Black Brother, Black Brother

Black Brother, Black Brother was published the same year that a police officer murdered George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The topic of violence that Black men experience is significant throughout the novel. The main character, Donte Ellison, is a young Black man stereotyped as a criminal and troublemaker. He realizes that these stereotypes, can have negative—if not fatal—effects.

For example, when Donte is suspended, his mother says: "This is how it starts. Bias. Racism. Plain and simple. Philadelphia, cops called on Black men meeting in Starbucks. Portland, cops called on a hotel guest talking on his cell phone with his mother” (24). These references to real life events show how Donte’s parents have had to explain the dangers that Donte faces as a Black man. While it is a middle grade novel, the racism that Donte and other characters experience because of their visible Blackness speak to the real-life experiences of people of color.

Parker Rhodes draws attention to how Black students are often more harshly penalized than their white peers. According to the American Psychological Association, 26% of Black students received a suspension for a minor issue while only 2% of white students did.