Thematic perspectives

Historical context

Push is set in the late 1980s, and deals with a number of problems in US society at the time.

One of these is the issue of drug addiction. Cocaine addiction in particular was a significant problem in Harlem in the 1980s, and the novel contains numerous references to this issue (especially through the character of Rita, a former drug addict). The large number of drug addicts also meant a rise in other crimes, such as stealing to afford drugs, or street violence between rival drug dealers.

In the years when Push is set, HIV was also a major problem across US society, spreading especially quickly among the lower classes. The HIV crisis was also linked to the drug crisis, as the blood-borne disease spread especially well among heroin addicts, who would sometimes share needles. In the 1980s there were few good options for treating HIV, making the condition an eventual death sentence for many – which is reflected in the powerful way Precious reacts to the diagnosis (pp. 96-97). Today it is possible to get highly efficient treatments that let HIV-positive patients live long, healthy lives, though an actual cure has still not been found.

Push also describes the lack of a social security net...