The Nickel Boys: How one book tells thousands of stories
The Nickel Boys is set in Florida during the 1960s. It is about a “reform school” called Nickel Academy that was aimed at transforming juvenile boys into men of substance. But, the words “reform school” couldn’t be further from its reality.
As I followed the story of Elwood, the protagonist, I realised that this book was far bigger than the story of just one African-American teenager in a reform school.
For those who haven’t read it, what was Elwood’s story?
Elwood was the definition of a nice kid. He listened to the teachings of his grandmother, took his education seriously, stood up against thieves, and was all set to go to college. His life takes a turn when he is wrongly accused of stealing a car and the court sends him to the Nickel Academy.
Week after week, we see his values crumble and his naivete broken. In his first week itself, he gets whipped on his calves and testicles by school supervisors until he passes out. For what? Simply because he stood up against a couple of bullies troubling a younger child.
He then learns to keep his mouth shut and his head down as he sees the injustice and systemic racism go on like any other day. He knows that if he gets caught running away, he will be beaten to death and buried in an unmarked grave with countless others. No matter what happens, he tries to obey these twisted new rules in a bid to get out early for good behaviour.
However, despite his experiences, he starts making notes of how the school was selling out the food that was meant to be given to the African-American children (while not daring to mess with the white kids’ food). He finally shares this information with state authorities on a surprise inspection of the school.
He then waits for the police to come barging in and arrest the supervisors. But no one comes. Instead, he is put into solitary confinement without food, light, or even a toilet.
As I said, this story is far bigger than Elwood’s…
This story isn’t about one child. It is based on the true story of the Dozier School, a reform school in Florida that operated for 111 years, closing down only in 2011. In fact, this is the untold story of thousands of juvie homes and reform schools across the world.
Rape and physical abuse are common, and often never come to light. This is simply because of how everyone benefits from free labour provided by these children, the corruption, and the disappearance of government funds, food, and school supplies. Everyone benefits, except the children.
The children may leave these schools when they turn 18 but they don’t walk out as adults. They’re reduced to a shadow of their earlier selves, still living with the horrors and irreparable psychological damage.
Despite these incidents coming to light, no one does enough. Whether this is because no one cares for delinquents from a poorer background, or because the benefits of the corruption outweigh humanity, I don’t know.
Child abusers across the world are scorned upon, but these supervisors are appointed by the government. Apparently, with delinquents, supervisors are not abusers. They’re disciplinarians, doing what they have to do to set some animals straight. This needs to change.
What can we do?
Humanise the numbers and percentages that quantify the rapes and abuses. This will only happen when we allow and empower these children to speak up. Those who do speak up, need to be protected at all costs.
I’m hoping that if a book that is so heartwrenching, rightly won The Pulitzer Prize, the world will listen. We cannot tolerate abuse against children. Even if they’re only worth a Nickel.
