Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Dear Martin, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Privilege, Entitlement, and Implicit Bias
Appearances and Assumptions
Support, Acceptance, and Belonging
Opportunity and Upward Mobility
The Media and Public Discourse
Summary
Analysis
“I’ve got a lot on my mind, Martin,” Justyce writes in his diary. He explains a conversation he and Manny had with Manny’s dad, Mr. Rivers, the night before. Narrating the story, he explains that Mr. Rivers comes into the basement, where Manny and Justyce are playing video games. He sits between them on the couch and tells them that he heard one of his employees call him a “racial slur” that day. “For real?” Justyce asks. “Yep,” he replies. “White kid, few years post-undergrad. I hired him three months ago.” Mr. Rivers says that this incident reminded him of Manny’s recent trouble with Jared. “I spent the rest of the day wondering if you being in that situation was my fault,” he says. When the boys express their confusion, Mr. Rivers says he hasn’t spoken frankly with Manny about racism.
In this conversation, Mr. Rivers suggests that black parents ought to be forthright with their children about the existence and prevalence of racism. Despite having attained success and power, he still faces racism frequently. This is a disheartening fact, since it confirms Justyce’s fear that he’ll never be able to escape bigotry, regardless of what he does with his life. It also aligns with Doc’s suggestion that Justyce focus on what he wants to make of himself, since he’s going to have to face racism regardless.
Themes
Mr. Rivers tells Manny and Justyce that he wasn’t surprised to hear his employee call him a racial slur. He knows that Manny would be surprised if he were in his shoes, but he himself has become used to such treatment. “Perhaps if I’d been more open with my own experiences, Jared’s words wouldn’t have been so astonishing to Manny,” he says. He then says that he encounters racism on a regular basis, despite the fact that he’s successful and powerful. “My point is the world is full of guys like Jared and that employee,” he says, “and most of them will never change. So it’s up to you fellas to push through it. Probably best not to talk with your fists in the future…But at least you have an idea of what you’re up against. Try not to let it stop you from doing your best, all right?”
Again, Mr. Rivers’s advice echoes Doc’s sentiment, which suggests that young black men like Manny and Justyce ought to focus on themselves rather than on the racism they’re sure to encounter. Rather than ignoring the existence of bigotry, though, Mr. Rivers urges Manny and Justyce to recognize its influence while at the same time resisting discouragement. “Try not to let it stop you from doing your best,” he says, emphasizing the importance of striving for success in the face of adversity.
Themes
Hearing Mr. Rivers talk about racism discourages Justyce. He admits in his diary that hearing Manny’s father talk about this despite his success is quite disheartening. “Hearing it made me realize I still had hope that once I really achieve some things, I won’t have to deal with racist BS anymore,” he writes. “That’s obviously not the case, though, is it? What do I do with that?”
Although Mr. Rivers wants Manny and Justyce to focus on doing their “best,” Justyce primarily fixates on the fact that racism will seemingly never vanish from his life, no matter how hard he works. Once again, then, he feels discouraged and hopeless.
Themes
