Peter Pan

In this novel, Peter Pan is a symbol for youth and the fear of growing older. Jerome begins to associate Peter Pan with hatred when he learns the plot because he is jealous that Sarah will have an opportunity to grow older and achieve his dreams while he and Emmett are dead. Sarah does not completely understand where Jerome is coming from, a marker of her privilege.

Police

The police represent fear, violence, and ignorance. Jerome delves deeper into his understanding of blackness and policing when he shadows Officer Moore and he chooses to forgive him and wants Sarah to do so as well. Jerome acknowledges by the end of the novel that the police must also be involved in any vision for racial justice.

Chicago

Chicago is the setting of the novel that represents the backdrop of Jerome's awareness of racism and of his...