The Occidental Book of the Dead
George Washington Carver Technical High School was dedicated in 1943, the year its namesake died. Several administrative offices and a few class-rooms had since been renovated.
The scene is set at George Washington Carver Technical High School, dedicated in 1943, the year its namesake died. The protagonist, Anthony, is a student in a renovated classroom during his last period of the day. He observes a statue of George Washington Carver, an African American scientist and educator, standing in the schoolyard. The statue depicts Carver holding a book to his chest with his left hand and extending his right hand outward, symbolizing a call to seek knowledge. Anthony uses the statue’s shadow as a sundial; in the fall, the school day ends just before the shadow reaches the base of the flagpole. The school is located in an urban area, as suggested by the presence of Korean corner stores and package stores nearby. Anthony is described as a quiet student who keeps to himself and avoids dealing drugs near the school, with the exception of an individual referred to as Uncle Frank.
Anthony spends the day in a fugue, a state of mental confusion or detachment, as he waits for something he cannot control. He is deeply troubled by a recent theft, suspecting that his mother may have stolen from him or is using drugs again. He struggles to accept this possibility, as he cannot understand why he was targeted or how it happened. His emotional turmoil is compounded by the pressure of his final year in high school, which he describes as senior-year pressure. Anthony feels isolated at school, where he is teased by classmates, including one named 2-Cent and another referred to as Pepper, who is not officially his protector. His homeroom teacher, Mr. Travers, notices his distress and asks him to stay behind after class.
Mr. Travers is Anthony’s homeroom teacher and one of the few white teachers at Carver High School. Due to his race, some students jokingly refer to him as Anthony’s daddy. Mr. Travers has a distinctive appearance, with bushy brown hair resembling Einstein’s and bushy eyebrows. He wears corny ties, even in humid conditions, and his clothes show signs of wear, such as yellowed armpits and scuffed sneakers. Despite his unassuming appearance, Mr. Travers plays a significant role in Anthony’s life by offering guidance and support. He has a habit of making the same joke about atomic weight while rehanging a warped periodic chart. Mr. Travers believes in Anthony’s potential and has promised him a scholarship slot for an SAT II preparation course if he attends all classes.
Mr. Travers gives Anthony an envelope containing a registration form for an SAT II preparation course, which is Anthony’s one-way ticket out of town. The course meets at Riverview High School for three days, from 6 to 8 p.m., starting that evening. If Anthony completes the course, he will earn a scholarship slot, which Mr. Travers emphasizes is a path to escaping their current circumstances. The SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) is a standardized test widely used for college admissions in the United States. The SAT II is a subject-specific test, often required for admission to competitive programs. Riverview High is described as a more affluent school located in Dawnswood, a suburb three buses away from Anthony’s neighborhood. The school has modern facilities, including computer stations for each student, and a welcoming atmosphere with greeters and organized study groups.
Anthony travels to Riverview High by bus, taking three different routes: the #5, #142, and #12. The journey takes him from urban areas with Korean corner stores and package stores to more suburban neighborhoods with wine shops and larger houses. Riverview High is described as a low, sparkling building tucked into a shallow valley, surrounded by evergreens and azaleas. The school’s mascot is Max E. Muss, a centaur depicted in a red-and-white tile mosaic in the lobby. Upon arrival, Anthony is greeted by smiling greeters and directed to his classroom. He notices that only three black students are present in the SAT preparation course, highlighting the racial disparity between Carver High and Riverview High. Anthony feels out of place but is determined to succeed.
In the SAT preparation course, Anthony sits at a computer station in the back of the classroom to avoid Lawrence Berg, a classmate he does not want to interact with. Leon Williams, another black student, sits near the front and gestures for Anthony to sit beside him, but Anthony chooses to remain distant. Leon is described as someone who acts white by sitting in the front row and carrying paper clips and a mini-stapler, behaviors that some students at Carver High disapprove of. The instructor calls roll, and Anthony’s name draws snickers from other students, likely due to its association with the film Scarface. The instructor asks if Anthony prefers to be called Tony or T, to which Anthony responds that Anthony is fine. The class is divided into study groups based on their scores on a diagnostic test, which Anthony completes in just fifty minutes, making him the first to finish.
Anthony’s primary motivation for attending the SAT preparation course is the opportunity to earn a scholarship and escape his current circumstances. Mr. Travers emphasizes that education is the only hope for Anthony and his mother, as their income level qualifies them for government-funded financial aid if Anthony attends college. Mr. Travers also frames education as *the best revenge* against systemic challenges, a sentiment he expresses by saying, *The best revenge is an education on Uncle Sam’s dime*. Anthony is conflicted about his future, as he does not want to disappoint Mr. Travers but is eager to leave high school behind. He feels pressure to perform well on the SAT, which he sees as a path to a better life, but he also resents the lack of resources at his current school compared to Riverview High.
