Systemic Racism In Ghost Boys

The last words of Emmett Till, a boy murdered at the age of fourteen who will never receive justice because of systemic racism are a cry for his mother, “Mama!” (Parker Rhoades 159). Through the novel, the author explores the theme of systemic racism, which exists in practices that are prevalent throughout society that result in a continued unfair advantage to some people and unfair treatment of others based on the colour of their skin. Specifically, systemic racism is explored in the book specifically in the context of racial prejudice, which is pre-judgmental thoughts about someone, solely based on the colour of their skin. The novel, Ghost Boys, by Jewell Parker Rhodes depicts how systemic racism in the context of racial prejudice makes

Systemic racism through racial prejudice makes life dangerous for Black people through police brutality, living in dangerous neighbourhoods, and the lack of justice for black people in the legal system.

First off, the story depicts how police brutality, caused by racial prejudice makes the lives of black people perilous when Officer Moore killed Jerome. Jerome’s demise was a result of racial prejudice because the police officer who killed him did it because he felt threatened by Jerome, who he prejudged as big and scary. When Officer Moore was asked in his preliminary hearing to describe Jerome, he said, “He was big, hulking. Scary.” (Parker Rhodes 51) and “I thought at least twenty-five. He was a man. A dangerous man.”(Parker Rhodes 51). Officer Moore’s actions reflect racial prejudice because he saw Jerome in broad daylight, but instead of being the large man Officer Moore describes Jerome as Jerome is only 5 feet tall and 90 pounds

There’s a little bit poor, more poor, then poorer than poor” (Parker Rhodes 38). As a result of poverty and a lack of jobs, Jerome’s neighbourhood has a surplus of illegal and dangerous activities, such as drug dealing. In addition, due to the lack of actual employment opportunities, people who rely on illegal activities will get caught in a cycle of violence with them needing to commit more and more illegal acts to make En’s meat. With rising concerns about the potential threat to public safety, Jerome’s school even requires metal detectors and security guards to prevent weapons from entering the school. Furthermore, Jerome’s mother even describes raising a child in Jerome’s neighbourhood as perilous when she says, “In this neighbourhood, getting a child to adulthood is perilous.” (Parker Rhodes 13). On the contrary, in Sarah's predominantly white neighbourhood, there are beautiful homes and newly paved roads whilst Jerome’s district roads are cracked. In contrast, Sarah has no experience of bullying and does not cower in fear in the bathroom stalls like Jerome does to attempt to avoid bullying. Clearly, there is a considerable divide between wealth and safety in between predominantly black and predominantly