Community

The role that Precious’ community plays in her life is a huge part, it basically shapes who she is at a young age, well into her adulthood. Precious grew up in a pretty rough neighborhood, in Harlem, New York. She is a welfare child, so basically she got what her mother could afford.  Precious would essentially see it all growing up, and even lived through it all. For example, she has seen abuse, as well as experienced such abuse. With Precious growing up in such a violent area, I think it made Precious very fearful, fearful from anyone and everyone. What got me about Precious’ community, mostly her own apartment building was that her entire building knew what was happening to Precious and no one was willing to help. Precious says, “Jezus Mary, you didn’t know. I knew, the whole building knew,” (pg. 10). Wouldn’t you think that if a whole apartment building knew what was going on to young child, that someone would step up and open their mouths. They all basically sat back and watched a young girl be abused and raped by her own parents. I understand that most people do not want to deal with other people’s problems, maybe they were experiencing the same problems just like Precious. However no child at any age should be put through that, and no twelve year old should be giving birth to its own child by her own father, it is just not right. When talking about Precious’ community, I feel that it is a “monkey see, monkey do” idea, growing up Precious witness and experienced abuse of all forms, so for her she did the same. For example, well in school her teachers would call on her or ask to talk her about school, and she wanted nothing to do with them, she basically yelled and cursed them up and down. Once she eventually got the help she needed, (EOTO), she was able to move forward with bettering herself, as well as her son’s. I feel that everyone’s community can shape a person’s individual self, if you grow up in crime and violence like Precious did and that is all you know then most likely you will become or take part in such violence. It is what you do with yourself, and the decisions you make that can change you life.