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Life at Henry Horner
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Lafayette Views Death
It was during the summer of 1985 that Lafayette watches someone die for the first time. This scares Lafayette into trying to be the best kid possible so that he is not killed. This is when Lafayette is still a child and has a sense of innocence. -
Lafayette's Birthday
In the summer of 1987 Lafayette turns 11 years old. However, during his birthday party, gunfire erupts and forced the family to hide in safety. During this time, Lafayette begins to question is he will live to be 18 and make it out of his neighborhood. -
Bird Leg Dies
One of Lafayette's good friends, Bird Leg, dies. Bird Leg influenced Lafayette's joy in animals, but was also a part of a dangerous gang. As Lafayette attends Bird Leg's funeral, he begins to think that he can trust no one but family if he wants to make it out of the projects. -
Aid Taken
When the Welfare state learns that Lafayette and Pharaoh's father has been using their address for work and mail, they take away the families Welfare checks. However, the boys father contributes nothing to the family and the 5 children are forced to live off of almost nothing. This makes Lafayette distrust his community and government. -
Dawn's Graduation
Lafayette and Pharaoh's cousin, Dawn, gradates from high school and goes to community college. This is very rare in the projects and a celebration is thrown. This event is less influential for Lafayette than for Pharaoh who now thinks he should study hard at school to become the best in family. -
Lafayette Steals
Lafayette becomes influenced by a kid named Rickey. Rickey has always been in trouble with gangs and the law and he pressures Lafayette to attempt to steal a video game. This is the first time Lafayette gets into trouble with the law and it scares him into keeping to himself for a while.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUjUz_QEh48) -
Lafayette is Attacked
Lafayette is trying to make some extra money by parking cars by a stadium. The cops tell him to leave and violence erupts. This is the first time Lafayette has a personally bad experience with the police and it forced him to distrust the police force. This is when Lafayette begins to turns away from adults and toward the streets. -
Craig Dies
During the spring of 1989, Lafayette's mentor, Craig Davis, is killed by police. Lafayette looked up to Craig as he was one of the only older teens in the neighborhood that stayed out of trouble and was a good influence. After Craig's death, Lafayette begins to spiral downhill. He becomes violent, keeps to himself, and stops protecting himself from the violence and gangs of the streets around him. This was a major turning point of the book. -
Spelling Bee
Pharaoh wins second place in his schools spelling bee. This given Pharaoh much needed confidence in himself as he won the spelling bee and controlled his studder enough to speak in front of a crowd. At this time in the book, Pharaoh begins to take control of his life and throws himself into school. He ignores the pull of the streets and decides to work hard instead. -
Terrence in Jail
At this time in the book, Lafayette and Pharaoh's older brother, Terrence is sentenced to 8 years in prison for armed robbery. Pharaoh maintains that he is too innocent to understand this, but Lafayette is deeply troubled by this. Lafayette begins to think that society automatically thinks he is bad so he might as well act bad as well. It is also around this time that Lafayette and Rickey begin a "gang" known as the Four Corner Hustlers.
(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY) -
Pharaoh is Picked
Due to his hard work in school and his interest in attending college, Pharaoh is picked for Project Upward Bound. This project helps Pharaoh get a jump start on school by allowing him to study during the summer at a local college. This makes Pharaoh feel great about his hard work paying off and that he is making his family proud. This enforces Pharaoh to keep studying and staying off the streets. -
Arrested Again?
Unlike Pharaoh, who is staying out of trouble, Lafayette continues to test the law and his safety. Lafayette is tried in court to breaking into a truck and given probation and community service hours. Lafayette claims he is innocent and is upset that he now has an official record. However, this event is positive for Lafayette because it scares him into understanding consequences and that he will disappoint his mother like Terrence did. Because of this, he begins to stay out of trouble. -
The End
Pharaoh is sent to a private school where he thrives from all the hard work and attention from teachers. Lafayette begins to try harder in school, helps out at home, and stays away from the bad influences of the streets. Also, life in Henry Horner improves as the housing authority creates many community help projects and organizations for the kids as well as cleaning p the area around the housing district.
