The whole doc is available only for registered users open doc. Long before president barack obama praised his work as an allencompassing, allhandsondeck antipoverty effort that is literally saving a generation of children, and first lady michelle obama called him one of my heroes, geoffrey canada was a small and scared boy growing up in the south bronx. Students continue to read and take notes on chapters one through ten of fist stick knife gun. Fist stick knife gun is a graphic novel but still portrays a powerful message. Canadas world was one where sidewalk boys learned the codes of the block and were ranked through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. Chapter 1 summary in this first chapter, we are introduced canada and his family. Fist stick knife gun is an amazing book and it is an interesting read. The author geoffrey canada, explains in detail the progression of how kids go from innocent children to gun toting criminals, becoming members of. I will then read them the first chapter and model my thinking. A mother and four boys, and with welfare and my mother working for slave wages thats all they paid even the most competent black women in 1958, she could barely keep a roof over our heads. Getting real in upward bound article pdf available in the english journal march 2002 with 1,260 reads how we measure reads. A personal history of violence in america read more posted at 02. What factors caused the children canada writes about to become hardened emotionally. I will then show the students how i use the sequence of a memoir chart, using the attached chart.
A personal history of violence in america, geoffrey canadas first published book, is the story of his childhood and youth in the south bronx. Rather be judged by twelve than carried by six he starts showing less emotion sorrowful. Sample essaysgeoffrey canadas fist, stick, knife, gun. He gives a cogent, chilling analysis of how, through an unforeseen chain of consequences set in motion in the 1960s by new york governor. Fist stick knife gun is a gamechanger, and brought geoffrey canada to national attention. It follows canada from the age of four to young manhood and describes the different and increasingly lethal forms that violence takes in his life. Mar 18, 2012 fist stick knife gun uses an interesting narration style, which enables the artist to tell the story of a young man who makes his way while surrounded by violence. Fist stick knife gun summary and study guide supersummary. Fist, stick, knife gunchapter 1 with annotation for timeline. I bought the gun legally in maine, where i was in college. Long before the avalanche of praise for his work from oprah winfrey, from president bill clinton, from president barack obama long before he became known for his talk show appearances, members project spots, and documentaries like waiting for superman, geoffrey canada was a small boy growing up scared on. After reading fist stick knife gun a personal history of violence i have a huge respect for geoffrey canada.
Geoffrey canada through shattering storytelling, geoffrey canada recreates his childhood world, one in which the sidewalk boys learned the codes of the block from their elders and were ranked and to some degree. Related posts about fist stick knife gun chapter 3 summary. Fist stick knife gun is an excellent personal story and has a nice flowing narrative. In this first section, we are presented canada and his family. Fist, stick, knife, gun quizlet flashcards quizlet. My new friend i tell people that we were the poorest welfare cheats that there ever was.
In chapter 23 of fist, stick, knife, gun, canada outlines five proposals which he believes the government should adopt now. The book spoke about actual problems happening throughout the whole united states not just in new york city. Fist stick knife gun is the story of geoffrey canadas childhood world in the south bronx. Fist stick knife gun, a personal history of violence by. Then the streets changed, and the stakes got even higher. Fist stick knife gun summary and study guide supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. A new edition, including the story of the founding of the harlem childrens zone. Tale of a book fist, stick, knife, gun by geoffrey canada the comments said that this book went to the deep cultural reasons of usa violence and not just whined but last chapter offered working answers. Geoffrey canada born january, 1952 is an african american social activist and educator. On the show, canada read a piece from his memoir, fist stick knife gun, which you can read below. A personal history of violence is a memoir by geoffrey canada.
A personal history of violence is a memoir by geoffrey canada, an american social activist who is the current president and chief executive officer of harlem childrens zone. Character flash cards learn with flashcards, games, and more for free. Effects of war and peacekeeping on canadian autonomy. Oct 31, 20 violence was a huge recurring issue throughout geoffrey canadas book fist, stick, knife, gun. A personal history of violence is the 1995 memoir by geoffrey canada that details his comingofage in the south bronx. As a child growing up in the bronx, it was essential that canada knew how to fight.
He gives an analysis of the consequences of new york governor rockefellers drug laws in the 1960s, and draws a picture of 1995 realitydriveby shootings, the role of automatic weapons in drug running, and the marketing of guns to children. In my opinion when someone has lived this life, and try to help others in this life, they are successful because they have been. Many others as well have offered solutions to the problem of crime, some successful, some failures, and some controversial. Students have two days to complete a homework assignment of writing an essay comparing the incidents in the first chapter of fist stick knife gun with the incidents in the street.
