How to Slowly Kill Yourself In America

This was a really great reading. Something that really struck me was the part Kiese wrote

when discussing the library book he took and returned. "as Harmon tells her that I am being suspended from Millsaps for at least a year for taking and returning Red Badge of Courage from the library without formally checking it out." This quote came along awhile after Kiese got into an altercation with a bunch of Greek life members and calling media to the campus because of the strong hate speech and violence that was going on there. He continues on discussing his suspension and mentions that, "Even if I am admitted back as a student, I will remain formally on parole for the rest of my undergrad career, which means that I will be expelled from Millsaps College unless I'm perfect. 19-year-old black boys can not be perfect in America. Neither can 61-year-old white boys named George." This really stuck out to me in the fact that he isn't just talking about the difficulties of being a young black man in America. He acknowledges that these racists in the South can not cope with the idea that they aren't perfect and superior to other races. Every little step of the way, there was one more things just weighing on this man for him to contemplate suicide over. Almost being robbed and shot, disappointing his grandmother, being kicked out of college, family struggles, and witnessing the aftermath of a brutal rape and attempted murder on a woman he doesn't even know. The title "how to slowly kill yourself in America" I think sets in with how its the little, every day things in life that slowly kill us. The unnecessary hate and anger people feel towards one another, that is slowly killing us and others.