February 2021 Book Selection
I was born a year before Emmett Till was murdered and I still recall seeing images of his mutilated body in Jet and Ebony magazines. I grew up with images of men lynched—one, in particular, I recall had screwdriver holes all over his body. Raised in a segregated ghetto in Pittsburgh, no one shielded children from racist actions and images. I watched Civil Rights battles and cheered Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. I, too, believed a time would come when people were judged “not by the color of their skin but by the content of their
character.”
― Jewell Parker Rhodes
“Ghost Boys”
Twelve-year-old Jerome is shot by a police officer who mistakes his toy gun for a real threat. As a ghost, he observes the devastation that’s been unleashed on his family and community in the wake of what they see as an unjust and brutal killing.
Soon Jerome meets another ghost: Emmett Till, a boy from a very different time but similar circumstances. Emmett helps Jerome process what has happened, on a journey towards recognizing how historical racism may have led to the events that ended his life. Jerome also meets Sarah, the daughter of the police officer, who grapples with her father’s actions.
Discussion questions.
1.What is the significance of references to Peter Pan (p. 91-97, 99, 120) and Little Women (p.188) in Ghost Boys? How do these allusions to classic children’s literature impact the novel’s themes around childhood innocence, the loss of young black lives, and cultural representation?
2. Why do you think the 911 operator didn’t tell the officer that the gun was a toy? Do you agree with Jerome that this fact wouldn’t have made a difference?
3. On page 183, Jerome notes that Emmet’s attackers were found innocent, just like Officer Moore. What is the significance of this? Why do you think Jewell Parker Rhodes chose this verdict?
4. The author writes “Can’t undo wrong. Can only do our best to make things right.” (174.) What is the significance of this? What are some ways that you can make things right?