fter Canada's childhood he now sees an endless weakening family with fewer fathers present in the household and many only marginally involved with their children's lives. He states a very good point by saying that we have created a culture for boys that on the one hand makes it too easy for them to become fathers and, on the other hand, teaches them nothing about what fatherhood means. Drugs are a lot easier to get a hold of in the world that under-privileged African-American boys live in. This alarming rate of consumption of various drugs by these teenagers also contributes to earlier and more frequent sex. If these boys are high or drunk, children are less likely to care about the warnings that their parents and teachers have issued about risky behavior. We see some of this displayed by young adults right here on this campus. However, I do not see as many drugs and much capability of getting a hold of drugs. I definitely do not see as much teen pregnancy either. Since that is not what I see every day, it is not what I know. Since it is not what I know, it is not my every day occurrence to become involved in it and I would not know how to help someone who had a problem, unlike most of the boys growing up in the Bronx. Another characteristic of this culture in which I thought I was more familiar with than this novel proved me to be was learning how to save a buck. I was so sure I could somewhat relate to the boys talked about in the novel in having to save. However, these boys didn't learn the value of a buck like I did. They learned the value of a penny. Canada tells another heart felt story about a young boy Raymond. Raymond anxiously awaited his mother's arrival home on a Friday evening when she would bring home a paycheck. He was so excited to show the hole in the bottom of his shoes signifying that he needed a new pair. His mother told him that they couldn't afford it at the time and he would have to put cardboard ...
