Eyes Are Black Velvet (Metaphor)
Following his death, Jerome lingers at his family's apartment as a ghost. While there, he catches his first glimpse of Emmett Till's ghost. Jerome comments: "In the kitchen, by the window, I see a brown boy like me. His eyes are black velvet." In this metaphor, Jerome emphasizes the rich black quality of Emmett's eyes by comparing them to velvet, a silky, fuzzy fabric that catches the light in a unique way.
Muscles Like Jell-O (Simile)
When Jerome meets the ghost of Emmett Till, Emmett explains he had polio as a child, which led him to stutter and to pronounce certain syllables with an involuntary whistling sound. Because Jerome hasn't heard of polio, Emmett says, "Paralysis. Muscles like Jell-O. I walked with a limp." In this simile, Emmett concisely describes the weakening effect polio can have on one's muscles by comparing his muscles to Jell-O, a wobbly gelatin dessert.
Like Rising Smoke (Simile)
Although reluctant to see it, Jerome watches the video of his killing that has been released online. Officer Moore's bullets don't kill him instantly; rather, he dies while lying on the ground as Moore and his partner render no medical aid. Jerome comments: "Staring at the computer, I can tell when I died. Like rising smoke, my spirit leaves." In this simile, Jerome gives substance to his intangible spirit departing his corpse by likening it to rising smoke.
Like Cotton Candy (Simile)
When visiting Sarah, Jerome justifies his lack of sympathy for the police officer's daughter by noting that her all-pink bedroom "is like cotton candy. Sickly sweet. ... Nothing bad is supposed to happen to whoever sleeps in this room." In this simile, Jerome compares Sarah's bedroom to cotton candy to emphasize the fairytale-like atmosphere of white privilege in which her parents raise her.
A Pimple (Metaphor)
When Eddie, Mike, and Snap find Jerome and Carlos hiding in bathroom stalls at lunch, they try to make Carlos admit he's nothing. Twisting Carlos's arm, Snap attempts to force Carlos to say that he is "a pimple." Using metaphoric language, Snap minimizes Carlos's humanity by comparing him to an unwanted blemish.
