- Jocelyn T.
- Monday, October 18, 2021
“What do I do when my very identity is being mocked by people who refuse to admit there’s a problem?”
- Dear Martin, Nic Stone
In Nic Stone's widely acclaimed Dear Martin, Justyce is a Black teen who is ivy school-bound, a good friend, and always tries to do the right thing. Going to a predominately white, upper-class school, however, poses difficulties that lead to Justyce trying to make sense of the injustices that he regularly witnesses. From a Black teen being fatally shot by a police officer to his white classmates making racist remarks, he takes these instances and begins writing a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in hopes of answers and solutions.
While innocently riding in a car with one of his friends, the two verbally collide with a cop who quickly shoots and injures Justyce and fatally shoots his friend. Despite Justyce's innocence, he is then put in handcuffs and verbally attacked by the local media and others in his community.
So why does this book matter? While many Americans (and people all over the world) already know that there is a problem with racism and police brutality in this country, the evidence below shows that there are discrepancies, due to race. Despite white people making up 60.1% of the U.S. population and 45.4% of white people being killed in police shootings, it should be noted that the measurements are not proportionate to 23.8% of the Black population being killed.
In addition to discrepancies involving different races and police shootings, there is evidence showing that the imprisonment of Black people (and Hispanic people) is vastly different from the rate of imprisonment for white people.
This title explores the many issues involving race and racism throughout this country, whether they are issues that involve outright violence or issues that involve exhibited racial bias from a classmate, racial stereotyping, or feeling othered because of the color of one's skin. These are only a few of the many issues that teens are aware of and are trying to understand. These are only a few of the many issues that our upcoming generations no longer want to see.
Children and Teen librarians all know that one of the best ways to build learning, understanding, and empathy is by reading. Be sure to check out a copy of Dear Martin and other Nic Stone titles, share them with your friends, families, and educators, and take the steps to make the world a better place for everyone.
Dear Martin
Nic Stone,
New York, NY: Penguin Random House, 2017.
Formats: Book, ebook, eAudiobook, Audiobook on CD
Want to continue the conversation? Need more resources about race?
Take a look at the booklist and article below to learn more about race and antiracism:
- iRead: Let's Talk Race for Teens and Adults
-
A Frank Conversation About YA Literature, Police Brutality, and the Nuances of Black Storytelling
Looking for even more good books? Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.