By: Aaron Kaplan

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The BIG Idea Fairness By: Aaron Kaplan

In literature almost everyone can relate to fairness. Fairness is a theme that occurs in the daily life of all people. In the story Watsons Go to Birmingham fairness is displayed many times in the story by the characters. Fairness is also displayed in the use of metaphors that Christopher Paul Curtis puts in his story.

The big idea of fairness and skin color is expressed in the bombing of the church. This is the big idea because the church was bombed. The reason was everyone that went to the church was black. The evidence is in the book on page 200 were Kenny asked Byron, “Why did they blow up the church? Was it because we were black? Why Byron? Why?”

Fairness is not only shown in skin color but also in people’s disabilities, like when Kenny was teased because he had a lazy eye. There is nothing Kenny can do about his lazy eye as he was born with this condition. This is not very nice at all because it is just like going up to some random kid and teasing him without knowing what he is like on the inside. In the book Watsons Go to Birmingham there are lots of metaphors that make the book fun to read. One example is Hambone Henderson. This is a metaphor because his head is not actually a hambone they just call him that because his head is bumpy and odd shaped. This metaphor has to do with fairness in disabilities because the people who call Hambone Henderson don’t value what he is like on the inside. He can’t do anything about what his head looks like. This kind of name- calling can be rude and mean.

Another metaphor is how the Watson’s call their car “the brown bomber.” Their car is not actually a brown bomber, but this nickname was given to honor the great boxer Joe Louis who was originally given this title to describe his fierce punching skills.

Fairness issues are present throughout WGTB. It is a very interesting book for readers who want to laugh and learn a bit about a very sad event in the civil rights movement. People who like stories that are both funny and serious would definitely enjoy WGTB.