Theme and message

Race and social inequality

The main theme explored in the short story “The African-American Special” by Jason Reynolds is race and social inequality. 

The narrator and Fortune discuss the issue of tipping, with the white man who left a dollar tip on a twenty-dollar tab being the catalyst for their conversation. This leads to a wider discussion around generational differences regarding the issue of race and racism. The dialogue between the two characters highlights their differing perspectives on the issue of white privilege and the unfairness of the system, with the narrator arguing that broken hearts and systemic injustice have led to the current state of affairs for young people, while Fortune places the blame on a lack of personal responsibility...