Promise Boys

Through the lives of three students at Promise Prep, Promise Boys explores the interplay between power and truth. For much of the novel, the men in power at Promise control the narrative, thereby controlling the truth and holding power over the students. However, after finally coming together to investigate the murder, the students finally gain control of their education and their lives by revealing the truth.

Through its unique narrative structure, the novel explores how the arrest of the boys influences public opinion and thus controls the narrative of the events. The interludes in the first three parts of the text provide the reader with insight into how the classmates and friends of the boys feel about their arrest. Repeatedly, the children express their lack of surprise at the arrests, insisting that they could conceive of one of them murdering Moore. For example, Rachel explains that she believes Ramón is guilty because of his cousin’s connection to the Dioses, stating, “I think Ramón did this in retaliation [for César’s arrest]. To a man that was trying to save him from himself. Like I said, with them, murder ain’t an issue” (108). Another student, Brandon, who is friends with Trey, notes, “I know a side of Trey that nobody else gets to see, and I owe it to him to give him the benefit of the doubt. But then, I think about how bugged out he was that morning. It’s not looking good for him” (73). These interviews, and many more like them throughout the first three parts, emphasize the impact of racist media narratives on the school’s opinion of the boys: Because they were taken in for questioning, the prevailing narrative becomes that they must be guilty. As Coach Robinson explains, “[E]ven if he’s innocent, I think this’ll ruin him. I think it’ll traumatize him, and I think that’s the flaw of the system. Once it touches you, you tainted forever, guilty or not” (78). In this way, Brooks conveys the importance of who is in control of the narrative surrounding the murder. The boys are Black, Brown, and impoverished, so it only makes sense in the eyes of the public that arrest equals guilt—even with very little evidence to support it.

Conversely, the narratives surrounding men like Principal Moore, Dean Hicks, and Stanley Ennis are ones of heroism and altruism, putting them in positions of power. Because of the perceived success of the Moore Method, Moore and Hicks are praised for their work at Promise. As Magdalena explains, “Principals like Moore can quickly become rock stars, and it’s almost like one of those evangelical preachers that gets famous speaking the word and then goes on tour saving souls under a spotlight” (251). As a result, the public fails to understand—or willfully ignores—the abusive, militaristic atmosphere of Promise and, more importantly, the impact that it has on the students there. Similarly, Magdalena notes that “[t]his is all their kingdom, people like Stanley Ennis—pay to build a gym at a school, then bring boys to play in it. Toy soldiers, chess pieces, moved around a board while they rake in state funding” (252). These metaphors, which compare the children at Promise to chess pieces and toy soldiers, convey the value of the students to donors like Ennis: They are only valuable in showing off their test results for further funding and fame. Moore, Hicks, and Ennis serve as symbols of power and corruption in the novel. They maintain power by controlling the narrative and hiding the truth from the public, instead presenting a façade where Promise is happy, productive, and successful.

Central to the story of the three boys is their struggle to control the narrative and discover the truth. As everything in their lives works against them, including the community, the school, the police, and, at times, even their own families, they are forced to take solving the murder into their own hands. The boys fight the narrative that has been constructed against them by powerful people, only gaining exoneration after the video undeniably shows the truth of the murder. As Keyana notes, “They’re all innocent. One by one, the Promise boys stand up. They say nothing. But one after another, row after row, the other students stand, until every single uniform in the gym is standing, straight-backed, in defiance” (288). These final lines convey the taking back of power by the boys of Promise Prep, as they finally show the community their value and stand against the wrongdoings of the school and those in power.