Evicted is a fascinating read: True stories of both tenants
and landlords in the inner city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The author,
Mathew Desmond, spent years following and interviewing eight families
living in the poorest neighborhoods in the country. Four of the
families live in multi-family apartments owned by Sherrena, a seasoned
black landlord who is tough and often heartless. The other four
families live in a decrepit rat-infested trailer park owned by Tobin, a
hardened white landlord who is gutsy and sometimes willing to
negotiate, yet is all about the bottom line.
The stories of these
eight families are both enlightening and heartbreaking. They get under
your skin and are hard to get off your mind. They are in many ways
bound by their pasts, childhoods usually riddled with abuse, neglect,
and violence. Often ruled by addiction, they make poor choices in how
to spend their money and who to trust. They misuse alcohol and drugs,
both prescription and street. They waste opportunities and blow second
and third chances. They seem bound to live in poverty forever, one generation after another.
Yet,
there are glimmers of hope. They love their children and
grandchildren. They still dream of more. They understand the value of a
quality education. They hope for good jobs. They want a better tomorrow
for themselves and their families. Just like you and just like me.
That
is the main lesson I take away from this book. The poor, the
downtrodden, those who are standing at the curb with their belongings in
a heap around them, the drug-addicted, the filthy, the alcoholic, the
mentally ill could be me. As a Christ follower, I often pray that I
will see others through God's eyes. That I will learn to love them as he does. This book helped me to do just that, and I am grateful for it.
