Jerome's Size (Symbol)
Officer Moore's misestimation of Jerome's size is a symbol for unconscious racial prejudice. During Officer Moore's preliminary testimony, he describes Jerome as "scary" and "hulking," suggesting that the boy's immense size naturally led him to infer that Jerome was a mentally unstable adult with a real gun—a threat to the officers and to the public. However, the prosecutor reveals to Moore and the court that Jerome, at twelve years old, weighed ninety pounds and was only five feet tall—the same height as Moore's twelve-year-old daughter. Having pointed out the discrepancy between Moore's perception and the measurable reality of Jerome's small stature, the prosecutor highlights how an unconscious fear of Black people led Moore to perceive Jerome as larger and more threatening than he was.
Three Good Things (Symbol)
Jerome's grandmother's positive association with the number three symbolizes the power of superstitious belief. At several points in Ghost Boys, Grandma seeks reassurance from Jerome by asking him to tell her "three good things," as three is her "magical" number. In fulfilling the request, Jerome eases his grandmother's worries, brought about by her premonitions of coming misfortune. Later in the novel, Grandma asks Carlos to tell her three good things after he reveals that he was the one who gave Jerome the toy gun. To hear his grandmother speak of three good things reminds Jerome of "good times," and he feels reassured. In this way, Rhodes shows how Grandma's positive associations with the number three, though arbitrary, provide a calming effect in times of heightened anxiety.
Toy Gun (Symbol)
The toy gun Carlos gives Jerome is a symbol of perceptional difference. When Carlos first pulls out the gun, Jerome and the bullies perceive it as a real weapon and respond with appropriate fear. However, Jerome's perception shifts when Carlos reveals that it's a plastic gun, and the boys laugh hysterically. Carlos insists Jerome take the gun to play with, and though Jerome senses that there is something dangerous about the toy, he accepts it. For Jerome, the toy gun becomes a tool for accessing his imagination as he plays in an abandoned lot and imagines he is shooting enemies like in a video game. However, a stranger sees the same scene and perceives Jerome as a possible threat, unsure whether it is a toy or not. The police responding to the call perceive the gun as real and, without hesitation, disarm Jerome with two fatal shots. In this way, Rhodes shows how the toy gun is an inconstant object: its significance is determined by the assumptions each person brings to it.
Sarah's Ability to "See" Jerome (Symbol)
The fact that Sarah can see and communicate with Jerome and Emmett is a symbol of the importance of "bearing witness." In her afterword, Rhodes defines the term as meaning "using your personal and/or cultural story to testify against inequities, injustice, and suffering." Initially frustrated that he has to spend time with a privileged white girl, Jerome learns from Emmett that, as a living person, Sarah can affect change in the world in a way that ghosts like him and Emmett can't. However, they can share their stories of trauma with her, which helps them cope with their pain through catharsis. The ghost boys then empower Sarah to advocate for greater awareness of racial injustice.
No Justice, No Peace (Motif)
Throughout the novel, the political slogan "no justice, no peace" comes up several times. Thought to have originated during the protests that followed the killing of Michael Griffith in 1986, the slogan is used to protest miscarriages of justice against Black Americans. The first utterance of the phrase occurs when Jerome's family is talking with the reverend; Pop says the slogan before stating that white people have been killing Black people since slavery. The phrase is also chanted by protesters outside the courthouse during the preliminary hearing. While the precise meaning of "no justice, no peace" is contested, the concise slogan has proven an effective rallying cry for civil rights advocates.
