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Friday-Quinn
We meet Quinn, a White American teenage boy. Quinn feels the need to live up to his war hero father's legacy. Quinn is making plans for his Friday night with friends. A trip to Jerry's the local convenient store to persuade a stranger to buy him and his friends beer, takes a crazy turn when Quinn is witness to a young man being brutally beat by a cop. He realizes the cop is Paul, the brother of his friend Guzzo. He is haunted by the evil look on Paul's face. He and his friends flee the scene. -
A brief summary
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Friday-Rashad
Rashad, a Black American teenager makes plans with his friends for a fun night. We learn he is a conscientious ROTC student and a rule follower, who aims to please his strict dad.
A trip to Jerry's store for gum and bag of chips goes terribly wrong when he is wrongly accused of theft. Regardless of Rashad's compliance, the cop has him in a submissive hold, punching and kicking him. Rashad cries, "please don't kill me." listen -
Saturday-Rashad
Rashad is in the hospital with a broken nose, broken ribs and possible internal bleeding. The police accompany him at the hospital even though there is no evidence he has done anything illegal. He explains his side of the story to his family. His own father is suspicious asking questions about whether or not his pants were "hanging low." His bother and mother support and believe him. His brother, Spoony is determined to fight for justice. -
Saturday-Quinn
Quinn is in denial about what he saw at Jerry's. He doesn't want to believe the Paul he has always known would do something so brutal and racist. Quinn is caught stealing alcohol from his mother and although she is upset, they share a kind moment between mother and son. We begin to see a bond between Quinn and his crush Jill, and we learn there is a bbq at Paul's house. Quinn questions the motivations and ulterior motives behind this sudden gathering, as if it is a ploy for support for Paul. -
Sunday-Rashad
Rashad feels frustrated that his parents have brought their pastor to visit him. He wants answers to justice rather than relying of religion to erase what has happened. A video of the beating has been released and on national tv. Spoony is determined to bring justice to Rashad. We continue to see resistance from their father, David, who seems to want to remain quiet and "keep the peace." -
Sunday-Quinn
Quinn and his family go the bbq at Paul's. Jill (a white American teen) tells Quinn that the cops had busted her party the same night of Rashad's attack but she receieved nothing more than a slap on the hand. Quinn confides in Jill that he saw the attack. The adults at the bbq bully Quinn and Jill and demand they support Paul. The chapter ends during a basketball game where Quinn storms off and for the first time shows his need to think on his own and asserts himself as his own person. -
Monday-Rashad
We learn about Rashad's love of art, giving us a glimpse of his personality outside of the current issue. Rashad takes comfort in strangers such as his nurse and the gift shop owner and finds some joy in a visit from his friends, however that joy is short lived as he violently takes out his aggression on the T.V. alliwantedwasabagofchips -
Monday-Quinn
Quinn is still conflicted and refuses to watch the video. He begins to recall past situations where Paul's brutality were apparent. Quinn begins to realize how racism has effected his own points of view. At this point Quinn is positioning himself as color blind not realizing his complicit stand is another form of racism. His basketball coach is taking the same approach prompting the team to leave the event outside the court.
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Tuesday-Quinn
Quinn continues his personal journey towards acknowledging the ways his "whiteness" perpetuates his own racist views even if they are unintentional. He teeters between defending Paul, even accusing Rashad of possibly being on drugs, and his new opinions towards racism. He eventually is called out by a friend and he finally decides to watch the video. This symbolizes a shift in his point of view. At this point Quinn and Jill actively decide to be play a role towards social justice. -
Tuesday-Rashad
The town is divided. Most support Rashad and a movement towards change, but some remain loyal to Paul using a respect for authority as a way to defend their prejudices. Rashad continues to focus on his art amid the chaos. Rashad learns of the popular new phrase #rashadisabsentagaintoday, and the plans for an organized protest. Rashad is hesitant, but after hearing of his own friends experiences with racism, he decides he will attend the protest.watchthis -
Wednesday-Rashad
We see a shift in David(Rashad's father) as he opens up about his own experience with racism as he tells a story of when he was a cop and wrongfully shot a black teen. He has avoided acknowledging this act all these years in an attempt to mask his own stereotypes against his own race. He has always portrayed himself as a hero up until this point. Katie, the other customer at Jerry's, the night of the incident chooses to use her white privilege for good and reveals she will testify in court. -
Wednesday-Quinn
Students begin to fight back when they read aloud a book that has been ban.They make a comparison between the book and Rashad. Quinn decides to take a stronger stand against racism and his new found confidence in himself and his beliefs allow him to play better during basketball practice. The coach bans the players from attending the protest. This is absurd considering many players on the team are good friends with Rashad. coachserror -
Thursday-Rashad
Rashad is ok'd to leave the hospital. His bloody clothes will always be a reminder. Rashad discovers how public his case is when he internet searches #rashadisabsentagaintoday. He sees a picture of a White boy wearing a shirt saying,"I'm marching, are you?" We learn the protest will be a die in. Rashad and his mother are nervous but recognize the importance of this event. He wonders if his dad will attend. -
Thursday-Quinn
Quinn realizes to honor his father's legacy he needs to stand up for what be believes in. In school, Quinn writes on his shirt, "I'm marching, are you?" He gets both approval and disapproval from his peers. His coach reacts negatively which prompts a phone call to Quinn's mother. She demands that he does not attend the protest, but she comes around. She has raised her son as a single mother and in this moment feels proud of his morals. -
Friday-Rashad
Rashad discovers the night before the protest, his father has anxiety, showing a more vulnerable side to his father he has never seen. At the protest, Rashad is overwhelmed by all the people he sees, including his friends, basketball teammates, teachers, his pastor, and most importantly he sees his father who joins him in the front. They all lie down and the die in begins. As his brother's girlfriend begins reciting names of people who have died in the name of racism, Rashad begins to weep. -
Friday-Quinn
Quinn is nervous about the protest. He calls the police and telsl them he'd like to make a statement about the night at Jerry's. Despite the possible repercussions of missing practice, he attends the protest. He is shocked by the military tanks and riot gear. He thinks about how others will view the protest as unpatriotic but decides what he is doing is very American. While participating in the die-in he realizes fighting racism will be a lifelong commitment. He looks for Rashad in the crowd. -
Friday-Rashad & Quinn
Rashad and Quinn's eyes meet at the protest. This is the only time in the story they are together. They do not speak, but the look between them speaks a thousand words. They have both undergone major transformations throughout the events and there is a kindness and understanding that exists within this moment. authors speak
