and to discover even greater ones. One can only hope that this book is read far beyond school rooms and the four walls of libraries.
A young, barely teenage Mr. Newman no doubt was experiencing, while he was living in the Ida B. Wells Apartments on the southside of Chicago in the 1980s, projects owned and managed (and neglected) by the Chicago Housing Authority, symptoms of this inherited disease, which has no cure and ultimately ended his short life. But the book only mentions sickle cell anemia in passing toward the end, when he interviews his sister, who is at that time diagnosed with the disease and no doubt is not receiving the medical care she requires.
The interviews that he and co-author and best friend LeAlan Jones did in their south side Chicago neighborhood, including with school teachers, law enforcement and the judicial branch, which ultimately became this award-winning book, live on.
I must say right from the start that I don't understand why the Goodreads blurb says "For Use in Schools and Libraries Only." This book is for anybody, period.
Two young black men, teenagers, embark on a mission to interview the people who live in the projects with them. The first of the interviews take place in 1993 and the last ones take pace in 1996. But when you read between the lines, you see the interviews were really a means for these two young, intelligent men to find an anchor, a lifeline in the sea of physical and emotional devastation that was their playground, their home, their neighborhood. The questions they asked were a searching for meaning to their lives, a hook for somebody, a teacher, a relative, an adult, to give them hope that each had a future that made their lives worth living. Encouragement that they can make it.
So much authenticity rang through in their interviews, their diaries. They don't censor. They don't say what they think you want to hear. They speak from their gut, with love, with fear, with caring, with eyes wide open about what lies ahead for them. Few individuals interview under such conditions with such candor. Of his teacher, Ms. Tolson, Lloyd asks "What do you think we'll be when we grow up?" "What do you think of the people in eighth grade? What will they become in life?" Doubt, and self-doubt, permeate their lives, but they keep on asking the questions.
Thirteen year old LeAlan interviews his grandmother, and asks, "Tell me about my mother's mental illness." "How do you think I"ll end up?"
They probe like professional correspondents: Of his sister, LeAlan asks, "You smoke marijuana?" "No I don't," she answers. "Yes, you do! Tell the truth!" Or "How do you feel about all these deaths when you just sit around and think about it?"
The interviews never get tiring, each one is fresh. The interviews alternate between LeAlan and Lloyd. The questions reflect a young, intelligent black man the edges of whose universe seems to be precarious and shrunken. These are young men who grow up in a life where falling off the edge may be imminent at any age. LeAlen asks June, his grandmother, who has has introduced herself as "June Marie Jones, your grandmother. "What good experiences have you had in the last few years?"or "Granddaddy, what changes have you seen in me since I was young?"
I've read few books that have such a pulse.
When the book's Part II begins, these young men dig in, trying to expose the underbelly of life in the projects. If things looked bleak to us on the outside, we can only imagine how they seem to those on the inside. But the interviewers, these authors, spare nothing and nobody, spare no question, no avenue of investigation. It's difficult for us to read. How much more difficult to be born into this type of life, to try to develop a life of hope and meaning.
What I noticed throughout is the lack of vocabulary of feelings - feelings of anger, betrayal, confusion, disappointment, of the young people growing up here. Most of the young people act out their anger, when there is nobody to coach them through acknowledging these feelings. I hope this has, in the years since, changed.
These two men are, I would argue, heroic. The tragedy of the talented and creative Mr. Newman's early death acknowledged, one can only hope that Mr. Jones continues to utilize the talents he has and to discover even greater ones. One can only hope that this book is read far beyond school rooms and the four walls of libraries.
July 1, 2022
A first-hand look at life in the Chicago ghetto from the dairies of two black male teenagers. Their voice takes you inside a concrete jungle where an inner city war rips apart the lives of children who are suffering unbelievable tragedies. The pictures are an extra bonus. Solid reporting by these young men.
March 2, 2017
A necessary read for understanding human rights, cycles of poverty, and the lives lead by those living in America's ghettos. The book shares the insights, personal thoughts, and interviews of two young boys, LeAlan and Lloyd, living in Chicago's Ida B. Wells housing projects during the mid- to late 1990s. The boys were given recording equipment for a week and told to capture what their lives are really like, living in the projects. Their words are powerful; their story is unforgettable.
June 7, 2020
This book rocked my world in seventh grade. After reading, we were fortunate enough to meet the author when he came to speak to our class. Our America is raw, heartbreaking, and eye-opening. A few quotes that resonated with me this time around..
