Symbolism Through The Watsons It has been said that family means nobody gets left behind. This is seen in historical fiction novel, The Watsons Go To Birmingham 1963, by Christopher Paul Curtis when the Watson take a road trip to Birmingham to stay with Grandma Sands. During the trip, the dynamic characters Byron and Kenny take many transformations but in the end their family is what helps them get through their rough times. The author uses symbolism to convey the message that family is what brings people together and supports one another. Curtis uses the Watson’s car that they call the Brown Bomber to symbolize safety with family. When the Weird Watsons are in the Brown Bomber they feel loved and secure. In the novel, the Watsons are happy