Summary

Abdurraqib recounts the career of Estaban Weaver, also from Columbus, whose talent was so obvious as a child that he held a press conference to announce where he was going to high school. Weaver’s reputation was damaged in his teenage years due to rumors he was drinking, taking drugs, and being pulled over by the police. Abdurraqib points out that nothing he did was abnormal for someone from his neighborhood. Weaver’s reputation made him unattractive to Division I colleges and his career never got going. Abdurraqib reflects that his talent and skill as a youngster still count for something, even though Weaver never reached the same heights as LeBron James. He suggests that we need to reconsider what “making it” means if it entails someone like Estaban Weaver being considered a failure.

Abdurraqib reflects on dreams in which he sees people from...