Kids On Fire Analysis

Jonathan Kozol’s Fire in the Ashes is an honest depiction of the hardships and triumphs of families in the South Bronx, New York. In this book, Kozol introduces us to several Hispanic and Black families that he originally met in the Mott Haven/Martinique Hotel in the 1980’s and allows us to view their trajectory in the proceeding 25 years. By allowing the reader a look into the lives of these families, he provides us with a realistic depiction of the disadvantages families living in poverty encounter despite interventions from charity organizations and philanthropic donors. Kozol identifies that without “systematic justice and systematic equity in public education” (Kozol, 2013, pg 304) students in these impoverished neighborhoods will continue to lack the same economic opportunities that may potentially lead them out of the welfare system. Kozol emphasizes lack of stable housing, and unequal educational opportunities, as primarily conditions to perpetuating poverty. Despite the challenges that the families endure, Kozol is able to show that they are resilient.

Throughout the 16th century, as there was a demographic collapse of the indigenous population, there was now a new demand for slave labor in Latin America. In Brazil, the Portuguese needed a large workforce to cultivate sugar plantations. As a result, numerous slaves from Africa were imported to work on large plantation fields. In various plantations, rural slaves experienced harsh working and living conditions. Few slaves had a high life expectancy. Robert Edgar Conrad in “Children of God’s Fire,” shares some primary sources that dealt with the types of environments and conditions many slaves faced and encountered in Brazil. The sources also gave insight into the regulations and economics/business of the slave trade. Conrad states that rural Brazil was “a hell for blacks” (Conrad 54). Many slaves dealt with extremely harsh conditions just to keep the European market in Latin American growing and profitable. This paper will analyze how rural slaves lived and worked on Brazilian sugar plantations.

Let the Fire Burn is a documentary about a radical social movement called MOVE in Philadelphia in the 1970s, and their tumultuous interactions with the local police and city officials. Specifically, this documentary revolves around the buildup of tensions between the movement and the Philadelphia police, which culminated in the shootout and fire of 1985. Also, it tracks and provides eyewitness accounts from the Philadelphia Special Investigation Commission that was held five months after the fire, in addition to an interview with a young surviving member, Birdie Africa. MOVE was a predominantly Black organization founded by John Africa that promoted a basic, natural way of living; spread “the truth” and exposed the lies of the establishment;

In Fahrenheit 451 ,written by Ray Bradbury, the motif of fire, sparks an interest in the reader which pulls them into the life of Guy Montag. In the daily life of Montag, Bradbury portrays the importance of fire in the censored society. From Montag's standpoint the reader gains a clear perspective of the symbolism and importance of fire. Throughout the story fire is used to represent a different emotion or characteristic. At the start of the book fire symbolizes destruction; towards the middle of the book fire is used to represent change and discovering ones identity; and finally at the conclusion of the story fire symbolizes renewal and rebirth.

At around 0030 11/16/16 I Sr. Officer Chad Stephenson of Siena Heights University (SHU) Department of Public Safety (DPS) was approached by resident student Stanley Saunders to report that his jacket was stolen out of his dorm room 409 on 11/15/16 between 1400-2300. Saunders stated that after he come back from a meeting at around 1230 he took his jacket off and but it on his bed. Then at around 1400 the left his room to go and hung out with some friends, when he came back at around 2300 he noticed his jacket was missing. Saunders searched his room, and talked with his roommates to see if any of them seen it but they all said no. The jacket is described as an Black North Face theremoball full zip up and is a size XL, Saunders states that he only bought it around a month ago.

America is no stranger to tragedy, yet through tragedy comes America's greatest strengths. The Great Chicago Fire of October 1817, is one such tragedy that burned many wooden buildings, sidewalks, commercial buildings, and homes. A tragedy so severe that it lasted for three days that resulted in the death of three-hundred people, and put tens of thousands of Chicagoans on the streets (Volume 2 From Reconstruction, 2015, p. 484).

Fire, while it is nearly crucial for a functional society, is an easy element to overuse and abuse, even to the point where it affects the things around it. Fire cannot be easily controlled, and once out of control, regaining power over it is difficult. Montag and the other firemen learn this when they encounter the woman who burns herself rather than have them burn her books (40). By taking the authority from the firemen, she makes Montag realize that they aren’t the only ones with the force of fire behind them. This is shown later in the books when Montag turns the firehose on Beatty, the fire chief (116). When someone takes away this power or makes someone lose control of their element of comfort, the whole situation can spiral out of control quickly.

In the book fahrenheit 451 they mention burning I think it’s a way of showing how we censor things in this day and age.

David Clay Large, Between Two Fires: Europe's Path in the 1930s (New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1990).

Rioting against the capitol – within the next few chapters or so I believe that there will be riots occurring within the districts. Based on the trailers from the actual movie that released 2 summers ago it shows that a lot will happen in the story. From the previous hunger games novel there was 2 winners when it should’ve only been one. The fact Katniss and Peeta found a way around the system shows that the districts in some way, can fail the capitol. My prediction seems to be true, said by the President that there has been uprisings lately due to misconceptions.

Personally, I have never heard the song "We Didn't Start the Fire", but I am familiar with the artist Billy Joel. Billy Joel brought us "Piano Man" and "New York State of Mind"; he also did the song "Uptown Girl". In "We Didn't Start the Fire", the events that were used in this song were chosen because of the the effects these events on society and how they changed the world or at least part of it. The people used in this song made changes in how society views the world due to their influence on the world. For example, Einstein helped in creating the atomic bomb which forever changed war, Marilyn Monroe changed society for women and also was an advocate for civil rights.

The pensive boys collaborated to create ways to escape the island. Ralph, the leader of the group, had the idea to start a signal fire. Once this idea was announced to the assembly the boys dashed to the top of the mountain. After setting the fire, it quickly began to spiral out of control. The soon uncontrollable fire spread down one side of the island. The majority of the boys were mesmerized by the unmanageable fire, while piggy, being the intellectual of the group saw the dangers. The rowdy boys were incited by the fire, but soon after Piggy expressed his concerns. An uncontrollable fire can be deadly, it can be difficult to hinder and Piggy realized this. He expressed his thoughts about the threats the fire could cause to all of them.

A big fire broke out in Boston’s very popular Cocoanut Grove nightclub on November 28, 1942, over 478 people death, sending 166 to Boston area hospitals and impacting countless others. This is the deadliest known night club fire in the world. The final death count established by Commissioner Reilly was 490 dead and 166 injured. The number of injured was a count of those cured at a hospital and later released. Many other patrons were injured but did not seek hospitalization. As the years went by, the recognized number of fatalities became 492.

Old man firebird was proud of his little flame, It brightened his day to just hear his name, Not because of all the problems he overcame Rather despite them his sunny deposition remained, The firekid, he wasn’t perfectly dressed, Little rough around the edges, yet casually messed, He couldn’t help but be subtly impressed, Because he burnt savagely, But it hadn’t always been like this, You see, there were times he tried to hide his light Every firekid hits their moment of plight, To compress the brightness that would always ignite,

The play, The Arsonists, as performed by the BU Players was a riveting performance with a lasting message. The play was very hard-hitting with a message that transcends cultures.