"Because this is nothing new to me - just beating the hell out of another n*gger. I've seen police beat people in the street - beat 'em with fists and with bats. This time they caught it on film. So what? It was a white man who did the recording. Who in the ghetto can afford a camcoder? If you put a camcorder in people's hands, I bet you'd see about fifteen Rodney Kings a day." p. 58-59
"Sometimes bad things are meant to happen so it can bring attention to the worse things that will happen if someone doesn't pay attention." p. 99
"Why should you spend money on poor people? And there was also an element of racism: the containment of blacks. When you look at the concentration of public housing in Chicago there's nothing like it anywhere else in America." p. 106
"This school year we have had the police coming into the building on several occasions to take children out, and it's been a matter of talking to them and saying, "This is how you act when the police pick you up. No you will not give them lip and you will not give them resistance." p. 167
"Do not stop learning. Learning is the greatest form of happiness known to man. If you learn one thing, let that be a stepping-stone to learn some more." p. 176
"I've never felt American, I've only felt African-American. An American is supposed to have life, liberty, prosperity, and happiness. But an African-American is due pain, poverty, stress and anxiety... And yet I am supposed to feel American. I am supposed to be patriotic. I am supposed to love this system that has been detrimental to the lives of my people. It's hard for me to say how I'm an American when I live in a second America." p. 199
"Because this is nothing new to me - just beating the hell out of another n*gger. I've seen police beat people in the street - beat 'em with fists and with bats. This time they caught it on film. So what? It was a white man who did the recording. Who in the ghetto can afford a camcoder? If you put a camcorder in people's hands, I bet you'd see about fifteen Rodney Kings a day." p. 58-59
"Sometimes bad things are meant to happen so it can bring attention to the worse things that will happen if someone doesn't pay attention." p. 99
"Why should you spend money on poor people? And there was also an element of racism: the containment of blacks. When you look at the concentration of public housing in Chicago there's nothing like it anywhere else in America." p. 106
"This school year we have had the police coming into the building on several occasions to take children out, and it's been a matter of talking to them and saying, "This is how you act when the police pick you up. No you will not give them lip and you will not give them resistance." p. 167
"Do not stop learning. Learning is the greatest form of happiness known to man. If you learn one thing, let that be a stepping-stone to learn some more." p. 176
"I've never felt American, I've only felt African-American. An American is supposed to have life, liberty, prosperity, and happiness. But an African-American is due pain, poverty, stress and anxiety... And yet I am supposed to feel American. I am supposed to be patriotic. I am supposed to love this system that has been detrimental to the lives of my people. It's hard for me to say how I'm an American when I live in a second America." p. 199
December 23, 2024
Full of insight on what it’s like trying to live and make progress in America when they’re born into famously tough circumstances. It’s an amazing journal that humanizes in a way I found valuable and was glad I read. For me it reinforced how different it is for people born into different circumstances to build their lives. The challenges for those coming from IB Welle’s projects seem virtually impossible to overcome to build a minimally comfortable, stable existence.
The boys journaling were a joy to listen to. Every now and then they’d hit a phrase that was incredibly (“like I wanna grow up to be rich and famous someday. Maybe own a hardware store”) insightful. The hopes came through the interviews. The hopes are modest yet such long shots for the interviewees. The level of care parents and grandparents and sisters have for the youngest people is obvious. Equally obvious is how little they’re able to make things better for others; how poorly tooled they are to raise others towards those hopes. How clearly they understand their failures, what they accept as their limits and how they can see those limits perpetuating the future being like the present for their community.
Great read about a brutal reality.
The boys journaling were a joy to listen to. Every now and then they’d hit a phrase that was incredibly (“like I wanna grow up to be rich and famous someday. Maybe own a hardware store”) insightful. The hopes came through the interviews. The hopes are modest yet such long shots for the interviewees. The level of care parents and grandparents and sisters have for the youngest people is obvious. Equally obvious is how little they’re able to make things better for others; how poorly tooled they are to raise others towards those hopes. How clearly they understand their failures, what they accept as their limits and how they can see those limits perpetuating the future being like the present for their community.
Great read about a brutal reality.
November 26, 2008
I think this book is great so far. What i would like to say to say about this book to someone who hasn't read this is that if they are interested in learning about how different the world is, this is the book for them. this book is about adventure, friendship, vlife, and death. LeAlan and Lloyd's purpose for writing this book is to show people how different other people are. They also wrote it to show people not to judge eachother just by the way they look, live, or where they come from. This book tries to show that not all people are different and that people can actually turn out to be the same. this book shows that the world is not always perfect maybe because nobody and nothing is perfect in the world. I enjoyed this book because it was interesting and i thought it was fun to learn about life, death, and friendship in certain places where people come from. This book can also show people not to judge eachother by their race, color, where they live/ come from and how they look.
