Personal Narrative: My Father's Murder

The entire book, TNC talked about how strict his dad was on him. When he would get in trouble, his father would not let him get away with it without punishment. Most of the time it would be being sent to his room, having to read a book, or listen to a lecture from his dad or mom, but one particular time his father got extremely physical. During one instance when Ta-Nehisi was suspended from school for back mouthing a teacher, he stated, “[His father] swung like he was afraid, like the world was closing in and cornering him, like he was trying to save my life” (141). He also talked about how upset his mother was for what his father did to him, and in response his dad said, “Cheryl, who would you rather do this: me or the police?” (141).
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They believed I was different and boundless, that when I looked out on a summer street, I may not have seen what was needed, what was the essence of survival, but what I saw was special and unique. They watched me absorb books about my own, and further, about foreign places and geographies. They knew I'd taught my brother Menelik the theory of the big bang. They believed I was a curious boy. And yet whenever someone threatened to put a grade on it, I fell asleep and lost interest" (169). Nobody wants to disappoint those they look up to and no matter where you come from or what your background is, failing is not something you strive to do. TNC was a bright boy. He may not have always applied himself, but when he did, and still didn’t “succeed” is not something that should be easily brushed away; it requires further thought. No matter how smart he was, if he didn’t do well on standardized tests than nobody, not even him, could realize his …show more content…
Is the system set up to fail those who don’t measure up? When every single thing in his life: his community, friends, etc. were up against him, the school should have been a safe haven. It should have been somewhere that he could go that allowed him to realize his potential in life, but instead, it only made him feel worse. Ta-Nehisi is fortunate enough to have two parents who cared for him and wanted him to succeed, but what happens to those who do not have that? Are they just destined to fail and be caught up on the streets? Is that the life that is destined for them? No, it’s not, and anyone who says that it is needs to get a reality check. These children who are minorities and put in a terrible position have as much right and ability to succeed as any other

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