Russell’s mother’s attitude held him back from his dreams as much as his mental illness.
Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Be sure to provide direct evidence from Williams-Garcia’s piece to support your response. Your direct evidence must include details from the story and at least 1 quote. Be sure to include the page number from which you found the quote in the story. Your response needs to be 5-10 sentences in length to earn full credit.
I agree with the statement that Russell’s mother’s attitude held him back from his dreams as much as his mental illness. In the story “One Crazy Summer” by Rita Williams-Garcia, Russell’s mother, Cecile, is portrayed as dismissive and neglectful towards her children, especially towards Russell. Throughout the story, Cecile shows little interest in Russell’s well-being and dismisses his desire to bond with her or seek her approval. This can be seen when Cecile tells Russell, “you go where you want, do what you want,” which highlights her lack of involvement in his life (Williams-Garcia 41). This negative attitude from his mother contributes to Russell’s struggles and feelings of rejection, ultimately hindering his ability to pursue his dreams. Additionally, Cecile’s behavior exacerbates Russell’s mental illness, as he struggles to find stability and support in his life due to his mother’s neglect. Overall, the combination of Russell’s mental illness and his mother’s negative attitude serve as significant barriers to him achieving his dreams.
