Anne answers “I've not finished the book but I'm...”

Daniel asked this question about The Nickel Boys:

I've not finished the book but I'm bothered why the author did not go into more detail on how Elwood was convicted of that crime. Couldn't he have been absolved by his teacher and others, like his employer? I understand that blacks were not given anything close to fair treatment but simply having Elwood go from being in a stolen car to the Nickel "school" seems to be lacking more explanation. Comments?

Anne When I read it, I didn't feel like it lacked explanation. The novel is really mostly about the 'school', both in a public and personal sense. Public a…moreWhen I read it, I didn't feel like it lacked explanation. The novel is really mostly about the 'school', both in a public and personal sense. Public as an example of how terrible racism & segregation is, and personal as how it affected Elwood and Turner's lives during their time at Nickel and afterwards. I think details of the judicial process would lead the focus away from that.

I don't remember exactly, but I think you'll have some stuff coming up about a lawyer that Elwood's grandmother Harriet hired, and how that played out.

And since his boss is described as someone "savvy to the economics of segregation" I don't really see why he would stand up for Elwood.

Also, the novel points out several times that ludicrous charges like "reckless eyeballing" and "bumptious contact" could lead to harsh consequences. I think Elwood's being innocent but in the wrong time and place is also an example of suffering at the hands of racism in the judicial process.(less)

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