Race Research

    Right now close to one million black men are serving time in American jails. This means one in every three black males will have a prison record at some time (Wilson par. 7). This statistic holds true to the life of Chris Shurn, a 25 year old African American, from Oakland, California. Shurn was jailed in San Quentin Prison, at the age of 21 for crack-cocaine possession, and a weapons violation (Wilson par. 2). Four years later Shurn was released; he was then faced with the option of returning to his old life of drug dealing, or tackling life head on and getting a job and an education. Chris Shurn decided it was time to stay off the streets thanks to a special rehabilitation program that he encountered at San Quentin: Project Choice. The goal of Project Choice is to help convicted drug dealers turn their lives around, by helping them get an honorable hard working job. With the help of Project Choice and his own strong will, persevering grit, Shurn is off the streets and working an honest $9 dollar an hour job to help support his girlfriend and her child. Even though as an African American ex-convict statistics show Shurn is doomed to fail, it seems that Shurn's dedication to hard work will keep him from selling drugs and out of jail. 

    Chris Shurn like many other African Americans seemed to be born into a life destined for failure. He was born into a family with little money, in a bad area, with parents who had no intent of raising him (Wilson par. 3). While Shurn is currently overcoming tremendous odds to lead a successful life there are many other African Americans who aren't: for example, take Cholly Breedlove from the novel, The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison. Cholly was born into a similar situation to Shurn, but unlike Shurn he failed to overcome it. Cholly Breedlove was abandoned in a dumpster when he was just a baby with no parents to guide him through his life. As an adult Cholly is faced with numerous obstacles: he has no job and still has to raise a family. Chris Shurn and the character Cholly Breedlove were both once at this similar juncture in life; Shurn had to support his girlfriend while jobless and Cholly had to support a family without a job. Both make terrible decisions and end up in jail (Cholly burnt down his house abandoning his family and Shurn sold drugs to make money). Now what separates these two black males is what they do after jail in order to better their lives. 

    When both are released from jail they are left with no options but to work their way up from the bottom. Chris Shurn decides to make his own future and get a job, while on the other hand Cholly Breedlove returns to his somehow forgiving family. When Cholly returns to his family he re-enters his life of alcoholism and abuse. While there are brief moments that portray Breedlove as an endearing parent he spends most of his life enraged from the racism he encounters and the life he was dealt. Instead of getting over his anger Cholly lets it consume him; this ultimately leads Cholly to continue his cycle of alcohol and family abuse. Unlike Cholly, Shurn made the smart decision of getting a job and restarting his life. Rather than getting mad at the life he was born into and the lack of opportunity, Shurn has decided to take a chance at climbing the corporate ladder; something shocking and admirable in a time where jobs are as scarce as ever. 

    Today in America many African Americans are either born, or eventually placed into very tough situations. Some blacks are born into very bad socioeconomic environments without parents to guide them. Unlike a life like mine where I was spoon-fed everything I’ve needed, others are faced with tough life choices: specifically blacks in poor areas. The decisions people make in these tough environments are indicative of a person's mental strength and fortitude. In these positions one is left with two options: to cower and return to the terrible life one was dealt, like Cholly Breedlove, or to get tough and better oneself like Chris Shurn.