Blak's Story - Book Report/Review Example

A careful understanding of the story from a sociological perspective helps one in recognizing and comprehending several of the vital concepts of social issues. Thus, the protagonist in the Blak's Story introduces him at the beginning of the story as "My uncle was a pimp, my mother was murdered, and my daddy died a dope fiend / Tell me, with family values like this, from where should my hope spring" (Blak's Story, 2003). Through this introduction, the protagonist raises some essential questions of sociological issues and factors which underpin the argument that it is one's background, social and family, which determines one's attitudes, perspectives, and character.

Therefore, in this comprehensive analysis of Blak's Story using a sociological perspective, an analysis of the sociological issues discussed in the story as well as the theoretical perspectives used in the story is emphasized. In Blak's Story, the sociologists find several instances that raise issues of sociological importance and it is essential to realize how the sociologists interpret the story. Thus, it is essential to conduct an investigation on how the boy Yanier Franklin Donald Moore turned out to be an individual with no hope for life.

The sociological elements surrounding a human being have a great influence on his attitudes and perception of the world. These factors of the social background or the family environment also determine how a personality is formed and how a social being is created. Blak's experience with his father and mother was not conducive to his development as an individual who gives great attention to the moral and social values of life. His father, Franklin Moore, was a dope fiend or a heroin addict and Blak understands his father as a thief as well as a liar.

His father got killed when he was breaking into somebody's house. Similarly, his mother Betty Moore "was murdered by her boyfriend with a butcher knife right in front of me when I was five years old. He stabbed her in the heart, so she was just bleeding to death." (Blak's Story, 2003). Thus, the protagonist did not have a pleasant experience with either of his parents during his childhood and he got passed around from relative to relative after his mother was murdered. As a child, Blak never understood what love was and the relatives kept him around for the death benefits check.

He never had a good moment to cherish and he slept on the floor, with no food and no love. All these experiences, especially the lack of proper care and food, made his move according to the needs of his body and he became a thief. "I could deal with the beatings but to get beat and not eat, that was too much, so I started stealing. It became like this way of life almost." (Blak's Story, 2003). Thus, from a sociological perspective, it is affirmed that a thief or mugger is not born, but made - made by the sociological and environmental factors.

Similarly, in a profound understanding of the childhood experiences of the hero, the sociologists find reasons for his use of drugs and his life as a gangster.