The novel examines Myer’s African-American experience in the 1940s as a child into young adulthood from his retrospection as an adult. Henceforth shows how a young growing mind comes to terms with his surrounding while trying to find a place in the world. The story goes beyond an account of the African-American experience but of a young person coming of age and becoming conscious of his environment. Consequently, the battle between the inner self and societal expectations fosters the inner conflict with identity. Additionally tackles the significance of key people in our lives and society that can play a huge role in our development. Accordingly, the memoir is an account of doubt, perseverance, disillusionment, identity, and the influence society and has on us and we have on it.
It focuses on Myer’s childhood growing up in Harlem and his interaction with family, peers, educators, and society in general. From an adult vantage of hindsight, Myers charts how a young mind comprehends complex social aspects such as race and racism. As a child with a speech impediment, he experienced his fair share of bullying which forced him to respond with toxic masculinity. Thus, illustrates how we become the product of our environment as it becomes harder to embrace our true selves outwardly. For Myers, it was his passion for writing of which even though teachers encouraged him to nurture he would still face disillusionment from society. If being a black young writer was not challenging enough due to lack of enough role models thereof, peer pressure and toxic masculinity were other traps to overcome.
The impression Myers harbored in young adulthood was the impossibility of succeeding as a writer due to a lack of resources and the societal barriers. However, the same things that he felt were hindrances such as his skin color and the tough background played a role in his literary voice. Thus demonstrating that the same aspects that hinder us are also the path to achieve what we are hindered from.
