English Jones Character Analysis in All American Boys

English is one of Rashad’s best friends. He is extremely handsome, kind, and captain of the basketball team. English is at first concerned when tensions over Rashad’s arrest threaten appear to threaten the basketball season, but eventually insists on the importance of protest and, with Quinn, decides to name a new play after Rashad.

English Jones Quotes in All American Boys

The All American Boys quotes below are all either spoken by English Jones or refer to English Jones. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Racism, Stereotyping, and Police Brutality Theme Icon

“Why does it automatically gotta be Rashad's fault? Why do people think he was on drugs? That dude doesn’t do drugs. He's ROTC, man. His dad would kick his ass. You do drugs, asshole.”

“Just a puff here and there, man, come on. I don’t do drugs."

"I’ve seen you smoking a blunt. Metcalf sold you that shit. Metcalf––a white dude, by the way. Man, that shit could have been laced with crack, or fucking Drano. You don’t know what you talkin’ ‘bout.”

Related Characters: Quinn Collins (speaker), English Jones (speaker), Rashad Butler

Page Number and Citation: 175

Explanation and Analysis:

On Tuesday, Quinn arrives at school to find the words “RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY” spray-painted in front of the school building. At practice, he asks English if he knows who did it, and English gets angry. English becomes especially furious after Quinn implies that Rashad might have been on drugs at Jerry’s. As English’s words indicate, Quinn’s thinking is based in negative stereotypes about black people, which associates them––and young black men especially––with drugs and criminality. It is especially ironic that Quinn makes this suggestion given that, as English points out, Quinn himself smokes marijuana whereas Rashad doesn’t. The Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatib

Now I was thinking about how, if I wanted to, I could walk away and not think about Rashad, in a way that English or Shannon or Tooms or any of the guys at school who were not white could not. Even if they didn't know Rashad, even if for some reason, they hated Rashad, they couldn’t just

ignore what happened to him; they couldn't walk away. They were probably afraid, too. Afraid of people like Paul. Afraid of cops in general. Hell, they were probably afraid of people like me. I didn’t blame them. I'd be afraid too, even if I was a frigging house like Tooms. But I didn't have to be because

my shield was that I was white. It didn't matter that I knew Paul. I could be all the way across the country in California and I'd still be white, cops and everyone else would still see me as just a “regular kid,” an “All-American” boy. “Regular.” “All American.” White. Fuck.

Related Characters: Quinn Collins (speaker), Tooms , Paul Galluzzo , Rashad Butler , Shannon Pushcart, English Jones

Page Number and Citation: 180

Explanation and Analysis:

After a heated exchange with English, Quinn has become aware of the way in which his whiteness has shielded him from the reality of racism and police violence. Ever since Rashad’s arrest, he has been desperate to “forget” about the whole thing; however, he has now realized that it would be wrong to try and forget what happened. He is beginning to understand that dismissing issues of race is not an adequate response to racism. Rather than helping smooth things over, this dismissal actually perpetuates the harm of racism. This passage also reveals the evolution of Quinn’s thought as he Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error.

Me, Spoony, Carlos, English, Berry, and Shannon were in the front of the crowd, and all of a sudden, our arms locked and we were leading the way like—the image came to me of raging water crashing against the walls of a police dam. Marching. But it wasn’t like I was used to. It wasn't military style. Your left! Your left! Your left-right-left! It wasn’t like that at all. It was an uncounted step, yet we were all in sync. We were on a mission.

Related Characters: Rashad Butler (speaker), Shannon Pushcart, Carlos Greene, Spoony Butler, English Jones, Berry Jones

Page Number and Citation: 306

Explanation and Analysis:

At the protest, Rashad is stunned by the number of people who have shown up, including many people he knows. Without aiming to, he finds himself, his friends, and his family at the front of the march with their arms locked. Although Rashad has shied away from the spotlight throughout the book, he is happy to be leading the march now––in part because he is walking as a unit with those closest to him. This sense of unity reminds Rashad of ROTC, which also involves putting aside individualism in order to act as one. However, as Rashad’s words show, his Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dic

English Jones Character Timeline in All American Boys

The timeline below shows where the character English Jones appears in All American Boys. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

In the school bathroom, Rashad sees his friend English Jones, a “stereotypical green-eyed pretty boy” who is loved by everyone and is the captain... (full context)

Berry, who is Spoony’s girlfriend and English’s older sister, is at the hospital too. Rashad drifts in and out of sleep, watching... (full context)

...makes Willy swear to keep a secret. Quinn tries to figure out if Jill and English hooked up, without asking directly. Quinn worries that Jill thinks of him as “more of... (full context)

...Rashad being on the news. Rashad responds with a group text to Carlos, Shannon, and English explaining what happened and assuring them that he’s okay. Rashad’s family members remain tense, but... (full context)

...arrest just makes it worse. At basketball practice, Quinn feels disproportionately aware of Shannon and English, because he knows they are close friends of Rashad. Coach Carney gives a speech about... (full context)

In the afternoon, Carlos, Shannon, and English arrive at the hospital to visit Rashad. As the boys catch up, Carlos pretends he... (full context)

...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... (full context)

...Carney pushes the team extra hard. While they are on the leg machines, Quinn asks English if he knows who did the graffiti. English is standoffish, and tells Quinn: “Rashad didn’t... (full context)

Soon after, English, Shannon, and Carlos arrive; they, too, immediately begin talking about the protest. English explains that... (full context)

...on basketball for the first time since Rashad’s arrest, and he does well. He and English get into an impressive rhythm together, and Quinn wishes the scouts were already there, watching.... (full context)

...Quinn all day, and at basketball practice refuses to look Quinn in the eye. As English aces a new play for the third time in a row, he raises a fist... (full context)

...Rashad texts his friends, who tell him about Quinn and Guzzo’s fight at basketball practice. English says: “School is intense. Everybody’s picked a side.” (full context)

...he realizes that he is marching for Darnell as much as himself. Later that night, English, Shannon, Carlos, and Spoony come over, and Jessica orders Mother’s Pizza. The boys explain what... (full context)

...when Rashad expresses concern about his friends missing basketball practice, they respond that it’s unimportant. English notes that the protest has spread far beyond Springfield Central High, and Jessica adds that... (full context)

...moves through the crowd, people part ways to make space for him. Rashad spots Carlos, English, and Shannon, holding a sign that says, “RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY.” Rashad spots Mr.... (full context)

The crowd chants. Rashad locks arms with Spoony, Carlos, English, Berry, and Shannon, and the group of them end up at the very front, leading... (full context)

English Jones Character Analysis

English Jones Quotes in All American Boys

9. Tuesday: Quinn Quotes

16. Friday: Rashad Quotes

English Jones Character Timeline in All American Boys