Christine Mitchell

Sarah Ostiz

English 101

City Limits by Colson Whitehead (response)

Have you ever taken a moment to acknowledge your city? Have you ever taken the time to appreciate the moments you share with your city? Well in the story “City Limits” Colson Whitehead speaks about how he remembers his city and how over time his city has changed. Building, stores, pizza shops that had once been on the corner of your old neighborhood, is now the home of a Liberian who opened up her and first book store or the building you once lived in now is a travel agency. Even though over the time your city may not look the same or things and stores that were once there aren’t, but in some way they are still there, because you are, it lives in your memories.

One thing that stood out to me and loved was when he stated “You start building your private New York the first time you lay eyes on it” (Whitehead). What I took from that was New York is different to each and every person, we all share different moments and memories. For me New York has been my home my whole life, so it has seen me grow from this little peanut head, to the adult that I am now. New York has seen me through all my different stages in life, as well as I have seen New York grow and change over the years.

Something else that stood out to me was “ There are eight million naked cities in this naked city-they dispute and disagree, the New York City you live in is not my New York City; how could it be? This place multiplies when you’re not looking” (Whitehead). Everything that we once knew to be here or there, shops or movie theaters we once went to here is now moved and replace. Nothing ever seems nor stay the same. And not once we were able to say good bye to what was once our favorite store.

“We can never make proper good-byes” (Whitehead). Since we never get the time to appreciate things, we only notice things when they’re gone and stay with the “I wish I was able to go there one last time feeling”.

I think the purpose of Colson Whitehead in writing this story was to tell people over the time things will change and not remain the same, but New York will always be the same in your eyes, because of the history and moments you shared with it. Also take the time to appreciate your city, appreciate your neighborhood the first place you called home, because we might not see it again as we once knew it. New York City has grown and will continue to change, but your love and memories will keep it the same.