Small Steps

The theme of discrimination flows throughout the book. Race, gender, and disability discrimination are all addressed. Armpit (a tall, muscular Black teenager) faces a subtle form of discrimination when a stranger crosses the road to avoid him. The white woman watching Armpit chat with Ginny could just be happy to see “two people smiling and laughing” (54), or she could be suspicious that Armpit is pushing drugs on a “little white girl” (54). The fact that this question crosses Armpit’s mind highlights the judgment that he routinely faces. When Armpit is released from Camp Green Lake, his counselor warns him that as a young Black man with a criminal record, “People are going to expect the worst from you and will treat you that way” (4). Kaira (who is Black) notes her own assumptions based on race when she assumes that Armpit is Ginny’s caretaker. Overt racism is shown in the officers’ brutal treatment of Armpit. When Armpit reaches for his tickets, the security guard flinches because he already judged Armpit to be a threat.

The escalation of unprovoked violence and silencing of Armpit, the assumption that he drugged Ginny, the officers’ false assertion that Armpit was resisting arrest (thereby justifying their actions) are all instances of raw racism.