“You’ve always told me I have to work twice as hard to go half as far.”

Protagonist Drew introduces his central predicament and one of the novel’s themes: How Racism Shapes the Lives of Black Children in America. He knows that because he is Black, he will have to work twice as hard as his white counterparts to succeed. He attends a prestigious academic school—Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD)—on a scholarship, and constantly feels pressured to put on an act and conform. Drew refrains from speaking up when his teacher, Mr. Roche, acts racist and holds in anger as he slowly becomes increasingly frustrated with himself and the world around him.

“For some reason, this is the only time when people think it’s still okay to touch someone without asking first.”

In one of Jordan’s many observational comics, he discusses Drew’s experiences with unwanted hair-touching and humorously illustrates the double standard of it. Jordan draws several depictions of Drew touching people without their consent, including a pregnant woman’s belly and a female classmate’s hair. In each instance, the person reacts unfavorably, but they do not apply this same logic to Drew. During one such experience, a student named Ashley (who has a crush on Drew) feels his hair several times despite him telling her to stop.