Gender Identity In All American Boys

How many books have you read recently that discuss the struggles of a character who is not white or cis gender? Books such as All American Boys, New Kid, and Gender Queer are examples of stories that depict real life situations for black students and students who question their gender identity. All American Boys discusses the issue of police brutality, specifically pertaining to black children. This book shows Rashad’s struggle with being accused of a crime he did not commit and the repercussions that come with it. New Kid also discusses race issues and what it is like to be a black boy in a predominantly white school. Gender Queer explains Maia Kobabe’s struggle with being the gender binary like eir peers and learning to be proud of who eir

This results in him being not only arrested, but violently injured by a police officer for a crime he did not commit. This book depicts the harsh reality that many black students face. Although Rashad is telling the truth, no one believes that he was actually innocent. This is shown in the book on 22, “‘I have money right here!’’ With my free hand, I reached into my pocket to grab the dollar I had designated to pay for those stupid chips. But before I could even get my fingers on the money, the cop had me knotted up in a submission hold, my arms twisted behind me, pain searing up to my shoulders” (Reynolds and Kiely, pg 22). Although the reader knows that Rashad is telling the truth, a quick assumption is made by the cop about Rashad’s character, based on the town he is in and the way he looks. With this in mind, why is it important for this book to stay accessible to young adult readers in school

It is important for not only white struggles to be represented, but black ones as well. This book also teaches that white students should not keep quiet if they see injustice. Quinn, a white student, witnesses the altercation, seeing that Rashad was not resisting, the way the cop claims. While Quinn is originally a bystander in this situation, he does his own research to determine that Rashad is actually innocent. The book states, The book states, “... Where was I when Rashad was lying in the street? Where was I the year all these black American boys were lying in the streets?...Keeping my head down like coach said? That was walking away” ( Reynolds and Kiely, pg 251). Even though his support of Rashad causes backlash from some of his peers, Quinn chooses to be an outlier, supporting his classmate and fighting against the injustice that was experienced by Rashad. These lessons teach students about the injustice that is in the world when it comes to race, as well as how to not repeat history by being a