Journal Entry - Ch. 18

1. Chapter 18 – Pages 379 – 385

2. At the end of term, Peekay is relieved to go back home to his mother, grandfather, Doc, and all the people at the prison. He likes that his small village does not change and is very static. Mrs. Boxall starts a new school at the prison, educating everyone, blacks and whites. Peekay’s dream of being the welterweight champion of the world continues to grow, as he intends to find a new coach, making him miss Geel Piet even more. Peekay’s musical talent becomes rusty, as Doc believes the teacher at Peekay’s boarding school is aiding him to pick up bad habits, and is unimpressed when Peekay plays a jazz song by a famous composer. In his other free time during Peekay’s holidays, he plays chess with Mr. Bornstein or helps Grandpa in the garden. Peekay continues to mature and grow up throughout this chapter. 

3. 
a. Doc
b. “But the black men, they understand. I teach them a little of this and a little of that and they teach me a little of that and a little of this.” (383)
c. 
- Intelligent 
- Understanding
- Fair & Just 
- Kind
- Knowledgeable
- Wise
- Inspirational
d. Throughout this novel, Doc is a mentor to Peekay. He always tells him that standing out and being wrong is better than fitting in and going with the crowd, influencing Peekay’s ideas about camouflage. He encourages Peekay to be his own person, and fills him with knowledge about music and about life. “ ‘I cannot teach you what I cannot feel. Peekay, you must understand this. It is not possible for a man to touch the heart of the Negro man’s music when he cannot feel it through his fingers.’ ” (383) Doc is fair and respects everyone of any race, prompting Peekay to do the same. 

4. In this chapter, a quote that stood out to me was, “I was beginning to understand how intellect separates men.” (384) In the general sense, it signifies that people of different educations and views on certain topics leads to conflict. But, it also could relate to the racism during this time. Whites thought they were above blacks; they thought they were better than them and therefore isolated and treated blacks terribly. The white people’s intellect, being how they thought of themselves, separated them from blacks. This thought of whites being superior escalated and escalated, resulting in discrimination. All of this relates back to the power of one, not just for Peekay, but for the people who are thought to be lower than others, the people who need hope and a change.