Examples Of Racism In Nic Stone's Dear Martin

Racism harms individuals and communities, and its root causes must be addressed to combat this pervasive issue. “Dear Martin” by Nic Stone is a perfect example of how black people are affected by racism as it greatly affected Justyce throughout the novel. Justyce got arrested by the cops for no reason, he was targeted for the colour of his skin by Jared and Blake, and he and his friend, Manny, got shot by a police officer

Firstly, Justyce first experiences racism in the novel when he was trying to help his drunk friend Melo into her car so he could drive her home but a police officer thought he was up to no good and arrested him. “I know your kind; punks like you wander the streets of nice neighbourhoods searching for prey. Just couldn’t resist

Many quotes prove this one being “What is it with you people and the goddamn race card, huh?” (Stone 91). This line was said after Blake was asking Justyce and Manny to help him get with this black. In this part of the novel Blake used the n-word and many more racist and wrong things for example “You don’t own it any more than I do, bro. Nobodyowns words. I’d think you’d know that as someone “smart enough” to get into Yale” (Stone 91). This line was said shortly after Blake used the n-word and Justyce was telling him not to use it as he owns it and he said that. Another event that happened with Jared and Blake was at Halloween when they were all dressing up as stereotypes, Blake dressed up as a Ku Klux Klan member and he had the official costume which means he is either in the KKK or he knows someone who is affiliated with the KKK and he was flexing costume seen when he says this line “Wait till I put the hood on, bro. This right here is the genuine article.” (Stone 41). These events affected Justyce because for one he was mad that his friend Manny would just take all the crap these guys said to him and Justyce wanted him to take more care of the things were saying to him. Also, this affected Justice's mentality causing him not to want to talk to anyone for a while and stay in his dorm. These events also caused Justyce and Manny to get charged for Manny beating up Jared and

The most racist words that Justyce has ever heard came from this man when he said “ `YOU WORTHLESS … !` the guy shouts” (Stone 118). This was the most racist and most tragic moment of the book because not only did Manny and Justyce got shot but Manny died in this section of the novel. This greatly affected Justyce and even changed his way of thinking because, throughout that whole thing, he was thinking to himself what would Martin do? But that didn't help him and it got him and Manny shot. The police officer Garet Tisson shot them because they had their music too loud and he thought they were threats but all they did was have their music too