Rashad's Tragic Memory In All American Boy

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Recommended: Effects of racial profiling

In “All American Boy”, Rashad’s father shares a tragic memory when he was in the police force and shot an innocent unarmed black boy and paralyzed him from the waist down based on appearance. The goal by sharing the story to Rashad is that it’s a very hard job being a cop because you are being put in difficult situations which could lead to being killed. For instance, Mr. Butler says “Thing is, I had been in so many other situations where things had gotten crazy. A hand goes in a pocket and out comes a pistol or a blade. And all I could think about was making it home to you, Spoony, and your mother. It’s a hard job, a really hard job, and you can never understand that. You could never know what it’s like to kiss your family good-bye in the

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