Opportunity and Upward Mobility Theme Analysis

Nic Stone makes it clear in Dear Martin that—generally speaking—the average black person has to work harder than the average white person to attain upward mobility in the U.S. Furthermore, she examines how difficult it is for black Americans to continue on an upward trajectory, illustrating that even the most successful people still face adversity despite their accomplishments. For instance, it’s quite impressive that Justyce attends Braselton Prep, since he wouldn’t be able to go to such a competitive private school if he hadn’t earned a full scholarship. And yet, he feels as if his efforts have all been in vain when he realizes that people like Officer Castillo will eagerly beat and arrest him regardless of his innocence and commendable background. In addition, his white peers at Braselton Prep are hesitant to recognize his hard work, as is evident when Jared claims that Justyce was admitted to Yale simply because Yale needs to meet a “quota” of black students. As if this isn’t enough to discourage Justyce from continuing on his path toward upward mobility, he also feels judged by his former community members, who criticize him for leaving his neighborhood behind to pursue an education. Outlining all the obstacles Justyce faces, Stone highlights how challenging it can be for young black Americans to succeed, and though this is a rather depressing message, she intimates that disenfranchised young people simply have to do their best despite such adversity.

When Justyce introduces himself to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in his diary, he outlines his commendable achievements, saying, “I’m ranked fourth in my graduating class of 83, I’m the captain of the debate team, I scored a 1560 and a 34 on my SATs and ACTs respectively, and despite growing up in a ‘bad’ area […] I have a future ahead of me that will likely include an Ivy League education, an eventual degree, and a career in public policy.” It’s clear that he’s proud of his accomplishments, especially when he says that he has achieved all of this “despite growing up in a ‘bad’ area.” It’s also apparent that Justyce fully intends to continue on an upward trajectory. However, this hopefulness all but vanishes in the aftermath of his brutal encounter with Officer Castillo, in which he gets punched in the face and arrested for trying to help his ex-girlfriend. “Sadly, during the wee hours of this morning, literally none of [my accomplishments] mattered,” he tells Dr. King in his diary the next day. In this moment, readers witness just how disheartened Justyce is to have his entire life and personality undercut by racism. Indeed, this is perhaps the first time Justyce has realized that hard work and determination won’t necessarily protect him from racism.

Justyce’s encounters with racist police officers aren’t the only experiences that discourage him. He also finds himself disheartened during school hours, when insensitive white students like Jared diminish his hard work because of his race. For example, when Justyce gets into Yale, Jared claims that it’s only because of the university’s affirmative action policies. “I’m ranked number two in our class,” Jared says, “I’m captain of the baseball team, I do community service on weekends, and I got higher test scores than Justyce…yet he got into Yale early action, and I didn’t. I know for a fact it’s because I’m white and he’s black.” In reality, Justyce and Jared’s test scores are more or less the same, but Jared is upset that he didn’t get into Yale during the “early action” period, so he belittles Justyce, adding, “He took a spot I didn’t get because Yale has to fill a quota.” When nobody agrees, he finally says, “Whatever. All I know is that no matter what college I end up at, when I see a minority, I’m gonna wonder if they’re qualified to be there.” This statement blatantly reveals Jared’s prejudiced ideas about minorities, but it also unearths the demoralizing notion that—if this is how certain white people think—even attending one of the country’s most prestigious universities won’t help Justyce escape bigotry.

Justyce also runs into criticism and doubt from other black people, especially people who grew up in his neighborhood. When he sees members of a local gang at a party, they disparage him for devoting himself to a life surrounded by white people. One of the gang members even tells him that the gang will “see [him] soon,” since he’s confident that Justyce will fail to succeed in the predominantly white world of academia. This only further depresses Justyce, who reflects upon his situation in his diary, writing, “It’s like I’m trying to climb a mountain, but I’ve got one fool trying to shove me down so I won’t be on his level, and another fool tugging at my leg, trying to pull me to the ground he refuses to leave.” This analogy captures how hard it is for Justyce to find success, as he’s forced to confront doubt and judgment from seemingly all angles.

Although Dear Martin isn’t intended to depress readers by suggesting that upward mobility is impossible for minorities, Stone avoids offering unrealistically uplifting messages about success. Rather than assuring readers that it’s possible for people like Justyce to avoid discrimination and prejudice, she underscores the importance of recognizing adversity and working hard in spite of it. This idea arises when Manny’s father has a frank discussion with Justyce and Manny about everyday racism, telling them that—despite his powerful position at a well-respected company—he still encounters bigotry on a regular basis. Sitting next to the two boys, he tells them that he heard an employee call him a racial slur that day. When they express their shock, he says, “My point is the world is full of guys like Jared and that employee, and most of them will never change. So it’s up to you fellas to push through it.” In this scene, Justyce is reminded once again that he can’t necessarily change the fact that racism runs throughout the United States. He can, however, decide to do his best to “push through it.” Of course, this is hardly a comforting idea, but Stone puts this emphasis on hard work because she believes it’s the only productive way to respond to racism and discouragement.