Coming of Age

Lafeyette and Pharoah Rivers come of age amidst poverty, violence, and racism. Their individuality is molded by their unique personalities and these outside influences. At the beginning of the story Pharoah is very childlike. He is introspective, imaginative, and fearful. He dreams about getting out of the projects and doesn't understand the adult world around him. He fears gangs, gunshots, and any form of violence and will run and hide rather than try to defend himself. As he matures he puts his energies into education. In this arena he feels confident and successful. He sees a door that could potentially lead him out of the cycle of poverty. By the end of the book, Pharoah is fully vested in his education with the hope of becoming a politician so one day he can affect real change for others in his predicament. Lafeyette's growth is quite different...