Honky

Always great to read an NYU Faculty member’s book.  Dalton Conley, who serves as the Senior Vice Provost and Dean for the Social Sciences, wrote the book Honky.  A view of the childhood experiences of a Caucasian boy and his sister growing up with his parents (artists) in one of the most diverse places in the world, NYC.  This view of the Lower East Side of NY in the late 1960’s illustrates the experiences of being 1 of 1 in an environment that was really hard to grow up in.  Kids can be (No they are!) cruel.  Conley begins with his abduction of a young Muslim child on the playground, hoping to have his own sister someday!  Hearing of the disadvantageous first hand of growing up non-white was another awakening moment for anyone who thinks that this society is tolerant and accepting of others.  Conley speaks of his own privilege in the classroom where non-whites were being physically abused and he was not for the same bad behavior.  We learn of his integration in the school systems, well sort of, did it happen?  The system of NYC schools, with having “an address” that gets you in to certain schools, and then “smarts” that get you into the upper high schools, speaks of the horrific systems we continue to cultivate in our society.  His mother used the system to enhance their housing and her children’s education.  So I’d say there certainly are some interesting contradictions that he himself experienced, wonder how his mother experienced the read of the book.  Surprising how such a weak student, who missed most of 6/7 grades for video games, got into the very best high school in NYC.  The chapters in the book capture much of the issues in the society at the time and how the roles of music, violence, race, culture, family, guns, and color of skin played in making or not making a community.  A short and powerful read.  Good qualitative study for those who want to learn how to write a book about your life.