Nathan Mccall's Them: Summary

Nathan McCall's novel "Them" (2007) focuses on gentrification and racial clash in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr, and tells a story from both a black and white persons perspective. Each side seeing the other as them people as well as being reluctant of one another. McCall lives in Atlanta, Georgia and currently teaches African American studies at Emory University. In his early years he graduated from high school and went on to attend college but was involved in armed robbery that sent him to prison for three years. After being released from prison, McCall finished college with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. McCall worked for The Atlanta Journal Constitution, as well as The Washington Post before writing

Although Barlowe is a likable character he does have his issues. At the beginning of the novel it is apparent that he does not favor this "Ceaser" he speaks of, referring to the government. Barlowe also has an incident at a post office, where he would not buy stamps with an American flag. Later, Barlowe decides he would like to buy the house he has been renting but problems arise when he finds himself pleading to his landlord for such an opportunity, that white people however, did not face. He thought back on a childhood memory where he witnesses his dad pleading to white police officers. This upset him, not to mention white people are starting to move into the neighborhood. “They comin.,” (39) Barlowe says to Mr. Smith. One couple, the Gilmores move in next door to Barlowe. The Gilmores seeing Barlowe, and the other blacks as them, and Barlowe and the blacks seeing these white people as them. At first, there is a lot of tension and lack of understanding of one another, but overtime Barlowe and Mrs. Gilmore, Sandy, build a unique relationship. The relationship causes problems between Mr. Gilmore, Sean, he fears black men as well as the black residents losing trust in

The use of titular pronoun them in the novel "Them" is used so much that there is not a more perfect tittle for the novel. Both black and whites refer to each other as them. The overall point is even though McCall writes about both sides the novel is still full of stereotypes and exaggerated character development. The characters were weak and even though the story was fiction, a lot of the dialogue was over dramatic. For example, characters like Tyrone spoke in dialogue like, “Yo unk. I did’t hear you come in.” (13) and Ely from outside the mini mart, “That gurl outa be shamed a herself.” (20) and Willie, “Nawl man! Jus taste the soda like I axed you to!.” (78). Then in reverse all the white people’s dialog is more grammatically correct, or proper. These things are not always divided by race. The white characters were clueless too be realistic. Not only white people talk proper, not all black people are poor nor are all white people more successful. White people do not only drink wine, and every teenage black boy does not disrespect