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Summary: The Other Side of the River By: Alex Kotlowitz



﻿The Other Side of the River is a story of two towns, a death, and America's dilemma today. The story surrounds the death of a young black man on the southwestern side of Michigan. The story is set in St. Joseph and benton Harbor. These are two towns that are very close in proximity, but are in two very different worlds. St. Joseph is a very prosperable area that is 95% white and is very prejudice towards blacks. Benton Harbor is very poor and is 92% black and is the opposite of everything that St. Joseph is. In the book, the body of Eric McGinnis is found in the river. This worsens racial tension between the communities and almost forces riots and more violence. The death of eric is still unclear and what caused it depends on which side of the river you are on. If you are from Benton Harbor, you believe that Eric was killed due to his skin color and the prejudice of St. Joseph. If you live on the other side, however, you believe that it was an accident and that there was no racial motives in his death. Here we see what Kotlowitz offers as America's dilemma. Each side (white and black ) have had so many negative experiences with the other race that anything that can be blamed on the other side will be. Blacks will automatically blame the white population and vice-versa. The truth lies somewhere inbetween as each view is so polluted by hate that it is innacurate and bias. This is a very realistic story that takes place close to home and Kotlowitz does a great job of portraying the views of each side of the river.

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