Date: December 6, 2024
Author: Angie Thomas
Genre: young adult YA, realistic fiction
Day 1 of reading and I am wowed! Spot on! This is an utterly believable story that sums up very well the relevant issue from both now and throughout our shared past of unfair police brutality, targeted at certain ethnic groups. And it is so very well told!
Think about this quote from page 170, “That’s the hate they’re giving us, baby, a system designed against us. That’s Thug Life.”
Day 2 of reading this book and I find myself reflecting on this story in comparison with a news story I remember from the time I lived in Chicago in the mid 2000’s. The story told of a cop bar, and, just as the label states, a cop bar is a bar where cops would hang out and get drunk with each other after their shift.
One of the cop patrons was wound tight and got caught on camera beating the bejesus out of a female bartender. The video showed the cop becoming extremely angry, enough so to jump over the bar to get at her. I don’t remember the repercussions or what started such a violent action, but I do recall in this case and others of how the police department protected their own. So definitely I’ve heard how dirty cops can be.
I must add that I loved Uncle Carlos’ role. He shows there are men and women that are good, stand-up people upholding their sworn duty to protect and serve (fairly) from behind their badges.