Atrocities Exposed with Surprising Grace God bless the mother. God bless the nanny. God, don't punish me because I'm black. The above is an excerpt of a prayer from one of the saddest and most discouraging books I have ever read. Jonathon Kozol based this book on a neighborhood in the South Bronx called Mott Haven. Mott Haven appears to be not only the poorest neighborhood in New York, but perhaps in the entire United States. Of the 48,000 residents who live in this dilapidated, rat-infested neighborhood, two-thirds are Hispanic, one-third are black and 35 percent are children. Not only is Mott Haven one of the poorest places, it is also one of the most racially segregated. The book itself is an ongoing dialogue between Kozol and the neighborhood residents, occasionally interrupted by Kozol's thoughts. It covers a wide range of topics, from AIDS, to drug addiction, to prostitution, to crime, to poorly run and funded schools, to white flight from schools, to overcrowded hospitals, and to the extraordinary faith in religion and God that many of these people they have. Kozol makes several trips to Mott Haven and talks to a myriad of people, children and adults. For example, Kozol develops a relationship with a twelve-year-old Hispanic boy named Anthony. Anthony is intelligent and loves to write stories. One day he hopes to become a novelist. He also has great faith in God. He makes some very touching observations regarding his neighborhood and life in general. For example, one day Kozol and Anthony are discussing whether anyone in the neighborhood is truly happy, and Kozol points out that some children seem cheerful while playing in the schoolyards. Anthony is quick to point out that cheerful and happy are not the same thing. Then, as they walk, Anthony stops and waves to him in the neighborhood. Then he asks, “Would you be happy if you had to live here?” The only answer can be NO. Kozol also speaks with many church leaders in the diverse communities of the South Bronx. In particular, he often speaks with Reverend Above, known as Mother Martha to Anthony and the other children who attend his church. What is most astonishing about Rev. Overall is the fact that he gave up a productive career as a lawyer to serve people in America's poorest community..