Tag Archives: Colson Whitehead

The Confirmation Before Our Eyes.

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In the passage “City Limits ” Colson Whitehead described what being a New Yorker is, and what living in New York is as well. He stated that the past is more important than the present. He went further to say New York is not New York if you did not see it, then don’t believe it. Whitehead, then explains that everyone views New York and react to its different situations in a different way because we are all different. He specified, as he began to shape the passage, by the way New York began and how a person may have encountered it. Then in our heads we begin to build a point of view of New York. He describes the old New York to the new, New York. He says new, New York because old buildings are being broken or torn down and established with modernized buildings. Whitehead believe, we do not notice the changes because we as people; must accept and change with New York because we do don’t have a choice therefore, we confirm.

City Limits summery

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“City Limits” by Colson Whitehead is an essay about the his first experience in New York City and what makes it so fast paced or why it is called “the city that never sleeps” because it seems to be functioning 24/7 even in the early 70’s  New york had its glory days not only that but draws in the reader by saying that everyone has their own personal version or interpretation of the city. First impressions are always the one that people remember and to understand this from the perspective of the writer is the general point of the essay. He even pints out at one point that never let people tell you how New York City was, and to experience it themselves. Because of the city fast paced nature everything is changing, stores, buildings, houses, ect. and how in the future all of it will be something else in a couple of years, to appreciate what we have now before its gone. and being a citizen in new york you understand where Colson is coming from if you where born and raised here. I agree with Colson’s perspective on the city and how people should appreciate what they have more often before it’s gone.