On the Come Up

by

Angie Thomas

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On the Come Up: Chapter 23 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
Bri has cereal for breakfast and rides the bus with Sonny. Malik is home sick and Bri guesses that he didn't tell Aunt 'Chelle what happened. Bri feels responsible, but thinks it's a good thing that Malik isn't at school: there are four armed cops serving as security guards. Bri thinks that Shana was right about this, and she’s happy to go home at the end of the day despite not having electricity. She continues to think through all the horrible things that have happened and thinks that it's been 20 hours since she spoke to Pooh. Jay tries to lighten the mood by pulling out the Uno deck after dinner. Bri, Trey, and Jay play until they hear a knock on the door.
Note how on edge Bri feels at school with armed police officers acting as security. To her, someone who has more to fear from the police than a white student, their presence tells her clearly that the school thinks that she and others who look like her are dangerous threats, and are willing to do anything to make themselves feel safe. That it's preferable to be home without electricity only adds to the sense that school is no longer comfortable for Bri.
Themes
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Bri jumps, hoping it's not about Pooh, but it's Grandma and Granddaddy. Grandma imperiously sniffs and peeks into rooms, presumably looking for drugs, but Granddaddy comes into the kitchen to ask why they weren't at church yesterday. Jay explains that they decided to stay home. Grandma asks about Bri's "vulgar" song and stirring up the gossips at church. Granddaddy, unperturbed, fiddles with the clock on the oven and asks why it's not working. Grandma shrieks when Jay says that the electricity got turned off. She and Granddaddy refuse to listen when Trey says he has things under control.
Given the way that Grandma and Granddaddy treat Jay, they care way more about their grandchildren living without electricity than they do about Jay not having electricity—they probably haven't fully forgiven her for leaving Bri and Trey, so this situation makes it look like Jay is even more of an unfit parent. Refusing to listen to Trey shows that Granddaddy doesn't think that Trey is a competent adult either.
Themes
Trauma, Poverty, and Childhood Theme Icon
Grandma announces that Bri and Trey will come home with her. Trey refuses, and Grandma says he doesn't need to "suffer." At this, Jay emotionally tells Grandma that she's just poor, not a bad mother. Trey refuses again to go, and Granddaddy says that Bri's also old enough to decide where she lives. Even though Bri wants electricity and food, she sees the fear in Jay's eyes and says she wants to stay. Granddaddy pulls out his wallet and gives Jay money for the electricity bill as Grandma storms out, crying. Granddaddy sighs that Grandma holds onto Trey and Bri because they remind her of Lawless. He leaves.
Though Granddaddy has made a number of missteps over the course of the novel, particularly when it comes to Trey, he shows here that he's one of the only adults in Bri's life who is willing to treat her like an adult in control of her own decisions. With this, he continues to leave the door open for Bri to feel safe and comfortable going to him for help or advice.
Themes
Identity and Individuality Theme Icon
Trauma, Poverty, and Childhood Theme Icon
Quotes
Trey suggests that Bri take their phones out to his car to charge them, which is his way of saying that Jay needs a minute. Just as Bri plugs the phones in, Supreme calls her. She tries to sound upbeat, thinking he can't help Pooh. He says that DJ Hype wants Bri to come on his radio show, which plays live all over the U.S. He runs through the things that Hype will want to talk about, including the "creative" "li'l" music video that Bri made. This offends Bri, but Supreme brushes off her protests. Though Bri feels unable to commit with Pooh missing, she agrees.
The way that Supreme talks about Bri and Malik's music video suggests that he sees it as more of an aspirational school project in the worst way, not a method of storytelling that allows Bri to add more meaning to her experience. This again should tell Bri that Supreme isn't someone she wants to work with, but Bri's desire to not have to take money from her grandparents means that she agrees anyway.
Themes
Racism and Prejudice Theme Icon
Control, Image, and Fame Theme Icon
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