Summary

Coates writes that civilization declined when crack hit Baltimore. In Paul’s era crimes were bopping someone over the head or spitting at someone’s little sister. There were gangs but they were infrequent as were murders. The world was filled with noble causes like Mandela and the battle against Reagan. Ta-Nehisi writes that he and his friends were interested in sneakers and leather jackets amid the volume of guns that flooded into the community. Paul made sure the boys had music lessons and went to science camp.

When Big Bill was in the tenth grade, the year after the incident after the wrestling match, Paul put him in Upward Bound. According to Coates, Bill saw himself as an athlete or rapper. He didn’t value his intellect - but Paul did. At Upward Bound, the kids were exposed to philosophy and physics and...