Acceptance and Change in Dear Martin by Nic Stone Essay Example

Nic Stone’s novel, Dear Martin, is a story of acceptance and change. Acceptance of people and change in relationships. One such change is the relationship between Justyce McAllister and Jared Christensen and their eventual acceptance of each other. In the beginning, they are indifferent to one another as their only common link is their friendship with Manny, but as the novel progresses their relationship changes from one of animosity and intense dislike to one of respect and even friendship. 

Justyce McAllister and Jared Christensen could not be more different. Justyce is an African American boy from a bad neighbourhood. He worked hard and earned a scholarship to Braselton Preparatory Academy where he met Jared, an arrogant and entitled white boy from a wealthy family. Justyce on the other hand is very poor and Jared likes to bring that up, “What the hell does a hottie like Melo Taylor see in a guy who can’t afford a Happy Meal” (Stone 31). Jared is a jerk for always reminding Justyce of his humble background. The only thing that Justyce and Jared have in common is their friendship with Manny, although their friendship with Manny does not make them like each other, in fact, “Justyce isn't really fond of Jared—or any of Manny's other friends for that matter—but he knows they've all been tight since kindergarten, so he tries to keep a lid on it” (20). Justyce and Jared are definitely not friends. Further, Jared believes that inequality is a thing of the past in the United States, “Okay, I’ll bite. In my opinion, yes: we have reached full equality when it comes to race” (23). which causes issues as Justyce knows first-hand that inequality and systemic discrimination is alive and well. In fact, Justyce was arrested by a Caucasian police officer for trying to stop his ex-girlfriend from driving while drunk, “Don’t you say shit to me, you son of a bitch. I knew your punk ass was up to no good when I saw you walking down the road with that goddamn hood on” (8). Despite not seeing eye to eye on the racial disparity in the United States, Justyce and Jared put up with each other for Manny and for the sake of their friendships with him. Manny is the tie that binds in the form of mutual tolerance for each other.  Manny chooses to ignore Jared’s out-of-touch and sometimes racist comments because it is easy. Jared even invited Justyce to go to a Halloween party dressed up as different stereotypes. Justyce was not keen to go, but he decided to go anyway and they were threatened with a gun to leave the party as the hosts did not like the costumes.

Justyce and Jared’s tolerance of each other goes to the wayside when Justyce is accepted into Yale and Jared is deferred. Jared believes that Justyce was accepted into Yale because he is an African- American, “Oh, I certainly am. Let’s observe, shall we? I’m ranked number two in our class, 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” (59). Jared is upset and takes his anger out on Justyce. He lashes out and tries to tear Justyce down as he cannot admit that he Justyce may have gotten into Yale on his merits rather than based on the colour of his skin. Later, Manny forces Justyce to go to Blake’s birthday party where Jared will be, “That wasn’t a request, Jus. Don’t think I haven’t noticed how mopey you have been this week. Being alone in your current state isn’t good for your mental health, man. Blake’s birthday party is tonight, and you’re coming with me” (87). Manny is trying to help Justyce because he is upset that SJ is giving him the cold-shoulder. At Blake's birthday party Justyce gets very drunk and when Blake comes up to Manny and Justyce he says, “There’s this fine-ass black girl here from Decatur Prep, and I was thinking you guys could wingman it up for me and shit. Homegirl’s got the fattest ass I’ve ever seen, and I think if she meets my niggas, I’ll have a good chance of getting’ her upstairs. You feel me, dogs” (90). Blake is trying to use Manny and Justyce to take advantage of an African American girl and this makes Justyce furious. Justyce lashes out physically at both Jared and Blake and from that moment on Justyce and Jared’s relationship becomes one of animosity and intense dislike.

Lastly, their shared grief over the loss of Manny is what finally changes their relationship to one of acceptance, respect, and friendship.  Jared feels extremely guilty about Manny's death, “If it hadn’t been for that damn phone call, Manny and Jus would’ve been headed to Stone Mountain. They wouldn’t have been on the same road as Garrett Tison” (127). Justyce knows that Jared feels guilty because if Jared’s father had not pressed charges against Manny for assaulting him then Manny and Justyce would have been at Stone Mountain. Four months later Justyce runs into Jared at Manny’s grave and they talk about Yale. Jared tells Justyce that he wants to become a civil rights lawyer while minoring in African American studies,  Anyway, I took an Intro to African American Studies course, and it really blew me away, dude. I’m thinking about minoring in it”(207). It’s clear to Justyce that Jared has changed. Manny’s death at the hands of an off-duty police officer has allowed Jared to see that he was wrong. There is racism and discrimination in the United States and it ultimately caused the death of his friend. Jared wants to be a better person and Justyce recognizes that in Jared. Justyce has changed too as he has accepted that he is still becoming who he is meant to be, “And maybe that’s my problem: I haven’t really figured out who I am or what I believe yet” (202). The realization that Manny helped them both to grow and change allows Jared and Justyce to who they each are as individuals and look to a future as friends.   

Dear Martin is a story of acceptance and change. For Justyce and Jared, it means accepting who they were, who they are, and who they will be individually and in each other’s lives. They started as classmates and became friends thanks to Manny and his memory.