Context Setting and Reflective Essay: Reflection

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Context Setting and Reflective Essay
Reflection
The title of chapter 8 is All God’s Children. In this chapter, Stevenson shares the stories of several children who were prosecuted and sentenced to life in prison. The stories of Antonio Nunez, Trina Garnett, and Ian Manuel help shed light on a system that does not consider the age of the accused and the circumstances that surrounded their arrest and sentencing.
The title of this chapter is apt in that it helps to send the message that we are all equal and of the same race: human. We all suffer, lack, get angry, and do over a hundred more things that tie us together as people. Reading the victims’ stories in this chapter, one empathizes with them because they lost their lives because of mistakes or misrepresentation. Also, one cannot fail to notice that they are victims of their circumstances. For example, Trina grew up poor and with an abusive father. Like her mother, she was sexually abused by her father and did not have a home for years. The crime she committed was as a result of these circumstances. Ian was charged with armed robbery and attempted murder and was sentenced to life at thirteen years. At thirteen years, the young boy was placed in solitary confinement. While reading his story, one cannot help but tie it to Trina’s as well. Like Trina, Ian was a victim of circumstances because, as Debbie Baigre explained to the court, he did not have support or supervision as a kid. The lack of parental figures had acted against the young man, and eventually, he made a mistake. Antonio also suffered the same fate as Trina and Ian and all because of his circumstances. A turbulent home life and neighborhood,...