Jordan’s dreams
The narrator opens his arguments concerning his aspirations using sight imagery to help readers see his determination from childhood. The imagery shows Jordan's passion, zeal, and eagerness to become an artist in the future. Jordan says, “My name is Jordan Banks. All my life, I have wanted to be an artist. I planned to stay at St. Harwell, my old school, until the eighth grade.”
The imagery of the city
The narrator describes the location of the Riverdale Academy using sight imagery. Jordan's mother persuades him to join Riverdale Academy, a day school. Riverdale is a fancy school in the city that is part of the Bronx. Jordan says, "It is in a section of the city that's so fancy; its residents refuse to admit that it's a part of the Bronx. But it is.”
Smell imagery
Jordan is having a conversation with his father about his growth. According to Jordan, he has not grown this summer, but he hopes to become six feet taller in the coming season. However, he is discouraged by the odor coming from his armpit, and he is concerned about it. Jordan says, “I played ball with Kirk and Kenny all day, plus I don’t even shower tonight, here smelly! My body odor.” Jordan says, "One day after sports last year, the locker room smelled so bad that coach Roche had to go to the nurse, and the only one who didn't stink was me.”