November 9, 2010
This book is an incredibly written piece from the perspective of two young men whom live in a world that is routinely spoken about but rarely revealed. The power of the book transcends what had to be the authors original purpose as nearly 15 years later the themes resonate true not only in Chicago but in cities around the world.
As an educator dealing with children in this situation and sharing this book with students it is an incredible link and eye opener for them to see that others have lived and been transformed through a story similar to their own. Hopefully inspiring them to overcome obstacles in their lives, through their own writing. This book does indeed show OUR america.
As an educator dealing with children in this situation and sharing this book with students it is an incredible link and eye opener for them to see that others have lived and been transformed through a story similar to their own. Hopefully inspiring them to overcome obstacles in their lives, through their own writing. This book does indeed show OUR america.
August 7, 2016
This book is a real and raw look into Chicago's South Side. It is basically a series of interviews, all taken in the mid 1990s, by two young teenagers living in the ghetto. It reads fast. At one point, their lifestyle is compared to a war zone, with bullets to dodge, PTSD, a survival mentality, and more.
This book reminds me a bit of "Hoop Dreams", a Chicago documentary from around the same time. One of the most powerful things this book does is to humanize the people living in the ghetto. They are warm-blooded, intelligent, and gritty people who want the best in life despite the enormous obstacles they face. An excellent book!
This book reminds me a bit of "Hoop Dreams", a Chicago documentary from around the same time. One of the most powerful things this book does is to humanize the people living in the ghetto. They are warm-blooded, intelligent, and gritty people who want the best in life despite the enormous obstacles they face. An excellent book!
January 18, 2020
I had no idea this book existed until the teachers at my work assigned it to their high school freshmen. As a native to the Chicago area, it’s hard to think of the type of neighborhood LeAlan and Lloyd grew up in weren’t far from some famous city landmarks. These boys have such a knack for describing their way of life and giving life to their vision of Chicago. It upsets me that the city I love has such harsh conditions and gang/crime issues in the projects, but it’s so important that these stories get told.
March 13, 2015
I like this book a lot because it contain an different story than what Im use to. It tells a story of a "Different America" and many people relate to this story. The author gives us the idea to look at THEIR AMERICA different from AMERICAN you might everyone knows. I learned from this book that not everyone has the same realities in this country and other dont have the same opportunity to live in Country that we believe to be the first in the nation.
September 25, 2013
Fantastic! Such an intimate portrait of life in the ghetto and how people survive the war zone. Amazing and inspiring stories!
May 16, 2017
For the book Our America By LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman i would rate the book a ⅘. This book is a podcast from two 13 year old best friends that grew up in the wells which is a project in west chicago in 1993. They provide several stories about their childhood and they explain throughout the story that things need to change and the kids that grow up in ghettos deserve all the same chances/ voice as kids that grow up in richer areas.
Vivienne from goodreads stated “A very powerful book.” I completely agree with this statement because i could never imagine how hard it would be to get out of bed and try to succeed everyday if i lived in an environment like them; For example these two kids stated during the summer time as kids they would be hearing gunshots and having running back inside so often it felt like a marathon. This book is powerful on its own, But it more or less it deserves to be spread to give people a reality check of how bad things are in ghettos, and how things need to change ASAP.
Next is a statement that i disagree with, Phil states “ The book, however, boasts a selection of profane language and contains far too many illustrations.” I disagree with his statement because i feel that these boys use their language to express themselves and therefore is relevant to be a part in this book. Also the amount of pictures is perfect in my opinion because it helped me get a better picture of how these people looked and what situations they were facing ; Also there was a picture on page 92 of a boarded up apartment, i felt like this picture is relevant because it shows someone's apartment in the projects with all the windows boarded up, it gives a more real view to how their neighborhood looked like because of all the vacant apartments and even owned ones are boarded up their windows because people would take a brick and smash their windows and commence to steal all their belongings. Also to add on to this statement a 5 year old got dropped 14 stories right down the hall from where the photo was taken because he wouldn’t steal candy for a 10 and a 11 year old, This shows how out of hand some people's behaviors are in these projects.
Finally this is relates to Paul's quote saying this book has too much profanity , LeAlan states on page 200 . “Some people might look at me and say, “He’s just some nigger from the ghetto that knows some big words.” well true. That might be. But listen to what i'm saying.” This quote is important because of how he uses the statement “He’s just some nigger from the ghetto that knows some big words.” This gives a different perspective. I believe that he is trying to explain to the readers that even kids grow up in rough environments they still can have good views and deserve to be listened to/ have a voice. On page 197 they are reunited at the age of 17 and reminisce on old times. LeAlan said “Man I think if we make it out of here we deserve a medal of honor or a purple heart. Because if you aren't wounded you are wounded spiritually.” I feel that They are reflecting to give all the stories a more significant purpose than just being scary in the moment, it shows how they were effected in the long term aspect of things from the experiences they had endured because they were living in the projects on the west side.
