Bud, Not Buddy Race Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

And I'ma tell you, I've seen some things out of place before, and a young brown-skinned boy walking along the road just outside of Owosso, Michigan, at two thirty in the morning is definitely not where he ought to be. (10.18)

Now, this is scary. Sometimes, your race can get you into trouble with bad people. Sometimes, it might be best to be careful about where you go based on your race and what time of day it is. What does this say about Owosso, Michigan? What kind of people would hurt a little boy just because of the color of his skin?

Quote #5

"…Bud-not-Buddy, you don't know how lucky you are I came through here, some of these Owosso folks used to have a sign hanging along here that said, and I'm going to clean up the language for you, it said, 'To Our Negro Friends Who Are Passing Through, Kindly Don't Let The Sun Set On Your Rear End In Owosso!'" (10.77)

Sounds like the people in Owosso are a real nice bunch, huh? How do you think Bud and the other African American characters in the book feel about this?

Quote #6

"Look at this noggin, I rest my case. Boy looks like one of George Washington Carver's experiments sprouted legs and run off. You sure you're not from Tuskegee, Alabama, Bud?" (11.101)

George Washington Carver was a famous scientist who discovered many uses for peanuts, including peanut butter, for which we are all very grateful. So Lefty's making a joke about how Bud looks like a peanut with legs.