What the Eyes Don’t See: Chapter 15 Summary & Analysis

Mona knew that what she and her team needed to do next was to get a health advisory issued in order to alert the public. Kirk Smith reached out to the director of public works in Flint, Howard Croft—but Croft assured him that the water was fine. Mona and Kirk knew he was lying, or that he’d bought someone else’s lies. But soon, an email from the mayor, Dayne Walling, reached Kirk—Walling wanted to talk. Mona was relieved that someone was listening, even if the person really in charge of Flint was its city manager, Natasha Henderson. Mona had just two days to make a presentation for the mayor’s office to convince them that a health advisory was necessary.

The weekend of September 19th, Mona’s brother Mark was in town for a law school reunion. Like Mona, Mark (a public interest lawyer) was always fighting for the underdog. Though Mona was busy with the conference that weekend, she was able to make time to visit with Mark and his children—and to update Mark on the situation with the Flint water. Mark, a politically astute activist, warned Mona that the mayor—who was up for reelection—might not be motivated to admit there was something wrong. Mark also warned Mona that she would soon be seen as a whistleblower. She’d definitely face pushback, and possibly even graver retaliatory measures from the county and the state.

Mona was already stressed, but the idea that things could get worse for her personally and professionally didn’t faze her—her mind was only on the children of Flint and their well-being. Mark and Mona kept their conversation quiet, hoping not to worry Bebe. But as Mark’s words sunk in, Mona began feeling worried—she didn’t want to bring aeb (Arabic for “shame”) onto her family. But even as Mona’s anxiety mounted over the course of their conversation, Mark encouraged her to remain strong in her resolve—he told Mona that she already knew what it was she had to do.