Going back to my ⅘ rating i believe this book discusses very much need topics such as how kids in ghettos don’t have the same privileges as the rich kids. Also how the project system needs to be changed due to all the violence that occurs in them . This book had very interesting experiences that these kids went though is terrifying and i could never imagine being in their shoes trying to survive in the ghetto. If i ever meet LeAlan or Lloyd in real life i would shake their hands and have a conversation with them on how were they able to persevere through all the pain and life changing incidents they have to endure. The reason i rated it ⅘ vs 5/5 is the fact that this book wasn’t a book that someone had to tear it out of my hands.
Works Cited-
"Amazon.Com: Edward Brice's Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South S...". Amazon.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Jones, LeAlan, Dave Isay, and Lloyd Newman. "Phil (Chicago, IL)’S Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South Side Of Chicago". Goodreads. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Jones, LeAlan, Dave Isay, and Lloyd Newman. "Vivienne (San Francisco, CA)’S Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South Side Of Chicago". Goodreads. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Vivienne from goodreads stated “A very powerful book.” I completely agree with this statement because i could never imagine how hard it would be to get out of bed and try to succeed everyday if i lived in an environment like them; For example these two kids stated during the summer time as kids they would be hearing gunshots and having running back inside so often it felt like a marathon. This book is powerful on its own, But it more or less it deserves to be spread to give people a reality check of how bad things are in ghettos, and how things need to change ASAP.
Next is a statement that i disagree with, Phil states “ The book, however, boasts a selection of profane language and contains far too many illustrations.” I disagree with his statement because i feel that these boys use their language to express themselves and therefore is relevant to be a part in this book. Also the amount of pictures is perfect in my opinion because it helped me get a better picture of how these people looked and what situations they were facing ; Also there was a picture on page 92 of a boarded up apartment, i felt like this picture is relevant because it shows someone's apartment in the projects with all the windows boarded up, it gives a more real view to how their neighborhood looked like because of all the vacant apartments and even owned ones are boarded up their windows because people would take a brick and smash their windows and commence to steal all their belongings. Also to add on to this statement a 5 year old got dropped 14 stories right down the hall from where the photo was taken because he wouldn’t steal candy for a 10 and a 11 year old, This shows how out of hand some people's behaviors are in these projects.
Finally this is relates to Paul's quote saying this book has too much profanity , LeAlan states on page 200 . “Some people might look at me and say, “He’s just some nigger from the ghetto that knows some big words.” well true. That might be. But listen to what i'm saying.” This quote is important because of how he uses the statement “He’s just some nigger from the ghetto that knows some big words.” This gives a different perspective. I believe that he is trying to explain to the readers that even kids grow up in rough environments they still can have good views and deserve to be listened to/ have a voice. On page 197 they are reunited at the age of 17 and reminisce on old times. LeAlan said “Man I think if we make it out of here we deserve a medal of honor or a purple heart. Because if you aren't wounded you are wounded spiritually.” I feel that They are reflecting to give all the stories a more significant purpose than just being scary in the moment, it shows how they were effected in the long term aspect of things from the experiences they had endured because they were living in the projects on the west side.
Going back to my ⅘ rating i believe this book discusses very much need topics such as how kids in ghettos don’t have the same privileges as the rich kids. Also how the project system needs to be changed due to all the violence that occurs in them . This book had very interesting experiences that these kids went though is terrifying and i could never imagine being in their shoes trying to survive in the ghetto. If i ever meet LeAlan or Lloyd in real life i would shake their hands and have a conversation with them on how were they able to persevere through all the pain and life changing incidents they have to endure. The reason i rated it ⅘ vs 5/5 is the fact that this book wasn’t a book that someone had to tear it out of my hands.
Works Cited-
"Amazon.Com: Edward Brice's Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South S...". Amazon.com. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Jones, LeAlan, Dave Isay, and Lloyd Newman. "Phil (Chicago, IL)’S Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South Side Of Chicago". Goodreads. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Jones, LeAlan, Dave Isay, and Lloyd Newman. "Vivienne (San Francisco, CA)’S Review Of Our America: Life And Death On The South Side Of Chicago". Goodreads. N. p., 2017. Web. 15 Apr. 2017.
