CHAIN REACTION -

This week we watched the movie A Bronx Tale. Throughout the movie, we follow a young boy and his life in an Italian neighborhood. When the movie first opened, I thought the town was going to be a lot like the town of Roseto that we read about. A quiet town where everyone stays to themselves and for the most part everyone is happy. I think to some extent the towns were similar. They both stay within their own race and they try to keep their traditions and their culture alive. However, the towns seemed to be different because as you watch the movie, you see that not everyone is as happy as they appear. They all have their troubles. Most of the troubles have to do with race and gang violence. I think that its interesting that so many of the people who live in the town had a problem with the African American people that would go through the area. All of C's friends would get upset and angry when African American people would walk or ride by. However, C wouldn't. He would say things like, "they ain't botherin'  you!" and he would leave them alone. He even tried to help a black teenager who was getting beaten up by his friends. I think the reason that C and his friends acted so differently from one another was their upbringing. All of the kids lived in the same environment and had basically the same experiences. However, you can see a big difference in the way their parents thought about race. C's parents seem to be less racist than some of C's friend's parents. The boys are shaped by the people that they are around the most, and by the way that these people think. It makes me think twice about who I surround myself with. No matter how much you try, you are being affected by the people you are with. Whether you know it or not, their thoughts begin to become your own. Its a dangerous way to live if you ask me.