Dear Justyce

Dear Justyce

by

Nic Stone

Mama Character Analysis

Mama is Quan’s mother, as well as the mother of Quan’s step-siblings Dasia and Gabe. She had Quan with Daddy but had Dasia and Gabe with her abusive live-in boyfriend, Dwight. Quan reveals little about Mama’s personality. It’s possible that some of this has to do with how deeply betrayed Quan feels by Mama. Dwight is physically and financially abusive, and Quan doesn’t understand why Mama doesn’t just leave him. As Quan sees it, it’d be better for all of them without Dwight in the picture—when Dwight is around, Mama can’t work because she’s constantly injured from his beatings and ashamed to show her bruises. And because Mama can’t work, she relies on Dwight financially. It’s unclear how or even if Mama tries to protect her children from Dwight’s abuse. To add to Quan’s sense of betrayal, Mama believes a teacher’s false accusation that Quan cheated on an important math test and starts to ignore Quan after he’s arrested the first time. Though the novel implies that Mama might be doing this out of self-preservation (she implies that the men in her life, like Dwight and Daddy, have consistently let her down, and she may be lumping Quan in with them), Mama’s neglect nevertheless pushes Quan right into Black Jihad. She remains distant and cold with Quan even after Dwight is murdered. With no one at home to support or believe in him, Quan has to look for family elsewhere. He and Mama begin to repair their relationship in the month before Quan is released from prison. Mama moves the family to the suburbs (one of Martel’s requirements for Quan’s exit from Black Jihad), and by the end of the novel, seems to fit in and be happy in her new life.

Mama Quotes in Dear Justyce

The Dear Justyce quotes below are all either spoken by Mama or refer to Mama. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Choices vs. Fate Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2: Downhill Quotes

Even at twelve, it didn’t escape Quan’s notice that the men in his mama’s life—Daddy included—used money to get her to do what they wanted her to do. It bothered him no end. But he wasn’t sure what he could do about it.

Which became a running theme: not knowing what he could do about anything.

So he stayed focused.

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Dwight, Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

“And best believe your father is gonna hear about this. Might even send him the evidence of your indiscretion.” Quan could hear the paper crinkle as she surely held it up in the air. “Cheating. I can’t even believe you—”

And that was all he heard. Because in that moment everything crystallized for Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr.

It didn’t matter what he did.

Staying focused didn’t give Quan any control at all.

Related Characters: Mama (speaker), Quan Banks, Daddy, Ms. Mays
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3: Disrespect Quotes

So he told Mama—who for the first time wasn’t healing from a COAN encounter—that he was going out.

And he headed to his former favorite playground place.

Stepping over the latest evidence of unsavory activity inside his rocket ship (at least there wouldn’t be any babies or diseases?), Quan climbed up to the observation deck. Largely to hide himself from anyone who might take issue with/make fun of an almost-thirteen-year-old hanging out in the grounded space vessel.

But once he got up there, Quan relaxed so much, he fell asleep.

Related Characters: Quan Banks, Dwight, Mama
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Delinquent Quotes

Trey couldn’t have known it (or maybe he could’ve?), but in that moment, Quan didn’t actually want to be alone.

He needed a friend.

Someone who cared.

Because from the moment Mama and Quan had stepped out of the fluorescent-lit law-and-order lair into the crisp Georgia evening, it was crystal clear to Quan that she no longer did.

Related Characters: Quan Banks, Mama, Trey
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
April 4 Quotes

The reason I joined the Black Jihad: I needed backup. Support without judgment. People who hadn’t—and wouldn’t—give up on me.

I needed a family.

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Justyce, Martel, Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 93-94
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: Dasia Quotes

“Gabe misses you,” his mama says, and she might as well have dropped a bucket of ice water on his head.

He’d get up and walk away if not for the fact that it’s his mama.

And beneath all his fury,
he still wants her to love him.

Related Characters: Mama (speaker), Quan Banks, Gabe
Page Number: 198
Explanation and Analysis:
Snapshot: Two Young Men on a New (To Them) Playground Quotes

“You miss [the rocket ship]?”

