Previous
Part 4: Dancing
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The 57 Bus, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Gender and Sexuality
Adolescent Crime vs. Adult Crime
Binary Thought and Inclusive Language
Discrimination and Social Justice
Accountability, Redemption, and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
Darris Young, an organizer from an Oakland social justice advocacy group, watches as Richard’s case unfolds on television. He thinks that there might be a “different kind of solution,” one that isn’t prison. According to Darris, prison “harms the whole community, it has ripple effects up and down.” He pitches Jasmine “something called restorative justice.” Darris thinks perhaps Richard and Sasha’s families can “come together to keep Richard out of prison.”
The “ripple effects” that Darris speaks of are another example of the interconnectedness of Oakland. If Richard goes to prison, he will likely become criminalized, in which case he will become an actual threat to society. Prison is often an ineffective form of rehabilitation, and the high cost of housing prisoners further strains the community. Slater argues that Richard can be held accountable for his crime without a lengthy prison stay.
Themes
