Chapter 2, "Other People's Children: North Lawndale and the South Side of Chicago," Summary and Analysis

This chapter begins with observations by the author about the emotional and moral responsibility Americans have for each other. He wonders how Americans can allow this sort of tragedy to happen to innocent children. Kozol agrees that nobody can take the toxic chemicals out of the ground overnight or cure unemployment or asthma, but why not give kids a special educational resource that will help them overcome these disadvantages? Why do we make poor Americans beg for help from our own federal departments like the Environmental Protection Agency or the Federal Department of Housing or the congress or state boards of education? He believes all citizens should be automatically protected from dangers and inferior treatment.

Lawndale is...