Rachel’s Reviews > Devils Within > Status Update

-ime period we can only read about but I felt connected to Nate. This story was one of self discovery as much as it was one of injustice, and as a female in her 20s that is my entire life right now. A good read overall with good lessons to take from it!

"I choose to be shaped, polished by my past."
This is a word! As an individual that has made more than a handful of decisions she could have went her life without, I wouldn't change any of it. Whenever I think back to something and I cringe or get the urge to cry of embarrassment, I focus on the present. I redirect my mind, my energy. I'm grateful I no longer make certain choices & that's enough to keep me going.

"Another notch on my gruesome belt" is a great way to describe the pressure from the guilt Nate is feeling in his stomach.

Not everyone who claims to be an ally is one. There are racists, too cowardly to be bold about such, so they pretend. It's areal thing and it's scary. They have not loved us and they do not love us, this is something we as a people must know.

Nate is in distress and almost flabbergasted that The Fort managed to frame him once again. This part just reminds me of how easily and often African Americans deal with wrongful accusations/arrests. Throughout the story, I've noticed that the author places Nate in situations similar to this- enlightening him on the extent of injustice minorities face by making him to experience it.

"Racism is a hive of hibernating hornets."
It is, it always was and as time goes by, I begin to believe that it always will be. The hatred for people of color is rooted so deep in the blood of these people, you start to think that it would be a waste if they were to stop now. What a time to be alive.

& the damage has already multiplied. (289>) This part reminds me of that golden rule they drill into our heads pretty much every day until high school graduation. "Treat people how you want to be treated." B/c if not, you'll end up like Nate - in the same position as your victims. I think placing Nate in a position to be judged based only off of what people think they know about him, was needed & well done.

Nate becomes aware of his privilege and to me, this revelation is comforting yet tragic all at once. Comforting b/c as a minority, nothing is worse than a privileged individual that refuses to recognize themselves as such. It almost feels like they are begging to be in our position, like it is some game they were left out of. The tragedy weighs more. Realizing that his regret changes nothing-