SYMBOLISM / MOTIFS / METAPHORS / IMAGERY / SYMBOLS

As a work of journalism, there are few overtly literary flourishes that guide the story in the manner of fiction. However, there are motifs which by their very nature take on an added significance as Cedric grows and matures. It may be said that many of these motifs are true for most any person, as these are common fabrics in our culture.

The institutions in Cedric's life come to symbolize different phases in his development. The primary examples are schools. Though described after the fact, Jefferson Junior High was the place of Cedric's early hopes and aspirations, as well as a reminder of how his weaknesses - his anger and overwhelming pride, as well as financial instability - deprived him of an easier path. Ballou is a place of entrapment for Cedric, as he finds himself held down by the ridicule of his peers and diminished educational facilities. When he moves on, he would remember it in more benign terms, as a haven and a place for support: that was clear to readers, given the portrait of certain teachers key to Cedric's development, but it takes distance for Cedric himself to be aware of the importance Ballou had in his growth.

The remaining two schools that are important symbols in Cedric's life are colleges. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the first taste of the world Cedric craves, where academic achievement and scholarly success are respected gateways to a better life. However, it also points out his worse fears: that he is not prepared enough academically, has difficulty fitting into such a milieu, and is ultimately not welcome to return for actual college studies. Thus, MIT comes to symbolize the failed attempt at living the dream of educational achievement and upward mobility. In contrast, Brown University does accept Cedric when he applies: in context, it represents a second, more cautious, attempt at the dream that Cedric pursues. He is more aware of the challenges that face him and the limitations with which he begins, but as a result is able to grow into his role as a Brown student and actually succeed in his goals. As he becomes a part of the campus, Brown also embodies the rich diversity of American experience.

There are other crucial institutions in Cedric's life, but they represent personal aspects of Cedric's life rather than educational or professional concerns. There is the Scripture Cathedral, which represents the spiritual salvation of both Cedric and his mother Barbara. It is the social and religious anchor for the Jennings, in the sense that it grounds him, then later in the sense that it holds him back. Cedric makes a formal break from his church by the end of the novel, but his continued attendance of church shows that he still values spiritual enrichment and the community that the church represents.

In contrast, the correctional facility Lorton becomes a metonym for Cedric Gilliam's life choices and how they have held him back, as well as those around him - including his son. While it obviously symbolizes confinement and loss of freedom, in Gilliam's case the freedom he had outside of prison was dangerous. Thus, prison becomes something else: a source of discipline and a chance to correct his mistakes, most notably by a drug rehab program. This is appropriate, as Gilliam had also earned degrees while in prison at an earlier time.

Music is the last significant motif in the book, providing a means for spiritual awareness as well as a way for Cedric to connect with others through shared interests. Music symbolizes the uplift which defines Cedric's American odyssey, best seen in his love of gospel music and its inspirational message. Cedric's early success is with a choir as its child star; later on in his life, he would sing gospel songs when he is emotionally moved. Further, music is a way to show his mastery of urban culture - as with the DJ impressed with his taste. It is also a shared cultural ground with certain friends - Zayd and Chiniqua - as well as a way to bridge understanding with other people, such as his roommate Rob.

Other motifs in the book are worth noting briefly: Harambee House symbolizes the African American community in Brown and Cedric's resistance to taking part of it; television is a shared cultural referent by which Cedric is able to bond with others, providing imagery which most everyone recognizes; Barbara Jennings' new dresses and shoes symbolize her fall from maternal grace, as her priorities take a disastrous turn with the absence of Cedric; and the sink that Cedric and Rob share in their dorm room symbolizes the conflict they were embroiled in for most of the school year, as in later years they become friends and laugh at it in hindsight.