Dear Marcus,
My name is Travis N., and over the summer, I read about you in Black and White by Paul Volponi. I am a freshman at the John Carroll School in Bel Air, Maryland. I live in Aberdeen, Maryland, where I have been for almost seven years. This summer, I vacationed in Kure Beach, North Carolina, as well as Ocean City, Maryland.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning about you in Black and White. The first chapter of the novel was really intense, as it described the first of the two robberies that you and Eddie committed. To be honest, my first impression of you was not that great, and I will tell you that it shaped the way I viewed you and your thoughts throughout a lot of the book. However, over time, that really did change. The loyalty you showed to Eddie, your best friend, blew me away. Even through arrest, jail, and a trial, you exemplified wholesome and mature qualities. I have mixed thoughts about you not telling the police about Eddie’s involvement in the robberies. Yes, I understand, that, through thick and thin, Black and White are supposed to “have each other’s backs”; however, in a situation where the law has been broken, I believe that the truth should be told, under any condition.
I really liked Paul Volponi’s writing style in this particular novel. I thought that switching between your side of the story and Eddie’s side of the story was genius. This way, I, the reader, could get a taste of what each character was thinking throughout the book. I thought that you were very realistic to me while I was reading Black and White. In fact, I will go as far as to say that every person and every scenario that was described in the novel could have most definitely been real. The issues written about in the book, violence and racial inequality in the criminal justice system, both exist in our world today.
I wanted to ask you if, deep down, you wanted to tell the police about Eddie’s involvement in those robberies. You said in the book that you “had Eddie’s back.” Does this statement go so far that it protects Eddie from the police, from going to trial, and, ultimately, from the law? Personally, I don’t think it does. Your family’s reaction to your fate in court truly touched me. I loved how the bond you shared with your sister and mother was so strong, that even going to prison couldn’t break it. I really admire that.
I was already aware of the issues spoken of in the story, however, reading about their effects on people at a personal level really made me think harder about them. People today work endlessly to help stop violence in their communities, in their nation, and in their world. I think that if people really stop and think about these issues, a difference can be made. Every human being on this earth is part of something bigger. We are all part of a global community. To better ourselves and our community, we must all work to put an end to these issues in our world. This book has definitely left me thinking more about these issues. While reading this book, it felt like I was becoming rather close to the characters, including you. To watch you, Eddie, and both of your families go through this was terrible. This novel has truly affected me in a lasting way.
I hope you make a great life for yourself once you finish serving our time in prison. I just want you to know that I believe everyone gets a second chance. I hope that when you read this, you know that your story has changed so many people in this world. I know it will continue to do so in years to come. Good luck Marcus.
Sincerely,
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