The 57 Bus

The 57 Bus

by

Dashka Slater

Lil’ Jerry Character Analysis

Kaprice Wilson’s boyfriend in the 1980s. Lil’ Jerry is an active member of one of Oakland’s gangs. Although she wants to get pregnant and go on welfare (something all the women around her do), Lil’ Jerry insists that Kaprice go to college and turn her life around, though he forbids her from dating other men. Lil’ Jerry is killed in a shooting before Kaprice goes to college.
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Lil’ Jerry Character Timeline in The 57 Bus

The timeline below shows where the character Lil’ Jerry appears in The 57 Bus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Part 2: The Princess of East Oakland
Discrimination and Social Justice Theme Icon
...“when crack cocaine was just hitting the streets.” At fourteen, she fell in love with Lil’ Jerry , a neighborhood kid who “claimed” the 96vill gang of East Oakland. After the gang’s... (full context)
Adolescent Crime vs. Adult Crime Theme Icon
...was accepted. Kaprice, however, had little interest in college and preferred to stay close to Lil’ Jerry . She wanted to get pregnant and “go on welfare,” since “that’s what all the... (full context)
Adolescent Crime vs. Adult Crime Theme Icon
Discrimination and Social Justice Theme Icon
So Kaprice went to college, and Lil’ Jerry was later killed by a drug dealer. The random dealer had trampled an old lady’s... (full context)