The baddest dog in Harlem (Sophie)

1. Describe the environment in the short story with special focus on the relationship between the community and the police in Harlem. Use specific examples.

- The environment seems very close linked, where everybody knows everybody and where there are some usual habits. At the same time, the relationship between the community and the police seems very tense and untrustworthy. It’s not unusual that the police arrives, but everyone prays that it’s not them this time: “… I knew when the police come tearing like that they’re looking for somebody. I did just like everybody else leaning on the rail did, said a quick prayer and put on my innocent face” (p. 16-17, l. 30)

Although the police should be the people protecting the community, you feel a big lack of trust between the two parts: “The cop looked over at us and didn’t say nothing. I bet if he his way he would have us sitting out there in that police car”.

2. Comment on the language in the short story. How is it told and by whom? What characterizes the tone of voice and word usage of the narrator? Use specific examples.

- The story is told by one of the boys, who sits on the rail outside Big Joe’s place. The language is not very formal, but is written with a bit of slang. The narrator being from Harlem/from a ghetto characterizes the tone of voice, for example when he says “I don’t know anything and I don’t want to see no dead people” (p. 22, l. 1)

3. Select three quotes from the text that you believe are central to the story in terms of plot and/or themes. Explain the quotes – what do they mean? Is there any hidden meaning to them?

1. “I wanted them to say how bad they felt about it and what a shame it was the way life could slip away so easily in Harlem, in our community, on our street”

This shooting was not the first one in Harlem, and is definitely not going to be the last one. It is part of the everyday life and that’s the saddest part.

2. “That’s probably the baddest dog in Harlem”

The dog gets the blame, because it was definitely not the police fault. They’re trying to make an excuse for shooting the dog, and it shows how careless they are about the people in Harlem.

3. “He took my arm and looked into my face. I didn’t have to tell him there was more to it”

It seems like they both know this isn’t right. They both know that the community they live in is bad, and it shouldn’t be like this.