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Conflict and Resolution: Racial Inequality at Midtown

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Conflict and Resolution: Racial Inequality at Midtown

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At Midtown High school, Bri has many run ins with the security guards Long and Tate. Many times the security guards would do unnecessary searches of the minority kids that attend the school. Bri was thrown to the ground during one of these searches for selling candy at the school. After this incident Long and Tate were suspended from work for a few weeks but were back before many of the kids expected. This angered the students and in support of each other they jumped the security guards forcing them to be taken to the hospital. After this incident the school district superintendent held a meeting with all the parents at the school. Some parents called for Bri to be expelled from the school due to a song she sang involving weapons. They claimed the song was the influenced violence on the security guards. Later in the meeting Bri's mom, Jay speaks up and explains to the superintendent that the students were acting in retaliation to the reinstatement of Tate and Long. She explained that they didn't feel safe with the security guards at the school and felt more disciplinary action should be taken. In the end Long and Tate weren't allowed back at the school, and Jay became the superintendent's assistant.

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In "On The Come Up" Bri and her family live in a run down house in Garden Heights. The family's conditions get worse when the text says "'They shut the power of,' Jay says." (OTCU Pg. 303). At their worst the family has no power and no food. Bri goes to school at Midtown High School and spends a lot of the book there. Midtown is a nice high school and she goes there because Jay promised her late father that she wouldn't go to Garden High.

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Bri is a 16 year old high school student who aspires to be a rapper. She is petty, creative, caring, and always tries to do the right thing. In the book Bri thinks to herself "You see, I'm headstrong (and petty) like Grandma. I'm creative like Granddaddy. If that's what you want to call what he is, but yeah, I'm that. I speak my mind like Mom. I might be as strong as her, too. I care so much it hurts. Like Trey." (OTCU Pg. 425).

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Theme 1: Family is the more important than any item

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Theme 1: Family is the more important than any item

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In "On The Come Up" the Jackson family endures many hard times but always manages to get through them together. After Bri is robbed of her chain and Aunt Pooh is in jail, Pooh still is trying to fight the thieves and get the chain back. Jay's response is "I don't give a damn about the chain! Bri is ok and that's all that matters to me." (OTCU Pg. 392)

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Overall this book was good but I wanted a little more in the ending. The author ends the book with a cliffhanger saying a big artist reached out to Bri and wanted to do a song without saying who the artist was. My favorite part of the book was when Bri first beat Milez in the rap battle to put her name out there. My least favorite part was when Aunt Pooh got arrested and sent to jail, and Bri and Jay had to visit her and tell her they didn't have the money to bail her out.

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Theme 2: Racism is an easy option of dispowerment

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Theme 2: Racism is an easy option of dispowerment

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In "On The Come Up" Bri experiences racism at Midtown High when the security guards slam her on the ground and accuse her of selling drugs. Bri explains it saying "Everything happened in a blur. He grabs my arm again and pulls it behind me. The other one goes behind me too. I try to tug away which only makes his grip tighter. Before I know it, my chest hits the ground first, then my face is pressed against the cold floor. Long's knee goes onto my back as Tate removes my backpack." (OTCU Pg. 60)

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Curtis is a happy go lucky guy and tries to be there for Bri throughout her whole journey. Curtis helps Bri get away when the SWAT take away aunt Pooh and he gets her whatever she needs to make her feel better. The book says "'Bri, Bri, Bri,' Curtis says, taking my arms. He guides me towards the sofa and helps me sit down. 'Bri, breathe,'... ...'Hey, hey,' Curtis says. His eyes catch mine. 'Breathe.'" (OTCU Pg. 340)