Author’s note: Black and white, is the story about how racism tore a friendship apart. I will focus on one of the main characters, Marcus.
In
the book, Black and White, written by Paul Volponi, one of the main characters,
Marcus changes from the beginning of the book to the end. To get enough money for a senior trip to six
flags, Marcus and his best friend Eddie, resort to robbery. During their third theft, Eddie shoots the
victim. From that point on, Marcus’s
life changes and will never be the same. Marcus’s relationship with Eddie, his
future, and Marcus himself changes.
Marcus
could have been one of the nation’s best basketball players, with scouts from
Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State and St. John’s all looking at him and Eddie. But
that was all thrown away when he chose to rob someone. Not only did he lose the chance to go to college,
but he now has a criminal record that will never go away.
Marcus,
never really thought about this actions much up until this point, he was a care
free kid that only focused on basketball and friends. When he was out on bail, he cherished the time
he spent with his family before he went to jail. Marcus felt very guilty and wanted to apologize
to the victim, “I wanted him to know how sorry I was. But there was no way to
get though.” In addition, Marcus was very angry at Eddie for not taking the
fall with him. “`You lousy piece of Sh*t!`
he screamed, wrapping both of his hands around my jacket collar. He
drove back against the side of a brick building. And I (Eddie) felt the air pop
out of my lungs when I hit.”
Marcus
and Eddie where best friends and the robberies tore their friendship apart. Shortly after the shooting Marcus was
convicted and thrown in jail. In contrast, Eddie, was caught by the police, but
acquitted due to lack of evidence. Marcus got infuriated once he figured out this
information. Eddie then went to St. John’s
on a basketball scholarship, while Marcus went to prison for two years
Marcus’s
life has changed for the worse, in the one month of the book. He was a basketball
star, but now he’s a convict in upper state New York prison. That’s how quickly
a promising future can be thrown away because of one poor decision.
