Jill’s Party Symbol Analysis

Jill’s party takes place on the day the novel begins. Although Quinn and Rashad hardly know each other, they are united by their excitement to attend the party and their hopes of hooking up with one of the girls there (Jill and Tiffany, respectively). The party thus represents the normal, frivolous matters that occupy the minds of teenagers. Of course, Rashad is unable to actually attend Jill’s party due to his violent arrest. Quinn’s ability to attend the party—and the fact that Jill hosts the party in the first place while only getting into very minor trouble with the cops—highlights Quinn and Jill’s white privilege. Racism prevents Rashad from acting like a normal teenager, focused on girls, drinking, and partying. It forces him to grow up more quickly and confront the most difficult, painful issues of life at a time when he should be able to just have fun with his friends. Jill’s party thus symbolizes the fact that although Rashad and Quinn are residents of the same town, in many ways they live in separate worlds.