Dear Martin

At a knock on the door, Justyce sits up, smacking his head on the underside of his desk. When Doc comes in, he hands Justyce a Gatorade for his hangover. Doc tells Justyce that Manny called and, without disclosing any details about what happened between them, asked Doc to check on Justyce because he was going through some things. Justyce admits that he messed up. He explains that he has been anxious since his arrest and has been trying to adhere to Dr. King's teachings. Justyce tells Doc about his father's PTSD and alcoholism after leaving the military. He describes how his father would get drunk and hit his mom. Justyce admits that the previous night, he got drunk, got angry, and then blacked out to find that he had gotten in a physical fight. Justyce expresses concern about following in his father's footsteps.

When Justyce starts to talk about his qualms with Manny and the way he ignores the things that Blake and the others say and do, Doc offers some perspective. First, Doc explains that he grew up like Manny and until high school attended an all-white school. He points out that when you've lived your "whole life being 'accepted' by white people, it's easy to ignore history and hard to face stuff that's still problematic" (103). Doc explains that Justyce has to stop worrying about how other people see him and get to a place where he believes in himself. Justyce counters that it's not that easy to ignore it when people "suggest […] you're not worthy" (103). Justyce awkwardly asks Doc for some advice about women, and Doc reveals that he was already aware of the feelings between Justyce and SJ. While Doc does not say much, he assures Justyce that SJ will come around. 

Manny and Jared don't show up for morning classes or lunch. At the end of the day, Justyce sees Jared and his friends around his car, but Manny isn't there. When Jared turns to glare at him, Justyce sees that Jared's face is pretty beat up, forcing Justyce to wonder whether he'd done that to him. Manny appears at Justyce's dorm. His lip is busted and his hand is wrapped. Justyce apologizes for failing to see things from Manny's point of view, but he doesn't apologize for what he said because he meant it. Manny admits that he knew Justyce was right.

Manny explains that he went out with Jared on Saturday night and had to control himself several times when Jared made fun of people. He finally said something when Jared made fun of a Black woman with four kids, calling her Shaniqua and referencing her baby daddies. When Manny spoke up, Jared dismissed him as too sensitive. He realized that what Justyce said was true; those guys don't care if they're offensive and they aren't really his friends.

When Justyce asks about Manny's lip, Manny explains that he quit the basketball team that morning. He points out that he never really liked playing, but he felt that as a tall Black kid, he had to. When he quit, Jared said he couldn't "until Massah set [him] free" (109), causing Manny to strike him. Manny thanks Justyce for helping him see what he'd been scared to admit was the truth: the way those guys behaved and treated he and Justyce was not okay. Manny makes Justyce hug him. 

Manny's dad, Mr. Julian, reveals that one of his young white employees called him a racial slur at work that day, which made him think of Manny's encounter with Jared. Mr. Julian blames himself for sheltering Manny from his struggles against racism and discrimination, lamenting that Manny would have a better understanding of the world if he hadn't. Mr. Julian explains that he didn't fire his employee, knowing that because the employee knew he'd been overheard, he'd likely be better behaved. He tells the boys that people like Jared and his employee will probably not change, and they shouldn't let them get in their way of being successful.

Justyce writes to Dr. King that the whole conversation has him feeling pretty frustrated. He'd always thought that once he'd reached a certain point, like Mr. Julian had, he wouldn't have to deal with racism. Justyce starts to question why he is trying to get ahead and be successful. He wonders whether he's working so hard for himself or to prove himself worthy or to "shove it in the faces of people like Jared" (114). 

Manny picks up Justyce to go hiking, but Manny asks if they can just drive around. Manny's parents got a call from Jared's parents that morning saying that they're pressing charges against Manny for assault. Manny tells Justyce that when he tried to call Jared to talk about things, Jared's dad answered and told him they would get a restraining order against him, too. Manny can't believe this is happening, especially given that Jared's dad used to tell him that he was like another son to him. Manny points out that he has come to realize a lot about discrimination and racism in the world, but he wasn't expecting this.

As they drive, Manny plays some new Deuce Diggs music, and they turn it up loud. At a traffic light, a fifty-something white man in a Suburban looks visibly upset at the volume of their music. When the light changes, he continues to angrily ride next to them. The man continues to yell at them, and Manny decides he has done enough "bending over backwards to appease white people" (118) and turns the music up. Justyce can feel the situation escalating and starts to question what King would do. The man in the Suburban screams a racial slur at them, and Manny gives him the finger. Justyce tries to deescalate the situation, telling Manny they should just turn the music down until they're away from this man. When Justyce reaches for the volume, Manny yells. 

Gun shots are fired.