Sean answers “In the very last paragraph in the book, a...”

A Goodreads user asked this question about The Nickel Boys:

In the very last paragraph in the book, a character is referenced who now owns the diner (Blondie's) who used to read comic books at the Nickel institute. Which character is the author referring to?

Sean I don't think there's any debate here. the reference is to a young Elwood, who would peak out to see if there are any proud Blacks in the segregated d…moreI don't think there's any debate here. the reference is to a young Elwood, who would peak out to see if there are any proud Blacks in the segregated dining room.

I thought it was a touching ending with some powerful symbolism. Elwood represents the optimistic Black Experience, the thought that Blacks could find equal footing (hence his attachment to the MLK speech). Turner on the other hand was much more negative about America changing; Turner sought to manipulate what he perceived as a rigged system.

At first, I took Elwood's death to represent the author saying "Look America! the Black experience will never change, so the optimistic character was killed off"

but the ending turns that on his head. we see the hopes of a young Elwood fulfilled in that a proud black man now sits in the diner, waiting to be served. Yet, then there's a twist to a twist, as Turner is so beaten down by his life as a black man, that he simply just wants to eat a hot lunch, not remembering that Elwood told him of this very restaurant.(less)

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