Dick Gregory's 'Shame'
Joey Dean
Mrs. Shamel
Composition I
9 September 2014
Reader Response #5
Dick Gregory’s “Shame” In Dick Gregory’s “Shame,” he tells his heartbreaking experience with being in love with Helene Tucker. Gregory goes into detail describing the poverty he was stuck in at the time. He spent the majority of his time attempting to impress Helene. He brushed his hair and always had a little handkerchief, so he wouldn’t have to pick his nose in front of her. When he decides to impress Helene by giving to the Community Chest, his teacher calls him out by saying she knows he doesn’t have a dad and calling him poor. Poverty brings many hardships, but it can’t become your identity. Poverty brought many hardships among Gregory. He was looked upon as the
obnoxious kid in class. It’s very surprising to know Gregory’s teacher was so oblivious and insensitive to Gregory and his situation. Gregory writes,” The teacher though I was stupid. Couldn’t spell, couldn’t read, couldn’t do arithmetic. Just stupid. Teachers were never interested in finding out that you couldn’t concentrate because you were so hungry, because you hadn’t had any breakfast” (Gregory 1). Teachers don’t understand his conflict. They label him as that poor obnoxious kid without really understanding him. What depressing circumstances, where a proper education is not achieved due to poverty. Gregory says,” The teacher thought I was a troublemaker. All she saw from the front of the room was little black boy who squirmed in his idiot’s seat and made noises and poked the kids around him. I guess she couldn’t see a kid who made noises because he wanted someone to know he was there” (1). Gregory writes on his loneliness. He makes clear the side effects of poverty. He doesn’t have many friends, and he wants people to notice him. Again, teachers don’t understand his reasoning. Gregory begins to feel sorry for himself after everything has happened. After his encounter with the old wino, Gregory ends this piece saying,” I waited too long to help another man” (2). Gregory finally realizes he cannot let poverty hold him back from anything. Poverty cannot be his identity. He learns he shouldn’t feel sorry for himself and not let poverty become his identity The teacher seemed to force Gregory to be identified as poverty, and Gregory accepted that for a long time. He finally realizes he should not let that stop him from his achievements. He overcomes poverty but goes through many trials to do so. He has to go through the shame of being embarrassed in front of Helene and other embarrassing tasks that lead him to figure out poverty is not who he is.
Mrs. Shamel
Composition I
9 September 2014
Reader Response #5
Dick Gregory’s “Shame” In Dick Gregory’s “Shame,” he tells his heartbreaking experience with being in love with Helene Tucker. Gregory goes into detail describing the poverty he was stuck in at the time. He spent the majority of his time attempting to impress Helene. He brushed his hair and always had a little handkerchief, so he wouldn’t have to pick his nose in front of her. When he decides to impress Helene by giving to the Community Chest, his teacher calls him out by saying she knows he doesn’t have a dad and calling him poor. Poverty brings many hardships, but it can’t become your identity. Poverty brought many hardships among Gregory. He was looked upon as the
obnoxious kid in class. It’s very surprising to know Gregory’s teacher was so oblivious and insensitive to Gregory and his situation. Gregory writes,” The teacher though I was stupid. Couldn’t spell, couldn’t read, couldn’t do arithmetic. Just stupid. Teachers were never interested in finding out that you couldn’t concentrate because you were so hungry, because you hadn’t had any breakfast” (Gregory 1). Teachers don’t understand his conflict. They label him as that poor obnoxious kid without really understanding him. What depressing circumstances, where a proper education is not achieved due to poverty. Gregory says,” The teacher thought I was a troublemaker. All she saw from the front of the room was little black boy who squirmed in his idiot’s seat and made noises and poked the kids around him. I guess she couldn’t see a kid who made noises because he wanted someone to know he was there” (1). Gregory writes on his loneliness. He makes clear the side effects of poverty. He doesn’t have many friends, and he wants people to notice him. Again, teachers don’t understand his reasoning. Gregory begins to feel sorry for himself after everything has happened. After his encounter with the old wino, Gregory ends this piece saying,” I waited too long to help another man” (2). Gregory finally realizes he cannot let poverty hold him back from anything. Poverty cannot be his identity. He learns he shouldn’t feel sorry for himself and not let poverty become his identity The teacher seemed to force Gregory to be identified as poverty, and Gregory accepted that for a long time. He finally realizes he should not let that stop him from his achievements. He overcomes poverty but goes through many trials to do so. He has to go through the shame of being embarrassed in front of Helene and other embarrassing tasks that lead him to figure out poverty is not who he is.