Choose ONE of the following chapters in All-American Boys, Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, and explore the self-reflection and interior struggles that each of the main characters (Quinn and Rashad) are experiencing while trying to process the events leading up to and after Rashad’s encounter with the police.  Compare and contrast their thought processes with examples from the text and at least one direct quote from each of the characters demonstrating their perspectives in the chapter you’ve selected to support your explanation of their experiences.

Wednesday

During the chapter Wednesday in “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, Rashad learns a lot about the history he’s experiencing first hand and how common police brutality really is. Rashad’s father’s anecdote of the wrong doing he did during his time serving as a cop exemplifies how common police brutality is today and the racism that comes with the job. His dad assuming wrong, paralyzed a boy forever just because he needed his inhaler. His father telling him this story speaks to the racism prevalent today while securing the idea that being a cop isn’t an easy job and cops can’t always be heroes. After learning this new information Rashad argues against his dad thinking internally, “I couldn’t back down from him. Not this time” (256). This quote displays the fear that Rashad has towards his father and how hes learned to overcome this fear. His new-found knowledge about the mistakes his dad has made in the past make his father somewhat less of a perfect hero, making confrontation easier. Rashad now knows his father isn’t always right, and he has the right to his own opinion.

 

Quinn faces a period of growth in the chapter Wednesday since up to this point he struggled to admit that racism was as prevalent and severe as it is. While reading and listening to “Battle Royale” Quinn realizes he must stop racism despite the possibility of loosing the person that became a father-figure to him after the loss of his own father. Quinn says, “If I didn’t want the violence to remain, I had to do a hell of a lot more than just say the right things and not say the wrong things.” (213). Quinn can no longer view Paul as the person who took care of him for years, Paul has become the face of the racism that exists. Quinn fears Paul’s look of blood shot eyes, and a grease stained shirt interpreting Paul’s words as a threat. Quinn says, “But really, it sounded like he was saying fuck you” (210). While Rashad is learning to leave the fear his father used to bestow behind, Quinn is beginning to fear the villain he’s known his whole life.

Rashad and Quinn have both made new friends since the incident. Quinn has befriended English while working well together in basketball while Rashad has now been visited by Katie who stands with him and offers to testify in court. Rashad has also befriended Mrs. Fitzgerald from being in the hospital so long. The difference between Rashad and Quinn is that in order to do what’s right Quinn will have to loose people he’s grown up with, but he is willing to do anything for social justice which is a true test of his character.