If I Were a Poor Black Kid

The article “If I was a Poor Black Kid,” made a lot of sense had some very good contentions in it. For the most part I agree it the ideas that were expressed. I really do believe that everybody in this country has an opportunity to succeed. Even though in some situations kids have it almost impossible to succeed in life but I really agree when the author stated, “It takes brains.  It takes hard work.  It takes a little luck. And a little help from others.  It takes the ability and the know-how to use the resources that are available.” Hard work is the biggest key. If somebody wants to be successful very badly, they will put the work needed into doing that. The biggest contention that I strongly agree with is the idea of technology. The author hit it spot on because the internet these days can be its own teacher itself. The article included many websites or online programs including sparknotes, cliff notes, Google Scholar, and Backpack that can help a student out with their studies. Here at Deerfield, we have all the resources and help in the world to succeed and personally I use the internet to help me with things more than going to see a teacher. When studying for tests I might even go on youtube and look up how to do a certain math problem and there are multiple videos that can help me out. The internet is the best resource for helping a kid with little money and opportunity succeed. I also agree with the authors statements how a kid needs to use the internet to help him find schools and scholarship programs. Even though there are many American kids out there who have very little money and have parents who work two jobs, everybody has the chance to succeed. You just have to be hard-nose, learn the resources around you, and meet the right people who can help. All of these things the author enforces in his article and I really agree with his idea in the article.

                                                                                              

The first response does not change my view at all. I think “If I was a poor black kid” was solely based on the idea that if somebody doesn’t have much money and resources, that they can manage to find ways to work hard and succeed even if they have under privileged schools and classes with oversized classes.

I think both the responses aren’t really seeing the big point in the article. Of course there is going to be setbacks, racism, and inequality to a poor black kid but the main idea of the article is to work hard and use as many resources as possible. The author is merely trying to provide hope for a poor black kid who can possible follow some advice that can help him be successful. These responses are criticizing on the author for not understanding what it is like to be poor or black, but he was just trying to provide some hope and knowledge for people who might need it.