Want to read
February 3, 2023You would imagine that because I grew up in the same neighborhood in Chicago where LeAlan and Llyod did that I'm loud, ghetto, and undisciplined, but that couldn't be further from the truth. When I first picked up this book, I wasn't sure if I would read it or simply keep it in my bag, but after reading the reviews and realizing that it was written by kids from Chicago, that's what really drew my attention. Our America: Life and Death on the Southside of Chicago started off as a radio show on NPR. David Isay chose two teenage, African American boys, LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman, to tell their story of what life was like growing up in the ghetto. A few years later, the boys pick up their microphones again after a tragic murder of a five year old by other young children occurs and they want to discuss their feelings about it. Isay edits their recordings and puts them into segments for the show. This book provides transcripts of that show. I really liked this book because it was different from typical books.The transcription was easy to follow because Isay does a great job of editing.I also really liked LeAlan and Lloyd. They were funny and open-minded, and I was really able to relate to their story and the way they told it.
David Isay used a fantastic technique for this book. I truly like reading biographies like this one because it’s so much different than your typical biographies. I prefer to listen to the audiobook rather than reading the actual book. I get a different picture of things just by the way everyone speaks (LeAlan & Lloyd). LeAlan and Lloyd both had to deal with drug addictions, deaths, and other family issues. Despite the fact that I grew up on Chicago's south side, I never experienced a buddy dying as a result of gang activity or other violent crimes. LeAlan and Llyod's continued discussion of their struggles throughout their lives like seeing other get killed, having family smoke and do drugs, have kids around them doing sexual things, etc. This made me realize how different these two young men are from others like myself and their family. Their parents and teachers stated that over the years Chicago has drifted in such a weird, bad way.
Additionally, photos of everything LeAlan and Llyod talk about and even the people they are chatting to are included throughout the book. I enjoy the images in the book because they make everything easier for me to picture. At least for me, listening to the audio evokes emotions I've never experienced. The audio provides a more useful or superior visual because the text and audio are somewhat distinct from one another. The author considered telling these teens' stories, but she wasn't sure how it may affect or harm them, as LeAlan grew older, he transitioned to becoming an American Journalist, just as Llyod became a writer before passing away at the age of 43. LeAlan attended Florida State University, where Llyod had also attended to complete his study. Both men became successful and lived through hell and knowing they've made an impact on a huge amount of people is a blessing.
Overall, I rate this biography five stars overall. This form of biography offers a wide range of skills that can both help you succeed in life and steer clear of certain pitfalls. This memoir is an understanding of human rights, cycles of poverty, and lives led by Americans living in the ghetto. I usually like books like these. Nobody wants to experience what is described in the book, and learning that everyone survived the "hood" affects me in and of itself. This is a message for everyone who is reading. Keep God first no matter what you're going through, what you see, or how much you're suffering physically, mentally, or emotionally, financially and etc YOUR TIME will come.
David Isay used a fantastic technique for this book. I truly like reading biographies like this one because it’s so much different than your typical biographies. I prefer to listen to the audiobook rather than reading the actual book. I get a different picture of things just by the way everyone speaks (LeAlan & Lloyd). LeAlan and Lloyd both had to deal with drug addictions, deaths, and other family issues. Despite the fact that I grew up on Chicago's south side, I never experienced a buddy dying as a result of gang activity or other violent crimes. LeAlan and Llyod's continued discussion of their struggles throughout their lives like seeing other get killed, having family smoke and do drugs, have kids around them doing sexual things, etc. This made me realize how different these two young men are from others like myself and their family. Their parents and teachers stated that over the years Chicago has drifted in such a weird, bad way.
Additionally, photos of everything LeAlan and Llyod talk about and even the people they are chatting to are included throughout the book. I enjoy the images in the book because they make everything easier for me to picture. At least for me, listening to the audio evokes emotions I've never experienced. The audio provides a more useful or superior visual because the text and audio are somewhat distinct from one another. The author considered telling these teens' stories, but she wasn't sure how it may affect or harm them, as LeAlan grew older, he transitioned to becoming an American Journalist, just as Llyod became a writer before passing away at the age of 43. LeAlan attended Florida State University, where Llyod had also attended to complete his study. Both men became successful and lived through hell and knowing they've made an impact on a huge amount of people is a blessing.
Overall, I rate this biography five stars overall. This form of biography offers a wide range of skills that can both help you succeed in life and steer clear of certain pitfalls. This memoir is an understanding of human rights, cycles of poverty, and lives led by Americans living in the ghetto. I usually like books like these. Nobody wants to experience what is described in the book, and learning that everyone survived the "hood" affects me in and of itself. This is a message for everyone who is reading. Keep God first no matter what you're going through, what you see, or how much you're suffering physically, mentally, or emotionally, financially and etc YOUR TIME will come.
