What advice has Justyce’smother given him about handling situations involving law enforcement? in dear martin

Mother believes strongly in education and in working hard to raise your position in society, so she refuses to listen to Justyce’s complaints about not fitting in at school: “I’ve been tellin’ you since you were small that you gotta make a place for yourself in this world … You thought I was playin’?” (36). Nevertheless, she is fiercely protective.

After Manny’s death Justyce's mother does her best to shield Justyce from the questions of the police and the media, even when Justyce decides to stand up and speak for himself. This desire to protect Justyce from the difficulties he will face also underlies Mama’s position that Justyce should only date black women.