In 1964, a giant step was taken by the people of America. Segregation was abolished and the hope for racial equality, in all senses, was high. Unfortunately, this giant step toward equality was not enough to actually get there. Many people of color face injustice to this day and biases based on the color of a person’s skin often determine where they end up in life. Walter Dean Myers writes about a 16-year old boy named Steve Harmon who is on trial for murder. Throughout the story, the reader pieces together evidence that clearly points to Steve’s innocence while the jury thinks him guilty based on his race. In Walter Dean Myers’ “Monster”, the author reveals that racism takes away a person’s power and humanity as shown through vivid illustrations
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Many of these descriptive words connote feelings of danger or inequality and give off the impression that Steve isn’t quite human in the eyes of others. For example, when Steve is writing a diary entry he remembers a certain name that the prosecution called him: “I’ll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. Monster,” (5). This quote shows how Steve Harmon names his story after a derogatory word. The author’s word choice of “monster” connotes fear and danger; making people dehumanize Steve for what he looks like, and therefore take away his ability to be human. His defense attorney, Kathy O’Brien, also tells him that what he looks like on the outside will not help him win the case. She says, “You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on trial. What else do they need to know?” (79). She tells him that the prejudice of the jury based on his skin color makes him guilty. O’Brien says three words that enunciate the prejudice being expressed by the jury based on what Steve looks like. She says “young”, “black”, and “(on) trial” as if they are the reasons Steve is automatically guilty and this connotes the feeling of being powerless. By ending her saying in rhetorical question, Myers also connotes the feeling of powerlessness because O’Brien means that they can’t do anything to change their minds. The stereotype addressed here being that white people see a black man and instantly think him guilty of a crime. Using words like “monster”, “young”, and “black” Myers creates a feeling of powerlessness because it makes it as though no matter what Steve does, he will always be seen as
Many of these descriptive words connote feelings of danger or inequality and give off the impression that Steve isn’t quite human in the eyes of others. For example, when Steve is writing a diary entry he remembers a certain name that the prosecution called him: “I’ll call it what the lady who is the prosecutor called me. Monster,” (5). This quote shows how Steve Harmon names his story after a derogatory word. The author’s word choice of “monster” connotes fear and danger; making people dehumanize Steve for what he looks like, and therefore take away his ability to be human. His defense attorney, Kathy O’Brien, also tells him that what he looks like on the outside will not help him win the case. She says, “You’re young, you’re Black, and you’re on trial. What else do they need to know?” (79). She tells him that the prejudice of the jury based on his skin color makes him guilty. O’Brien says three words that enunciate the prejudice being expressed by the jury based on what Steve looks like. She says “young”, “black”, and “(on) trial” as if they are the reasons Steve is automatically guilty and this connotes the feeling of being powerless. By ending her saying in rhetorical question, Myers also connotes the feeling of powerlessness because O’Brien means that they can’t do anything to change their minds. The stereotype addressed here being that white people see a black man and instantly think him guilty of a crime. Using words like “monster”, “young”, and “black” Myers creates a feeling of powerlessness because it makes it as though no matter what Steve does, he will always be seen as