Structure

The book begins with a brief prologue section, which discusses the life and death of Freddie Gray, in the context of systemic oppression faced by all Black Americans. The main part of the book is then divided into five sections. Each section pertains to a different day of unrest following Gray’s death, beginning with Saturday, April 25, and going in order through Wednesday, April 29. However, the book’s structure is more complicated than these linear/chronological chapter titles would suggest. The book does base its structure around examining the events of these five days. However, the book examines the events through specific people’s perspectives, and the book often digresses to discuss those people’s lives and experiences.

The book frequently shifts focus between the experiences and perspectives of its several point-of-view characters. Moreover, the book often digresses from those people’s immediate experiences of those five...