[close] Tony Johnson is soon to graduate from much more than high school. Although his zip code places him in a Bronx tenement, his sights are set far beyond the trappings of a humble upbringing. Collegiate dreams and dating a white classmate put him strongly at odds with his father. His brother C.J.’s rebellious ways place him in danger on gang ruled streets and the chastity of their sister Tanya is lost, but Tony incurs the majority of wrath for the sins of ambition, loving Janet Mitchell blindly, and refusing to bend to their father's will. When Lionel Johnson’s job and role as primary breadwinner are lost, his authority erodes and bitterness is dealt with one drink at a time. Tony asserts his right to become his own man rather than allowing his fate to be set by chance and circumstance. But throughout the course of this engrossing debut novel by Roy L. Pickering Jr., Tony comes to learn that the world is not as black and white as he and his father's opposing mindsets would suggest.
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