In the chapter “Before and After,” Dr Carl Hart talks about his early childhood in which he faced many difficulties. From an early age, he witnessed the domestic violence that took place at his home when his father beat his mother. When the boy was about six years old, his parents divorced. However, the problems and worries did not end because Carl Hart’s mother left her children and went to work in another city. The author reflects on how such an act of his mother affected his character. Carl Hart was not used to talking about his feelings, and by the age of six, he had learned to conceal them, which certainly affected the development of his personality. However, as Carl Hart grew older, he understood what motivated his parents to make certain decisions. He realized that his mother and father had faced difficult challenges at a relatively young age: they had already had eight children by the time they were twenty-nine. That is why the author tries not to hold a grudge and not to judge his parents while at the same time acknowledging their mistakes.
Moreover, the author reflects on the problem of imposed masculinity, which he also had to face. During the divorce, he wanted to stay with his father, which at that age seemed quite natural to him. However, as an adult, he realizes that such desires were not his at all, rather imposed by society and family traditions. Carl Hart also noticed different attitudes towards him and his sisters: in case of tears, his sisters were comforted, while Carl and his brothers were taught to “be men” (Hart 16). Moreover, the author talks deeply about racial problems that he noticed from an early age. As he grew up and became successful, he began to delve into research about the difference between white and black families. Such studies helped him understand the actions of his parents and find some advantages in his upbringing.
Work Cited
Hart, Carl. High Price. HarperCollins, 2013.