At first, Quan doesn’t respond. Because he really has to think about it. His eyes roam the always-clean park space. Touch on his mom [...] his sister [...] his brother [...] his best friend right beside him.

Only thing missing is his dad. But they write to each other weekly, and Quan’s been out to visit the old man a few times, so even that’s okay.

[...]

He smiles. “You know what, man? I don’t.”

“You don’t?”

“Nah,” Quan says. “No need to go to outer space.”

[...]

“Everything I need is right here.”

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Justyce (speaker), Mama, Daddy, Dasia, Gabe
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Dear Justyce LitChart as a printable PDF.
Dear Justyce PDF

Mama Quotes in Dear Justyce

The Dear Justyce quotes below are all either spoken by Mama or refer to Mama. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Choices vs. Fate Theme Icon
).
Chapter 2: Downhill Quotes

Even at twelve, it didn’t escape Quan’s notice that the men in his mama’s life—Daddy included—used money to get her to do what they wanted her to do. It bothered him no end. But he wasn’t sure what he could do about it.

Which became a running theme: not knowing what he could do about anything.

So he stayed focused.

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Dwight, Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 30
Explanation and Analysis:

“And best believe your father is gonna hear about this. Might even send him the evidence of your indiscretion.” Quan could hear the paper crinkle as she surely held it up in the air. “Cheating. I can’t even believe you—”

And that was all he heard. Because in that moment everything crystallized for Vernell LaQuan Banks Jr.

It didn’t matter what he did.

Staying focused didn’t give Quan any control at all.

Related Characters: Mama (speaker), Quan Banks, Daddy, Ms. Mays
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 3: Disrespect Quotes

So he told Mama—who for the first time wasn’t healing from a COAN encounter—that he was going out.

And he headed to his former favorite playground place.

Stepping over the latest evidence of unsavory activity inside his rocket ship (at least there wouldn’t be any babies or diseases?), Quan climbed up to the observation deck. Largely to hide himself from anyone who might take issue with/make fun of an almost-thirteen-year-old hanging out in the grounded space vessel.

But once he got up there, Quan relaxed so much, he fell asleep.

Related Characters: Quan Banks, Dwight, Mama
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 46
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: Delinquent Quotes

Trey couldn’t have known it (or maybe he could’ve?), but in that moment, Quan didn’t actually want to be alone.

He needed a friend.

Someone who cared.

Because from the moment Mama and Quan had stepped out of the fluorescent-lit law-and-order lair into the crisp Georgia evening, it was crystal clear to Quan that she no longer did.

Related Characters: Quan Banks, Mama, Trey
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
April 4 Quotes

The reason I joined the Black Jihad: I needed backup. Support without judgment. People who hadn’t—and wouldn’t—give up on me.

I needed a family.

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Justyce, Martel, Mama, Daddy
Page Number: 93-94
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 10: Dasia Quotes

“Gabe misses you,” his mama says, and she might as well have dropped a bucket of ice water on his head.

He’d get up and walk away if not for the fact that it’s his mama.

And beneath all his fury,
he still wants her to love him.

Related Characters: Mama (speaker), Quan Banks, Gabe
Page Number: 198
Explanation and Analysis:
Snapshot: Two Young Men on a New (To Them) Playground Quotes

“You miss [the rocket ship]?”

At first, Quan doesn’t respond. Because he really has to think about it. His eyes roam the always-clean park space. Touch on his mom [...] his sister [...] his brother [...] his best friend right beside him.

Only thing missing is his dad. But they write to each other weekly, and Quan’s been out to visit the old man a few times, so even that’s okay.

[...]

He smiles. “You know what, man? I don’t.”

“You don’t?”

“Nah,” Quan says. “No need to go to outer space.”

[...]

“Everything I need is right here.”

Related Characters: Quan Banks (speaker), Justyce (speaker), Mama, Daddy, Dasia, Gabe
Related Symbols: The Rocket Ship
Page Number: 253
Explanation and Analysis: