MLK
It is a mistake to assume a monolithic acceptance among black society that saw Martin Luther King’s approaching to battling racism. There was much pushback against the most famous civil rights figure in American history. The message of the book is very much in the opposition, putting forth questions about the very concept of accepting what is seen as social worker idealism about progress for blacks in American society:
“I could haul off and hit some-a these head shrinks and social workers, hit them full on, fist against front teeth. We’ve been following their say-so and advice the way the apostles followed Jesus.”
Nigeria
There is much anger expressed in this book, but it is perhaps directed toward a different object than some readers might expect. Racism is addressed on almost every page, but not necessarily the white on black kind that is most prevalent. For instance, a black teacher named Nigeria takes much of the guff, expressed through a panoply of metaphorical phrasing:
“He pretend to be a Black Nationalist, but done turn Uncle Tom and got together with Mista Cohen, who is a Jew. The two of them did me in.”
Mista Cohen
Cohen is white, and there is a very special sort of pushback given to him. He is the embodiment of good intentions that can never be realized with his empathy becoming not a thing to be embraced, but ridiculed:
“His face look like a stompin ground for sadness when he be talkin serious and usin words like `ghetto.’"
Junkies
Walter the pusher offers much advice on drug dealing, drug-taking, and drugs. Much of his narrative is rich and resonant in metaphorical imagery. He has on preferred metaphor for carrying the habit of heroin around, however:
“You through with him because you get scared of him, he smells like trouble when the monkey rides his back. Soon he's got to hustle hard for the monkey, and he hangs out with nobody but other hard hustlers.”
Teaching Methodologies
Mr. Cohen may not be the greatest guy in the world for Benjie, but he should be considered a hero to some degree. After spending two years with teachers who didn’t care if he learned how to read, Cohen is the man who made it happen:
“Every day he made us get up, stand to one side of the room, in a line, and do nothin but take turns readin out loud It was like ridin a bicycle; one day, after bumblin and stumblin, I started to read fast and easy. I just knew how and been goin on ever since.”