May 15, 2017
I’ve never been a particularly strong reader. I often find myself lacking interest in the topics I’m reading and quickly losing the motivation to finish it. So naturally, after being assigned the intimidating responsibility of reading a nonfiction book, I chose the shortest one within arm’s reach. After completing Our America, I can finally say that my laziness has paid off.
Overall, I would give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Our America delivers a surprisingly thought provoking, compelling account of two kids surviving in the Ida B. Wells projects. The story follows their daily struggles, as well as the bigger tragedies they face as a community.
Within a few pages of the book, I was shocked by the amount of interest I had in the writing. The authors used subtle but meaningful words to capture the strong emotion. For example, LeAlan writes “Don’t look at us like we’re an alien or an android or an animal or something.” (83). Literally, the word alien means to belong to another person, place, or thing. This shows how detached he feels from the rest of America. Like in the title, he uses the strong vocabulary to express how different his world is from everyone else’s and how they’re treated. LeAlan feels dehumanized because of where he lives. Words like these help the reader take on the unique perspective of a child living in the Wells and struggling with everyday life.
In addition to this, the quotes and interviews helped me better understand their lives. While reading through reviews at GoodReads.com, I noticed a strong review from a user named Vivienne. She writes “The direct quotes and narration from the denizens of the Ida B. Wells has helped my students put themselves into another person's shoes.” I agree that the dialog helps the reader understand the situations; it is a point that needs emphasizing since so little people have actually experienced the struggles talked about in the book. Many of us live sheltered lives so the direct quotes make the moments feel real to the reader.
Another factor of the book that I really appreciated was its seriousness. Vivienne from GoodReads.com, wrote “At times, it can get too heavy-handed...”. I think Vivienne is mistaken because they overlook the problem that the issues discussed in the book are serious. If they were written any differently, it would be serious. Also, I think the heavy writing of the book is what makes it so great. For example, on page 82 it says “If you took the time to think about all the death that goes on around here, you’d go crazy! But that shows you how life is valued now. 10-year-old kids kill for a piece of candy. Life has the value of a quarter now.” The very purpose of the book is to share the struggles of living in the Wells. The complete honesty provokes emotion from the reader, which is something that many books lack.
Overall, I would give this book a solid 4 out of 5 stars. Our America delivers a surprisingly thought provoking, compelling account of two kids surviving in the Ida B. Wells projects. The story follows their daily struggles, as well as the bigger tragedies they face as a community.
Within a few pages of the book, I was shocked by the amount of interest I had in the writing. The authors used subtle but meaningful words to capture the strong emotion. For example, LeAlan writes “Don’t look at us like we’re an alien or an android or an animal or something.” (83). Literally, the word alien means to belong to another person, place, or thing. This shows how detached he feels from the rest of America. Like in the title, he uses the strong vocabulary to express how different his world is from everyone else’s and how they’re treated. LeAlan feels dehumanized because of where he lives. Words like these help the reader take on the unique perspective of a child living in the Wells and struggling with everyday life.
In addition to this, the quotes and interviews helped me better understand their lives. While reading through reviews at GoodReads.com, I noticed a strong review from a user named Vivienne. She writes “The direct quotes and narration from the denizens of the Ida B. Wells has helped my students put themselves into another person's shoes.” I agree that the dialog helps the reader understand the situations; it is a point that needs emphasizing since so little people have actually experienced the struggles talked about in the book. Many of us live sheltered lives so the direct quotes make the moments feel real to the reader.
Another factor of the book that I really appreciated was its seriousness. Vivienne from GoodReads.com, wrote “At times, it can get too heavy-handed...”. I think Vivienne is mistaken because they overlook the problem that the issues discussed in the book are serious. If they were written any differently, it would be serious. Also, I think the heavy writing of the book is what makes it so great. For example, on page 82 it says “If you took the time to think about all the death that goes on around here, you’d go crazy! But that shows you how life is valued now. 10-year-old kids kill for a piece of candy. Life has the value of a quarter now.” The very purpose of the book is to share the struggles of living in the Wells. The complete honesty provokes emotion from the reader, which is something that many books lack.
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October 21, 2011 This book was about two boys name LeAlan and Lloyd and how their lives were in the projects on the southside of chicago. The projects they lived in were "Ida B. Wells". Ida B. Wells was no joke. You had to be tough or at least acted tough because in these projects if you didnt. You would be picked on or even killed. LeAlan and Lloyd interviewed their families and others about how they felt about living in the projects. But, they also asked personal things about their lives and how could they change it. Both teens were determined to graduate from highschool and go to college because they wanted to be somebody and they did.
