Reviews from

The Library and the ugly truth

How both can save you

39 total reviews 
Comment from janalma
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Very well written. I was interested thru the whole story, sad tho much of it was. I'm happy that your life is so much better now. What I found most disheartening was the part where the other black kids couldn't handle it that you were different. I wish all people could see that life is what you make it. Nothing is decreed. And indeed, some have it harder than others. That is a given. But that doesn't mean that they have to settle.

Saw a couple typos...
We've heard of police shootings, jusitifed (justified) and unjustified. Have you ever in your life heard of a thug or anyone being beaten, shot, or attacked in a public (l)Library?

and to the moon, (M)mars and beyond.

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from light
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

This is truly an amazing biography. I too spent much of my time as a poor white child, in the public library. My first job as as a page replacing the books using the Dewy Decimal system. I completed high school but did not go to college. I see you were a corrections officer. My grandson is also a correctional officer. Well done.
Elaine

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from Heidi M
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

What a wonderful piece of writing this is. I wish I had a six for it.
One of the lines that resonated with me:
'You may think I was trapped, but on the contrary, I was free.'
This entry should do really well in the contest.

 Comment Written 30-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from patcelaw
Excellent
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Reading this reminds me of books in my childhood. We were given outdated books from the NYC public library, by Margaret Scoggin who was the head librarian there. As poor children in a dirt poor farm, how we loved those books. Patricia

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from PoemsOfDD
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

A brilliantly written story on the ugly truth. I really enjoyed reading this piece as it ties everything in together - racism, misunderstanding, encouragement, determination, the importance of reading and education and more. Ignorance in this case is not bliss. I appreciated you sharing part of your life story as there is a lesson to be learnt in it. For that I offload a shiny six onto you. ~DD

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from giraffmang
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi there,

An excellent piece here. We all learn truths about our situation and life, however many people prefer to hide behind easy excuses instead of facing them. I cam from a very bigoted society, and in many ways it still is. I got out and found out the truth for myself. So much is about perception, but when that 'perception' is a version presented for differing means then one must work all the harder.

Good stuff and I hope this does well in the competition.
G

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from LIJ Red
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Excellent non-fiction essay, I think this kind of story was what the prompt was all about. You had vision, to see a bigger world, and the wits to try to adapt and grow
in that world.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from barbara.wilkey
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

AHEM!!! So true. Thugs of any color or culture don't go to libraries. Of course, if they did, they probably wouldn't be thugs any longer. Very good contest entry, and good luck.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from Phyllis Stewart
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Bravo! Superb piece filled with truth. What kind of sick culture considers telling the truth to be racist? To be off limits for any reason? This one, sadly. Hopefully the non-PC Trumpet will change that, tho he is far from what I'd hoped for. I do believe in having hope, tho. Maybe one day our kids will see some sanity here.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.
Comment from Muffins
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I found myself nodding my head in agreement throughout this essay. The best way to keep the masses ignorant is to deny them knowledge. All dictators know this and that is why libraries are burn and anyone in the educational system is either jailed or killed.

The examples you used help explain the tragedy some black people, especially men, have fallen into through generations of fear and ignorance. The boys who didn't chase you into the library ,as if there was a force field in front of it, weren't able to emotional or mentality see the world or opportunities further than their doorstep and have no desire to.
This piece is not only truthful but necessary reading for those who need it but don't know it.

 Comment Written 29-Dec-2016


reply by the author on 01-Jan-2017
    Thank you very much.