Homeless People Jonathan Kozl Analysis

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Jonathan Kozol investigates and uncovers the perspectives of homeless people vs. the opinions of people fortunate to have a home. During his examination, he comes across a variety of people; however, he realizes a shortage of sympathy. When interviewing well-off people, some labeled homeless people as “undesirables” or even “trash”. Generally, homeless people suffer from dehumanization making it harder for them to overcome their truly difficult situation. With predominant attitudes toward homeless people being clearly unfavorable, there is a deficit of compassion and understanding. Without understanding there is no compassion; Kozol highlighted this main theme throughout the essay. He made his point very clear- people who do not understand…show more content…
People are afraid of “… the sickness they may carry, the adolescents that they will soon become…” as if these children have chosen to become a piece of unsanitary furniture that gets passed along. No child chooses a lifestyle of disappointment and heartache; the least they deserve is to be treated like any other kid. People are automatically setting these children up for failure by labeling them and assuming that they will grow up delinquents. The opening paragraph of Kozol’s essay certainly caught my attention and remained in my mind as I was reading. It introduced a man by the name of Richard Lazarus and how in a matter of a month he lost everything; his family and his job. Stories and examples like that make me feel so lucky to have what I have. My perception of homeless people has not changed significantly from reading Untouchables; only because I already had a very similar opinion to Jonathan Kozol. I feel that homeless people need so much more help than they are receiving; the deserve sympathy and more resources to get them out from under their challenging status

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