Predictions, I made before I read this book was that its going to talk about how tough life was for african americans on the Southside & how death affected them. I made this prediction because on the front of the cover it had kids on there that looked tired and desparated of finding or doing something. The other prediction I made was this book is going to be sad and shocking. I made this prediction because A quote on the cover says "Our America is meant to stir the mind and break the heart, and it does just that" by Judith Newman. The predictions I made came true and life was real tough for LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman.
The connections I made with this book was a Text to Self Connection because I can relate to some of the things in this book. One thing I related to in this book was How tough life was for African Americans because when I was younger it was tough on me and my mom Pg "66-67". I also can relate to this book because I seen alot of deaths happen and in this book they're alot of deaths that happens "pg 89". Lastly, I can relate to this book because Losing someones affected me Emotionally and Physically "pg 109- 111". This helped me better understand the text because I knew I wasnt the only one that had it hard when I was younger and it also help me to understand because I want to get out the hood and go to college just like they did.Lloyd says " what college are you going to?' LeAlan says Howard"."pg 198".I Also made a Text to World Connection because the violence that happened in this book is happening in this world now.
A visualization I made while reading was when a little boy name Eric Morse was thrown off a fourteen story building by two boys name Johnny and Tyrone. "Tyrone bit Derrick (Eric big brother) hand and Eric let go." Where he fell fourteen stories down. Where his poor body laid. "Eric was pronounced dead ten minutes later""pg.89". This visualization helped me better understand the text because it shows me how tyrone and johhny parents had no control over them. If they did they would have never thrown this poor little boy off a fourteen story building. This was a tradgy because Eric was only five years old and his life was taken because he choose not to steal candy for them.
An inference I made when I was reading this book was that this book is mainly about LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman. I made this inference because on "page 29" its says "My name is LeAlan Jones, I am thirteen years old, and I live with my family in a house around the corner from the Ida B. Wells. It also says " My name is Lloyd Newman, I am just fourteen years old and I live in a row house in the Ida B. Wells.I know usually when characters give out this information in a book. The book is mainly going to be about them. When I was reading my inference was true because through the whole book it talked about them and their lives. But it talked about other people lives but not as much as it talked about Lloyd and LeAlan Lives.
I enjoyed this book because I related to it in many ways. I liked how Lloyd and Lealan interviewed different people about how they felt about living in the projects. I also liked how they had their mind on school and not the street. They thought about doing what was right rather than their classmates. They could have took the street route at anytime. But they thought about how better it would be if they stayed in school and graduated "pg 15". I also liked LeAlan sister Janell because even though she had a son at a young age. She was determine to keep her son out the streets. "my baby is going to be great. He's going to get a good education and my baby is not going to be sitting around here selling drugs or holding a gun to nobody head. "he's not going to be like that-If I have to move out of this whole country and go somewhere else to keep him away from it!"pg. 181".
I give my book a rating of five stars because I related to it and it interested me because it had real situations in it that I have faced in my life. I really would recommend this book to people who dont know what african americans went through and I guarantee when they read this book they would feel our pains and struggles and they would probably change their thoughts they had about us.I would also recommend this book to someone else because if I relate to it. Im sure many others will too. I learned that my likes about the book was shocking because Im having it good where I live and the two characters in my book had it worse than I do. I didn't have any dislikes. Im going to seek out a another book I think I could relate to because when I read about books like this one. It gives me a reason to smile because I Have an Internal thought because I use to Argue with my thoughts about how im the only one and now I dont have to feel like that because now I know they're other people who feel the same way I do.
Predictions, I made before I read this book was that its going to talk about how tough life was for african americans on the Southside & how death affected them. I made this prediction because on the front of the cover it had kids on there that looked tired and desparated of finding or doing something. The other prediction I made was this book is going to be sad and shocking. I made this prediction because A quote on the cover says "Our America is meant to stir the mind and break the heart, and it does just that" by Judith Newman. The predictions I made came true and life was real tough for LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman.
The connections I made with this book was a Text to Self Connection because I can relate to some of the things in this book. One thing I related to in this book was How tough life was for African Americans because when I was younger it was tough on me and my mom Pg "66-67". I also can relate to this book because I seen alot of deaths happen and in this book they're alot of deaths that happens "pg 89". Lastly, I can relate to this book because Losing someones affected me Emotionally and Physically "pg 109- 111". This helped me better understand the text because I knew I wasnt the only one that had it hard when I was younger and it also help me to understand because I want to get out the hood and go to college just like they did.Lloyd says " what college are you going to?' LeAlan says Howard"."pg 198".I Also made a Text to World Connection because the violence that happened in this book is happening in this world now.
