Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers are two young brothers who grew up in the Henry Horner Homes, a public housing complex on Chicago's West Side in the 1990s, according to moving memoirs by Alex Kotlowitz “There are no children here.” . The book's depiction of race and racism is particularly striking, as Kotlowitz does not shy away from the harsh realities of life in the projects and paints a vivid picture of the deeply ingrained racism that pervades the lives of the Rivers brothers and his parents. their neighbors. The book is relevant to contemporary society as it illustrates the current issues of race and racism that continue to plague our society. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay In the 1990s, race and racism remained significant issues in America. Despite the progress made in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, many African Americans and other people of color continued to face discrimination and inequality in various aspects of life, including education, employment, housing, and of criminal justice. One of the key problems that persisted into the 1990s was racial segregation, particularly in urban areas, where many African Americans and other people of color lived in neighborhoods characterized by poverty, disinvestment, and inadequate access to resources and opportunities. These conditions were often the result of discriminatory housing policies and practices, such as redlining and blockbusting, that were used to keep people of color out of certain neighborhoods. “There Are No Children Here” provides a detailed, uncompromising portrait of the ways in which racism shapes the lives of the Rivers brothers and their neighbors and illustrates the structural forces that perpetuate these problems. For example, Pharoah and Lafeyette's experiences in local schools are a telling example of how racism can limit educational opportunities for children of color. Despite their intelligence and desire to learn, children are held back by a lack of resources and inadequate teaching, which is a direct result of the abandonment and disinvestment plaguing their neighborhood schools. The boys' struggles in school highlight the ways in which racism can limit opportunities for children of color, even when they have the potential to succeed. Another aspect of the book that illustrates the portrayal of race and racism is how it describes the experience of violence in the Horner Homes. Kotlowitz does not sugarcoat the reality of life in the projects and paints the violence plaguing the community as a direct result of the poverty and neglect so prevalent in the area. The kids and their neighbors live in constant fear of violence, and the book is full of examples of the ways in which this violence is shaped by racism. The book also highlights how racism shapes the relationship between residents of the Horner Homes and their neighbors. wider society. For example, the book describes how residents of the Horner Homes are isolated and disconnected from the larger community, due to the neglect and disinvestment plaguing the area. This isolation is reinforced by the racism that is so pervasive in the area and makes it difficult for residents of the Horner Homes to access the resources and opportunities that would help them escape poverty. The book illustrates how systemic racism is a major factor contributing to poverty, violence and social isolation. By shedding light on the structural forces that perpetuate these problems, the book helps readers see the larger systems and institutions that are responsible for the.