The memoir begins with canada living with his three older brothers and his. Part memoir, part social treatise, a wholly sobering view of innercity violence and the codes surrounding it. This 35page guide for fist stick knife gun by geoffrey canada includes detailed chapter summaries and analysis covering 10 chapters, as well as several more. In this book he recounts true stories from his childhood in new york city.
Chapter 1, page 3 with no dad in their lives, canada and his siblings must rely upon their mom for nourishment and safe house. Canada lives in the bronx with his mom and his three. Fist stick knife gun follows geoffrey canada through his life in the bronx and it shows the well developed system of unwritten laws in place. In chapter three geoff talks about some of the rules of the street regarding fist fights and tells about the fight he had with david. Much like the book our america, fist stick knife gun is a nonfiction story that both teens and adults find captivating. What are the connections between becoming hardened emotionally and committing crime. Students take home and read the street, an excerpt of richard wrights black boy. Dec 22, 2009 fist, stick, knife, gun jesse carrillo. Students have two days to complete a homework assignment of writing an essay comparing the incidents in the first.
Canada lives in the bronx with his mother and his three brothers. The nature of the violent act has changed from the fist, stick, and knife to the gun. Canada relives a childhood in which violence stalked every street corner. It is quite obvious he has lived this life, knows the. They are additionally reliant on her for guidance about how to explore their neighborhood, and keeping in mind that she is a caring mother, she is likewise a mother who pushes them out into the world and urges them to. Canada, head of the rheedlen center for children and families in new york city, moves smoothly back and forth between recollections of his youth in a tough south bronx neighborhood and ruminations on the changing nature of violence. A personal history of violence is a memoir by geoffrey canada, an american social activist who is the current president and chief executive officer of. A personal history of violence is the 1995 memoir by.
Canada tells us that their father was not a bad father. Hes been praised by oprah winfrey, president clinton, and president obama for his work as a social activist and educator. Fist, stick, knife, gun by geoffrey canada boston, mass beacon press, 2010. He just nods the least bit, wipes his fingers on the plantain leaf, puts his hand behind his back, as if to help himself to rise from the ground, snatches his revolver from under his jacket and plugs a. Fist stick knife gun chapter 10 summary freebooksummary. Beacon press published the book on january 31, 1995. Critique of fist stick knife gun the book fist stick knife gun by geoffrey canada is a biographical account of his childhood in the south bronx. An excerpt from geoffrey canadas memoir, fist stick knife gun. Analysis of the book fist stick knife gun by geoffrey.
Dive deep into geoffrey canadas fist, stick, knife, gun with extended analysis. Apr 21, 2002 critique of fist stick knife gun the book fist stick knife gun by geoffrey canada is a biographical account of his childhood in the south bronx. Fist stick knife gun discussion questions fist stick knife. In 1971, well before the explosion of handguns on the streets of new york city, i bought a handgun. I will show the students how i reread fist, stick, knife, gun by geoffrey canada and annotate the text. Hes been praised by oprah winfrey, president clinton, and president obama. I will say, there is a really great book called fist, stick, knife gun by author geoffrey canada can show book cover if you have book, or a web picture. Since 1990, canada has been president and ceo of the harlem childrens zone in harlem, new york, an organization which states its goal is to increase high school and. His childhood world was one where sidewalk boys learned the codes of the block and were ranked through the rituals of fist, stick, knife, and, finally, gun. Canada shares his childhood experiences in the south bronx to support the theory that violence is learned and not genetically caused and biologically based. I mean to stick pretty close to you, sir, from this on, if you dont mind, says i.
Fist stick knife gun uses an interesting narration style, which enables the artist to tell the story of a young man who makes his way while surrounded by violence. In a stunning pairing, acclaimed comics creator jamar nicholas presents canadas raw and riveting account, one of the most authentic and important true stories of urban violence. The book drew upon numerous incidents of violence encountered by geoffrey himself, his daughter, and his students. Students read the first chapter of fist stick knife gun in class. It is quite obvious he has lived this life, knows the terminology, knows the fear, knows how it all works. Through shattering storytelling, geoffrey canada recreates his childhood world, one in which the sidewalk boys learned the codes of the block from their elders and were ranked and to some degree protected through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. Fist, stick, knife, gun tone the tone of this book is mainly harsh and sorrowful. He and his 4 brothers were raised by only their mother. Fist stick knife gun chapter 3 summary freebooksummary. Violence was a huge recurring issue throughout geoffrey canadas book fist, stick, knife, gun. Long before the avalanche of praise for his work from oprah winfrey, from president bill clinton, from president barack obama long before he became known for his talk show appearances, members project spots, and documentaries like waiting for superman, geoffrey canada was a small boy growing up. She would survive on no more than ten dollars a week. Implicitly, canada sees the possession of guns as detrimental to individual character.