The Prevalence of Racism and Injustice in Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys

Abstract

This paper discuses Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys, published in 2019. The novel tells the pitiable life of Elwood Curtis, an African American boy. He grows up in Tallahassee, Florida.

The central theme of the book is racial segregation and brutality. Elwood, a ten year old child is taken to a reformatory school after being falsely convicted of stealing. During his stay at the

Nickel Academy, he becomes aware of the unavoidable violence and lawlessness that black people face. Elwood Curtis is unjustly accused and imprisoned for a crime he does not commit at reform school.  The novel explores the psychological effects of violence and oppression on

African Americans. Elwood’s journey begins with his experiences at Nickel Academy, the discovery of a secret graveyard on the grounds. The novel describes Elwood’s experience of confinement, abuse, and racism at the hands of the institution’s authorities as well as his

struggles against cruel treatment to stay alive and retain his sense of self. These experiences

shape his identity and worldview, and serve as a powerful indictment of the racism, violence, and oppression against the black people. The legacy of Jim Crow laws, racial segregation, and discrimination continues to affect black communities in the United States and other countries, perpetuating disparities in education, housing, healthcare, and criminal justice. The novel’s

themes resonate deeply with contemporary issues and provides a powerful critique of racism and its ongoing impacts, highlighting the need to achieve true social justice. The Nickel Boys resounds with conversations about racial inequality, social injustice, and the need reform in institutions that disproportionately affect marginalized communities.