We talked a lot about whether ignorance and and innocence are connected and seems to me that Coats sees them as one when it comes to his son and other black boys. Once they realize they are without the privilege to ignore their situation, (social, education, economic and otherwise) they lose their innocence, their view of the world shifts.

At first, I thought that the connection of spirt and body were just poetic. Now I see that the connection to sprit and body are a way of channeling understanding for himself.

In textbooks they tell kids that slavery is in the past, they never talk about the implications that still prevail today. They don't talk about racism, privilege or the social implications of race. They don't talk about how black men and women are still in prisons, still part of the financial system of oppression, working for less than a dollar an hour.

To forget is to accept conditions that were not chosen, that are undeserved, that are now a responsibility that goes beyond what I can understand.

The effects of condition aren't diminished over time, it isn't an issue of evolution. It is an issue of ignorance, of not realizing the impact of the past and the way privilege pushes away grow and holds down those most effected.

Taking circumstance and contorting it in a favorable way to create new perspective.

This reminds me of a study that was done, I can't remember the name of it. They took women (ex gang members) and put them in treatment, most went back to the gangs and all the rest who didn't ended up pregnant. Having a child gave them a sense of belonging, a reason to survive despite condition.

Allowing other humans to live in conditions that bring them down and hold them back should never be a passive part of the human experience. (A need for community consciousness.)

"The truth is I owe you everything I have." realizing that your child is deserving of all you can give is the ultimate sign of maturity. They are not an extension of you, but rather your greatest responsibility.

The worst kind of mysoginsioc, systematic racism.

Anyone, woman or man that abandons a child after putting them into this world is more than a coward. I think it is no loss to the child and they will eventually realize this as they age, because anyone who couldn't take the time to get to know them-- didn't deserve to be in their life.

Is this a race thing?

Typical cool uncle. He rides a bike, he is relatable and always makes Junior feel cooler by association.

This old fashioned way of thinking is very primal and I understand where his Grandmother is coming from. She views every group as a tribe of their own, Indian or not, there is always a leader for every pack.

The power behind Rowdy also seems to represent the support of the tribe and the sense of safety Junior felt before leaving the rez.