Class Act

Racism shapes the lives of Black children in America, and the characters of Class Act are no exception. The novel’s most prominent theme focuses on how racial stereotyping and acts of covert racism affect how Black children live and view themselves and the world. The story’s protagonist, Drew, comes from a working-class background and lives in a housing project, and his best friend, Jordan, does not have much more. Drew is particularly disadvantaged because his parents are absent; he is being raised by his grandmother, who works two jobs and is seldom home. Jordan lives in a small flat in the inner-city, and his parents work hard to provide what he needs. Both boys face issues of self-worth, experiences of prejudice, and social alienation due to their race.

Every moment of Drew’s life is shaped by the fact that he is African American—an ethnic group with a complex history in the United States. From the moment he wakes up, Drew is reminded that he has little and that his working grandmother is exhausted. He attends Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD), an expensive, prestigious academic school for which he earned a scholarship. Drew is conscious of the fragility of his position and knows that he is under immense pressure to keep being able to attend the school. At school, he is typecast by his peers. A student named Andy regularly makes ignorant statements like, “You can’t be Thor” (49) and “How come it’s okay when the Black kids sit together?” (103). Even when Andy is turned green for a few weeks (as part of his Hulk costume) and teased for it, he still does not seem to connect his experiences to the way he treats Drew.

Drew is not only typecast by his peers, but his teachers as well. Mr. Roche regularly singles him out for his race, preemptively breaking up what he assumes is going to become a physical fight between Drew and Andy and picking Drew to host the Cardi De students. He often exhibits prejudice without even realizing it and shows his ignorance toward the diverse population that he teaches. When the Cardi De students visit, Mr. Roche acts as if they should be enjoying themselves, failing to realize that seeing RAD only makes them view their own school as inferior. Mr. Roche eventually admits that he holds some antiquated beliefs when he begins hosting the “SOCK” (Students of Color Konnect) program, but he continues to make insensitive statements and assumptions. When a biracial student asks if she can attend the meetings, Mr. Roche jokes, “Yes, Dahlia, but only to half the meetings” (207). He then immediately retracts his statement, asking her not to tell on him. Mr. Roche repeats this behavior several times throughout the novel, making a ridiculous remark and then taking it back—exhibiting the insensitivity of those who do not actively check themselves and their prejudice.

Like Drew, Jordan is also Black, but because his skin is lighter, he notices that he does not experience the same level of prejudice as Drew. However, Jordan still deals with issues surrounding race. He is from a low-income family, and his mother pressures him to continue attending RAD even though he would rather go to an art school. She does this because she wants to ensure that he has a career that earns a decent living. Jordan also deals with insecurity due to his light skin and fine hair, as Black people in his neighborhood poke fun at these traits and people at school seem to forget that he is Black. Mr. Roche asks Drew and another boy to host some Cardi De students, even when Drew points out that Jordan “probably acts a lot more like them” (75). The teacher insists that Jordan does not look enough like the visiting students, thereby making a decision for Jordan based on his race. Jordan witnesses further racial prejudice when his father is pulled over by a police officer. He himself is alarmed when his father panics and tells him and Drew to keep their hands up and stay quiet. This experience teaches Jordan that police are to be feared and not trusted, as the latter have a history of fearing, mistrusting, and retaliating against Black people regardless of innocence. Ultimately, both Jordan and Drew cannot avoid the fact that their lives are shaped—and will continue to be shaped—by being Black.