Isolation: The Cost Of Racial And Class Exclusion

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Introduction The main point the book is trying to convey is that living through injury shapes the neighborhood of Eastwood. My main argument is injury immobilizes people but also influences people in the community to use their injury as motivation to dream. In this essay, I will be using the theme of isolation to supplement how isolation affects the community, but they use their resources to overcome isolation. With the in-text citations, the footnotes, and outside research article, i’m going to bring in three type of evidences (medically, socially, and physically) to make a fit with my argument in order to understand Laurence Ralph’s objective. Conceptual Conversation (lit. review, theoretical overview) In “The cost of Racial and Class Exclusion …show more content…

For medical aspect, the story that stands out the most is Amy O’ Neal. Amy O 'Neal shows the isolation that is caused by her disease. Because HIV is look upon as negative consequence, the people who have the disease don’t get the treatment to prevent any further damage or receive social and spiritual help. “Mark explains: They got sick. They don’t tell anyone. Now, that’s problematic.”(Ralph, 2014;146). Through the church (bible study), Mark’s guidance (Amy’s assistant and navigator) and medical routine (pill medication), Amy was able to use her resources to aid her condition. In addition, she is able to talk about her condition and now is a advocate for HIV testing. In footnote 9, they explain the history of disease and how even then they would isolate the westernize medicine. “...they may have a lack of faith in Western medicine and health care professionals based on long histories of colonial oppression;...” (225). To relate back to the interpretation, people ignore medicine practices which lead to them being isolated and not getting the beneficial help they need. Ralph uses this example to push away from disease isolation and enlighten us a different perspective of injury. Amy was able to surpass the isolation (HIV) and overcome her obstacle with her resources (church, Mark, and pill …show more content…

In the narrative, we follow three different perspective of three ex member of gang affiliates who is Mr. Otis, Red, and Danny. Mr. Otis describes the gang having a political influence in the community and involving the gang with non-violence acts to symbolize unity and power. Mr. Otis favorite symbol of the all the Divide Knights is the cane. He describes the “cane” as a symbol of “mas breadth of knowledge about his organization. “Still, this seasoned gang veteran doesn’t associate his cane with injury but with pride…” (61). In addition, he elaborates on the why the youth (or renegade) is so obsessed with luxurious sneakers. He believes the self-indulgent removes the aspect of helping the community further isolating the population as a whole. Otis explains by further explaining how the cane represents consciousness. “The cane represents that we have to support one another – and support the community – to survive” (61). Otis solely believe in acting through the community benefits everyone, and people open to ideas help the community move forward past isolation.Likewise, In footnote 12 of Pg 61, Ralph notes Mr. Otis’s words is common with another influential study made by an author named Hagedorn, were founding members said the same. In Red’s case however, he suggests that the reason for the emergent of renegades is due to the decentralization of the gang hierarchy and leads to isolation within

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