Review of 480 Codorus Street

[Nicky Rita]

[Following is a volunteer review of "480 Codorus Street" by Sandra L. Kearse-Stockton.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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”480 Codorus Street” is a firsthand narrative by Sandra L. Kearse-Stockton that guides people through several years of her childhood and early years in York, Pennsylvania. The book is titled after the name of the street where she was born, a location that means so much and has so much history behind it for the author and her people.
 
Thus, Kearse-Stockton gives a clear idea about life in a segregated America for African Americans, leaving quite a lot of insights about life in a small industrial town. By telling the readers her story, she gives the dynamics of a neighborhood and a community where people knew each other and where family and community were key elements of who they were and how they survived in a segregated America that discriminated people and offered them limited opportunities just because of the color of their skin. 
 
It is not merely a narration of events; it is, in fact, an analysis of the society and the culture of the era. Kearse-Stockton looks at what the culture of her childhood embodied and the issues that accompany it. She talks about her family’s endurance and how the spirit of her parents and grandparents contributed to her developing a strong sense of pride and dignity, as well as endurance. 
 
In the entire book, the author, Kearse-Stockton, narrates real-life incidences that characterized her childhood as happy and as being difficult. It ranges from the warmth of togetherness that comes with the holiday season to the bitterness of society that deems certain races unworthy of sitting near whites. The memoir is also influenced by some general topics like the value of education, the effect of beliefs, and the role of people in society that help one to overcome all the hurdles in life. I found nothing to dislike about this book. The editing was perfect. I rate it five out of five stars. I recommend it to all politicians because they have to learn about history.

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480 Codorus Street
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