“But the general feeling in the neighborhood was that school was for suckers. The dropouts were the ones who said that the most, and of course they usually looked as if they were having the most fun, wearing the best clothes, and making the most loot from drugs and petty scams.”
In the memoir, MacDonald offers a glimpse into the Old Colony projects where he grew up, the culture, and the intricacies of the Southie identity. He describes the effects of organized crime on the neighborhood from the attitudes of young people to social culture. The neighborhood molded by gangs, crime, and violence renders the residents as products of their environment. With kingpins such as the infamous Whitey Bulger, criminal activities are glorified as the way out or means of success, especially for young adults.
“It’s funny, I thought, how the people who seem the meanest, the people we want nothing to do with, might be in the most pain.”
The Southie identity particularly for men entailed virility and tough exterior which according to MacDonald came with the territory. Therefore, he delves into the personal demons that occasionally lingers behind the mean attitude adopted by the people around him. The improvised lives of the communities either drive most residents to mental illness, drug use, or criminal activities. MacDonald’s siblings as examples of the negative effects of the neighborhood back in the day; they illustrate the personal issues cultivated by the culture.
“When the thousands of people sang the national anthem, with their right hands over their chest, I cried. It was as if we were singing about an America that we wanted but didn't have, especially the part about the land of the free.”
In demonstrating the culture in the Old Colony of South Boston, MacDonald emphasizes the undying loyalty of the people. Even though the lifestyle was poor, the economy was deteriorating, and the violence and discrimination were high, the residents maintain their devotion to their neighborhood. While many wish to escape poverty and start anew, they are somewhat trapped mostly by their economic shortcomings, pride and loyalty to their heritage. Accordingly, MacDonald expresses their allegiance to the land even though they did not have the freedom they wished to have.
