An Honest View

Tom Kearney lived during a difficult time, when there were was little money and few resources available to Americans. People were often desperate, and it was job to control angry mobs at times. Although he didn't realize the implications of his job at times, he has realistic and insightful views when he looks back at his life. He didn't seem passionate about his job, but he accepted it. He said, "Some had to be police, you know? The sacrificed anything. They just knew that so-and- so in the family would be" (263). He felt like it was his responsibility to protect citizens, whether he wanted to or not. Kearney did not recognize how much his job and decisions impacted others. He wrote, "I recall the hunger marches. . . I had a job at Madison and Canal, and they were marching, trying to get into the Downtown area, from the west to the east. The police charged them. Whether they were right or wrong. I didn't know then. I was too much concerned with my own self. 'Cause things were rather brutal and you expected that, you know" (264). Times were tough for everyone, and individuals couldn't help but to consider themselves first. Although Kearney had false perceptions in some areas, he had realistic views in others. For instance, being a policeman was one occupation that could really allow someone to express their views on race. At this time, a police officer had the power to arrest someone for illegitimate reasons if they wanted to do so because of someone's race. However, Kearney saw right past race. When asked about his views on colored people, he stated, "He also understand that his family is gonna have to live with whites and if he doesn't live with the whites he can't understand them either. The colored man says: 'Well, you don't know us.' Naturally we don't. They don't know the white either'" (267). Even though this is a sad truth, it is very true. Both sides of the racial barrier were not knowledgable about the other. They had false perceptions of those different from them, and it was important that both admitted to being biased and uninformed, rather than only laying blame on one another.
Kid Pharaoh was a very bitter, opinionated man who looked at the world differently than most. He said, "I never graduated high school, and I missed absolutely nothing. You learn nothing in school, nothing. The truth of the matter is you learn it on the outside. A guy goes to school. What does he want to be? A doctor? A lawyer? These are the two biggest thieves in our society. One steals legitimate, the other kills legitimate" (253). Most would consider occupations like doctor or lawyer to be admirable and impressive. However, Kid Pharaoh considered these workers to be the real thieves in society, not men like himself. These were the people who were taking citizens money left and right. He also took money from others, but at least he admitted to it. Kid Pharaoh believed that it was okay to go against society and make mistakes, as long as one admitted to it.