Uniforms Symbol Analysis

In the novel, uniforms are at times presented as a symbol of discipline, respectability, and belonging—and at other times as a sign of excessive authority and danger. As someone who served in ROTC, the military, and the police force, David is the character most closely associated with uniforms and is the one who most strongly believes in the value of having a uniform. He sees wearing a uniform as a source of pride and a sign that someone is part of something bigger than themselves, that they are disciplined, and that they serve others. Rashad, however, feels more ambivalent about uniforms. He wears his ROTC uniform reluctantly, finding it somewhat embarrassing to have attention drawn to the fact that he is a cadet. He also notices a discrepancy in the feelings his father has about uniforms. While David praises people who wear a police or military uniform, he is disdainful of Spoony’s “brown uniform”—the uniform of UPS workers. This difference highlights David’s attachment to a very narrow and perhaps mistaken understanding of discipline, morality, and achievement.