Police brutality
Police brutality is a major theme brought out in this work. In 2015 after Gray gets arrested for the possession of a knife illegally, he is handled aggressively, and with great hostility, by the police, as he placed into their vehicle. Gray is pronounced to be in a coma that is irreversible at the end of the drive and later dies in police custody. This is a major way in which police brutality is explored in this book. Additionally, in the days to come, in particular, in the five days to follow, a lot of unrest and murder and chaos are witnessed.
Poverty
In this work, Moore provides a deep synthesis of the particular effect of poverty essentially on the lives of African American citizens. In order to do this, Moore uses the context of Gray's life where poverty played a major role in his life. Having been born into poverty, Moore argues that regardless of the path that Gray would have taken in his life, the system would have always worked against him. Poverty, says Moore, is at the centre of the damage witnessed particularly among black communes.
Solidarity
After Gray's death in the hands of the police, there is public outcry as the general public stands in solidarity with him to ensure that justice prevails. Even though chaos, riots, death and a great deal of tragedy ensues due to this public demonstrations, the theme of solidarity is quite explicitly brought out.
