It seemed to hinge on the absolute belief that whatever you were casually leaning up against would support you, because you, after all, are you.”
-- Brian (chapter 1)

Importance: This quote highlights what Brian's belief of Black masculinity is centered around. He does not have the confidence to be loud in the world around him, always finding ways to shrink himself and conceal who he is. Brian was always different from the other boys at school who moved with a coolness and confidence that he could not emulate.

My father loved him and would clap him hard on the back whenever he came around, and they would laugh. I wanted that from my father too and believed that Corey could fix me. I didn’t mind that much if every once in a while, that fixing resulted in a fat lip. I knew that he was the epitome of cool. Everyone did.”
-- Brian (chapter 1)

Importance: Brian and...