How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #4
I rewound the tape, mimed, and danced to "OPP" barefoot in the sand. I didn't enjoy it, and for the first time I found myself thinking about the words of the song, closely listening to the subtle instruments in the beat. I had never done such a thing before, because I knew the words by heart and felt the beat. I didn't feel it this time. As I hopped up and down, hunched and raising my arms and feet to the music, I thought about being thrown in the ocean, about how difficult it would be to know that death was inevitable. (9.50)
This is actually the second time Ishmael avoids being killed by sharing the magic of hip hop. Of course, though he usually loves dancing and rapping, it's sort of tough to enjoy your favorite music when you're being threatened with death.
Quote #5
I remembered nights I had spent sitting with my grandmother by the fire. "You are growing up so fast. It feels like yesterday when I was at your name-giving ceremony." She would look at me, her shiny face glowing, before she told me the story of my name-giving ceremony. Growing up, I had been to several of these ceremonies, but Grandmother always told me about mine. (10.25)
Stories play a huge role in Ishmael's life. He grew up listening to stories like this one in addition to all kinds of other folktales. For Ishmael, stories are a way to share a piece of yourself and to capture the past—good or bad. It's no wonder he's grows up to be a storyteller himself. We bet you remember the childhood stories you heard, too.
Quote #6
I took off my old pants, which contained the rap cassettes. As I was putting on my new army shorts, a soldier took my old pants and threw them into a blazing fire that had been set to burn our old belongings. I ran toward the fire, but the cassettes had already started to melt. Tears formed in my eyes, and my lips shook as I turned away. (12.36)
The symbolism here is pretty obvious—gone are the beautiful days of music to enrich Ishmael's life, replaced by war.