All American Boys: 8. Monday: Rashad Summary & Analysis

Rashad thinks about Aaron Douglas, a painter who was part of the Harlem Renaissance. Rashad has been into art since he was a young child. Every Sunday after church, his family used to go to a diner downtown and David would give Rashad the comics section of the newspaper. Rashad’s favorite was a strip called The Family Circus, which he tore out and saved each week. Eventually, Rashad started drawing his own cartons featuring his family, and which also were influenced by the work of Aaron Douglas.

Without thinking about it, Rashad begins to draw a picture of what happened to him at Jerry’s. While he is drawing, Clarissa enters with his food. She says she could tell he was an artist, and asks to see the drawing. Although Rashad has only just started it, Clarissa announces that “it’s gonna be good.” She tells Rashad that what happened to him is “bullshit.” Rashad shows her other drawings from his sketchbook and she is impressed. Clarissa leaves, promising to come back and check on him later. 

As soon as Clarissa is gone, Rashad decides he needs to leave his room. He goes down to the first floor of the hospital to the gift shop. As he looks around the items for sale, he is careful not to make any sudden moves. Eventually, the woman behind the counter asks if he needs any help, and tells him to relax, because she knows he is not stealing. She introduces herself as Shirley Fitzgerald, and the two get into a conversation, during which Rashad lies and pretends to be in the hospital because of a car accident. Mrs. Fitzgerald explains that she started volunteering at the gift shop after her husband died and her children and grandchildren grew up. She tells Rashad to come back and visit her again.

In the afternoon, Carlos, Shannon, and English arrive at the hospital to visit Rashad. As the boys catch up, Carlos pretends he hooked up with Tiffany, before revealing that he is just joking. Shannon mentions that Tiffany asked about Rashad today, and that a bunch of kids at school are thinking of coming to visit Rashad. Rashad asks his friends to tell everyone he’s fine, but that he doesn’t want any visitors. The boys joke around until Rashad makes a joke about what happened to him, which is met with awkward silence. English has so far remained silent, and when Rashad asks if he’s okay, he responds by mentioning how strange it is that the cop who beat up Rashad is Guzzo’s older brother. 

Shannon asks Rashad to tell his version of what happened at Jerry’s. The boys are shocked by the story, and English in particular is launched into a daze. Suddenly English says it’s time for them to leave, as they have practice. However, Carlos insists that “somebody gotta do something” about what happened to Rashad. English is hesitant; Rashad knows that both he and Shannon are reluctant to break any rules. After they leave, Rashad sees his face on TV again. He tries to turn it off, but the remote doesn’t work. He grows increasingly frustrated, finally ripping the TV cord from its socket.