Education Through Violence

In his book "Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun," Geoffrey Canada tells the compelling story of his rough upbringing in the inner-cities of New York. Canada begins this biography with a recollection of his first lesson in what would become a long education through violence. His two older brothers, ages five and six, returned home from the park and the younger brother's coat had been stolen. Their mother immediately noticed and, rather than retrieving the coat herself, commanded the two brothers to return to the park and take it back from the thief. Reluctantly, they did so by physically forcing the return of the jacket. This was young Geoffrey's first illustration in the importance of not being a victim. Of course, growing up in the Bronx, it was the only the first of many. Over the coming years Geoffrey would acquire the skills needed to survive in a world of violence, a distrust for outside authority, and fear of the instability fostered by the growing proliferation of handguns. Ultimately, however, he would also find a sense of hope that violence can be replaced with peace and he would find the strength to begin facilitating such a change in communities torn apart by warring with themselves.