The situation in both towns is tremendously different because kids from both towns live in different realities, their necessities and goals are extremely different. In Morristown where violence and poverty is low, the kids focus more on their school grades, sports, and college goals. In Camden, kids grow up worrying where they will live, what will they eat tomorrow and even if they will be alive the next day because of the crime rate and poverty line. It's hard for these kids to grow up and graduate from their schools, because of these basic, community and household needs.
It was very emotional to watch and understand the lives of those who live in the community of Camden, It seemed that because of the lack of work opportunity, individuals such as the moms and teenagers such as Billy Joel, struggled to provide their household with income or extra income. They also struggle to live a healthy and successful life. It was also very emotional to listen to those kids dreams and what they've wanted for Christmas, in my head I would never imagine a kid to dream or wish for something so basic.
In Morristown kids would dream of something that a kid at that age would, like new toys or a new bicycle, whereas in Camden, kids dream of basic needs of living things like, a house, food and even non-material things, like, a job for their parents or some sort of opportunity of that kind that could benefit their lives.
The impact of poverty and crime in Camden affects so many lives around the community that it becomes impossible for small families to improve their situation that are trying to get out of. It nearly becomes impossible for these families to advance in life. Because of violence and drug trafficking kids don't have a safe neighborhood or playground to play in. It was disgusting and absurd that kids at that age knew what those needles and syringes were meant for, and they would find those at the playground where they play and socialize.
It was also shocking to hear that Ivan would hide his head under his pillows to not hear gun shots, while in Morristown kids probably have never heard a gunshot before or seen what kids in Camden would; whereas in Camden, kids at an early age, witness drug trafficking and even murder scenes. It seems that e...
