Dear Martin

Justyce is on the number 87 bus. He is there because of the article about Mr. Julian’s job and because Mr. Julian told him that he'd been given an ultimatum to either cut ties with Justice for JAM or resign. He is also there because he recently found out that Manny's parents decided to move away. Justyce is on his way to his old neighborhood because he can't shake Quan's words, and he hasn't known who to talk to. SJ isn't the right person for these feelings and he's tired of Doc always feeding him the "stay good even though the world craps on you advice" (157). Justyce wants to talk to someone who gets what he's going through, and Quan said that Martel would.

Justyce recognizes the irony in visiting a place and group of people he's always tried to escape. As Justyce approaches the house, he feels physically anxious and considers leaving. Instead, the three teenagers on the porch announce his presence to Martel, and Martel calls him inside. Justyce sees the myriad artifacts of African culture on the walls and Martel, complete with ankle-monitor, sitting on a chair in his dashiki. Martel explains that African-Americans come from great people but have been subjugated to the idea of white superiority for a long time.