How were priming some kids for college -- and others for prison. By: Alice Goffman
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Originally, I thought this talk would be about the stress of success can break down some students/children and convince them to try crime as a valid option for their career. Instead this talk lifted up the dirty laundry of police brutality and gave it a good shaking. Yes, I knew that police brutality was still a very real thing and yes, I knew that a lot of stereotyped neighborhoods were major victims. I did not know that children were not spared from the daily horrors that surround police brutality. I thought that they were given the bliss that is ignorance. Instead they see it and believe it is an everyday occurrence for everyone. They play with each other and think that it is some sort of reality based children's game. Alice mentions seeing this in her old neighborhood on several occasions. Towards the end of this Talk she brings forth her call to action, for giving these kids a chance, for letting the mistakes that they were almost forced into because of the location and situation they were born in not effect there future as much as it does now. I do believe that there are many innocents in these neighborhoods and I do believe that these few deserve a second chance.
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However I think that Alice is ignoring the fact that in those neighborhoods there are some crimes that cannot be ignored and sometimes seemingly innocent children are highly involved. Even though it is not fair some of these children have the option to do no wrong and go to college, even with the threat of a schoolyard fight turning into an aggravated assault charge. I think that society may provide a mold that they think these children should fit, but those same children are completely capable of making their own decisions. If the situation should dictate otherwise than there are options, however unsavory that can get them into a safe place. In the end, society should help the innocent in those neighborhoods, but only as much as they help themselves.