Colson Whitehead says in his article that each individual experience of New York City is unique. Everyone has their own experiences. His attitude toward New York City is more sentimental, recalling a past era. “But look past the windows of the travel agency that has taken the place of your pizza parlor.” This line indicates that Whitehead looking back to a time where his favorite pizza parlor. Whitehead goes on to say that you don’t know New York until you see it for yourself, rather than hearing what others think. While John Lewis’s article explains the change in the community is the growth from the hardship of African Americans endures from the past to present. In the article, Lewis says, “Though I was surrounded by two loving parents, plenty of brothers, sisters, and cousins, their love could not protect me from the unholy oppression waiting just outside that family circle. Unchecked, unrestrained violence and government-sanctioned terror had the power to turn a simple stroll to the store for some Skittles or an innocent morning jog down a lonesome country road into a nightmare.” Lewis used an assertive tone to express his feelings about change. He wanted society to change for the better. Racism and discrimination are deeply rooted in this society. Lewis learned through firsthand experience how oppressive society was, coming to a realization at the age of 15. Both writers feel strongly about change especially within a community and outside of it. Both pieces’ themes overlapped in that they both explored horrific days that our culture would one day look back on as being in the past.

I feel closer to John Lewis’s article because as a black African American male there is always a target on our backs. African Americans don’t have good opportunities because our skin is constantly seen as a weapon. The system is designed to keep us down and because of that very few make it out. Society doesn’t accept us and no matter how loud we scream they will never hear us.