Shame Dick Gregory Analysis

Words: 475
Pages: 2

In dick Gregory's “Shame” he states “I never learned hate at home or shame I had to go to school for that”. It seems that even though he was young boy he had a good work ethic. He would shine shoes and work many odd jobs to earn money. However, although he worked hard to earn the little money he had, he was still poor and would go hungry. Living in a single parent home with five other siblings with no clean clothes and no father in the house young Gregory still seems to be a happy child. He speaks of Helen his grade school sweetheart with high regard. He would go to Great Lengths to impress her, he would walk her home from school, shovel the snow off of her walk, and try and make friends with her mother and Aunt. Even though his home life was stricken by poverty he would not find hate or shame from his family or his peers. But at school in the back of the class in the idiot's seat sits young Gregory. With an empty stomach and a desire to be noticed she would find shame at school. His teacher made him feel ashamed when she mentioned his lack of a having a dad. From that moment on he would feel shame every time he would step into school, and this shame carried on with him to his home life. many kids today go through the same thing as little Gregory. Many of …show more content…
I can imagine that his mother loves him very much and raise them to be a hard-working boy; shined shoes in working other jobs to earn money. I doubt his mother shamed him in any way for his situation, or taught him to look down on someone who isn't doing as well as they are. Gregory also States that he learned this hate and shame from school. Many times we see young children who would be considered poor discriminated against and bullied. This has a long-term effect on the child, creating mental roadblocks and emotional damage. Dick goes on to say he carried the shame his teacher gave him for 22 years, which undoubtedly caused major setbacks in his