A visualization I made while reading was when a little boy name Eric Morse was thrown off a fourteen story building by two boys name Johnny and Tyrone. "Tyrone bit Derrick (Eric big brother) hand and Eric let go." Where he fell fourteen stories down. Where his poor body laid. "Eric was pronounced dead ten minutes later""pg.89". This visualization helped me better understand the text because it shows me how tyrone and johhny parents had no control over them. If they did they would have never thrown this poor little boy off a fourteen story building. This was a tradgy because Eric was only five years old and his life was taken because he choose not to steal candy for them.
An inference I made when I was reading this book was that this book is mainly about LeAlan Jones and Lloyd Newman. I made this inference because on "page 29" its says "My name is LeAlan Jones, I am thirteen years old, and I live with my family in a house around the corner from the Ida B. Wells. It also says " My name is Lloyd Newman, I am just fourteen years old and I live in a row house in the Ida B. Wells.I know usually when characters give out this information in a book. The book is mainly going to be about them. When I was reading my inference was true because through the whole book it talked about them and their lives. But it talked about other people lives but not as much as it talked about Lloyd and LeAlan Lives.
I enjoyed this book because I related to it in many ways. I liked how Lloyd and Lealan interviewed different people about how they felt about living in the projects. I also liked how they had their mind on school and not the street. They thought about doing what was right rather than their classmates. They could have took the street route at anytime. But they thought about how better it would be if they stayed in school and graduated "pg 15". I also liked LeAlan sister Janell because even though she had a son at a young age. She was determine to keep her son out the streets. "my baby is going to be great. He's going to get a good education and my baby is not going to be sitting around here selling drugs or holding a gun to nobody head. "he's not going to be like that-If I have to move out of this whole country and go somewhere else to keep him away from it!"pg. 181".
I give my book a rating of five stars because I related to it and it interested me because it had real situations in it that I have faced in my life. I really would recommend this book to people who dont know what african americans went through and I guarantee when they read this book they would feel our pains and struggles and they would probably change their thoughts they had about us.I would also recommend this book to someone else because if I relate to it. Im sure many others will too. I learned that my likes about the book was shocking because Im having it good where I live and the two characters in my book had it worse than I do. I didn't have any dislikes. Im going to seek out a another book I think I could relate to because when I read about books like this one. It gives me a reason to smile because I Have an Internal thought because I use to Argue with my thoughts about how im the only one and now I dont have to feel like that because now I know they're other people who feel the same way I do.
December 15, 2020
Per recommendation from a social justice in education course, the book follows the story of two young Black boys in the projects of Chicago in the 90’s. A line that stood out to me: “My bet is you asked him to draw a picture of his life all you would see is darkness. What could he have painted a picture about?” in reference to a 5 year old boy that had been murdered. I’d recommend to anyone seeking to understand more from the perspective of people actually living in these conditions. Funny, heartbreaking, and honest.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2018
I don't know how to adequately describe this book and give it it's proper justice. This is perhaps one of the greatest and devastatingly true stories I have ever read. I always rolled my eyes at "white privilege" arguments and always figured it was victim mentality that was the key to a life of poverty. This book has changed my thought process, my compassion, and my drive. It is hands down one of the most important books I have read to date. Poignant and real.
September 29, 2023
Our America was a book that I liked and I would recommend to the people who love to learn about the real world. The book is about how two boys lived in baston and have the gatto live in america and have to go through the struggle of surviving guns and drugs etc but they got through it and lived. Also I say this book is a 4.5/5 bc this book was really interesting but sometimes I get lost or I get little bird of the book but I keep going and it was a good book.
May 29, 2024
I have never read a book w a format like this before. So crazy how YOUNG they were. But loved that aspect and view of the word from being so young and so wise.
" “Why should you spend money on poor people?" And there was also an element of racism: the containment of blacks. When you look at the concentration of public housing in Chicago ther's nothing like it anywhere else in America.”
Published in 1996. Need to look more in to their updates of later years!
" “Why should you spend money on poor people?" And there was also an element of racism: the containment of blacks. When you look at the concentration of public housing in Chicago ther's nothing like it anywhere else in America.”
Published in 1996. Need to look more in to their updates of later years!
June 8, 2017
My heart breaks for these kids. They grow up seeing drugs, sex and murder to the point that it doesn't really even faze them. They compare themselves to Vietnam Veterans because they don't know if they're going to die every time they walk out their front door. Living in one of the worst neighborhoods in Chicago, two boys recorded their stories and this book was taken from those recordings.
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