Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace; Jonathan Kozol (ARGUMENT)

    This author, Jonathan Kozol, argues that the institutions in society need to change and improve, and it is not necessarily the individuals we should blame, but the institutions themselves.  Kozol's piece is basically saying, as we discussed in class, that the institutions are "giving band aids for broken legs" and certainly not doing enough to help the situations.  It is as if the institutions take the easy way out and just give, give, give.  Instead of coming up with ideas to make gradual progression with the problems in society, they do "one big thing" to cover the issue.  Some claim Kozol is saying get rid of the institutions and replace them, but he is clearly suggesting we make changes to the institutions and improve the way they function.  However, my question is, does he want to continue to change them? Because they have been changing from day one in a sense, for example, a black man years ago could not be his own man, but was owned by another.  With passing times, rights and privileges change, along with laws and rules of society.  Although things still aren't "right" in the world, there has been major progress in with decades passing.  It wasn't clear to me whether Kozol was acknowledging the changes already made and encouraging more change and improvement, or if he disregarded the fact things have improved and implying change needs to start now.