The Cost of Knowing

“Talia is looking at me like she wants to kill me. Like I’ve done something unforgivable. Like it’s over. I don’t recognize her. She’s never looked at me like this. Even as I watch her in this vision, glaring at me like she’s trying to drill straight through my head with her eyes, I know she’s actually standing in Scoop’s ice cream shop right now, holding my hand, but I don’t know if she’ll hold my hand like this tomorrow.”

Alex’s vision of Talia glaring at him hatefully while wearing a black sundress has a strongly negative impact on their relationship. Afraid to touch her and see more of this unwanted future, he withdraws from her. Alex’s dread of their breakup ultimately creates the strained distance in their relationship that he wants to avoid. This is one example of how Alex’s powers act as a curse that keep him in a state of near-constant anxiety and isolation.

“Before I can will the vision to stop, I see the inscription on the side. I see the name before I can backpedal out of this nightmare. ISAIAH RUFUS, DEARLY BELOVED.”

Alex’s vision of his younger brother’s burial sets the plot into motion and advances the novel’s major themes. The vision also develops the theme of Fate Versus Free Will. Alex knows that he cannot change what he sees, but he can exercise his agency and change his behavior based on his knowledge.

“I hid. I ignored Shaun’s texts. I left him wondering what he’d done or said to lose his best friend in the last few days of his life, and a couple of days later, when I woke up from my nap to the sound of rain tapping against my window, I sobbed into my pillow, knowing it was happening.”

This passage shows water as a motif of Fate Versus Free Will. It was raining when Shaun died, and Alex chose to hide rather than be with his friend. Shaun’s death grants key insights into Alex’s character. The guilt that Alex feels for running away from Shaun after having a vision of his best friend’s death still weighs heavily on him three years later. This guilt manifests in the money he sends to Shaun’s mother, his reluctance to get close to anyone, and his dread of Talia learning about his powers. Alex’s foresight of Isaiah’s death forces him to confront his grief and guilt and gives him a chance to make amends.

“At ‘crows, bruh,’ I hear my voice double. Isaiah raps with me through the next lines, and that lift in my chest from earlier, that feeling like I could run ten miles, multiplies by fifty.”

Music serves as a motif for the theme of The Importance of Brotherhood. Bonding over Shiv Skeptic’s songs marks a turning point in Alex and Isaiah’s relationship as they begin to grow close after years of emotional distance. Additionally, the inclusion of Shiv Skeptic in this scene offers foreshadowing because the rapper plays a vital role in the novel’s climax.

“‘What do you worry about?’ Talia hating me. Scoop’s going under. Aunt Mackie’s new door. Mrs. Zaccari’s lawn. ‘Everything,’ I say. ‘All the time. That’s what anxiety is, Isaiah. It never stops.’”

Alex’s conversation with Isaiah helps the reader see how similar the Alex’s visions and anxiety are. Both instill a fear of the future that “never stops” and lead to significant pain. This exchange also develops the theme of The Importance of Brotherhood because the Alex opens up to his little brother about his emotions and experiences, allowing them to get to know one another. This paves the way for greater honesty and vulnerability between the brothers later.

“‘The world really does scream at me, Isaiah,’ I say. I take a deep breath and say what it’s taken me four years to say out loud. ‘I can see the future.’ It sounds weird hearing it. He looks up at me for a long time, and I sigh and eventually look at him. ‘Wait, you what?!’ he practically screams.”

In a major plot development, Alex tells Isaiah that he has psychic powers. This is the first time that either of them have told anyone about their visions. This milestone develops the themes of The Importance of Brotherhood and Fate Versus Free Will. Now that they know they are locked in the same battle, Alex and Isaiah realize that they don’t have to fight alone anymore and resolve to free themselves of the curse together.

“‘You boys may not understand what a serious responsibility it is to keep the neighborhood safe, but one day you’re going to grow up and be thankful that your aunt and I have worked so hard to provide a safe, happy place for you to live.’ ‘We’re thankful,’ I say. Perfect time for me to defuse this.”

Mrs. Zaccari demonstrates her ignorance and patronizing behavior by making bigoted claims about Shiv Skeptic’s listeners and by telling the boys they should have gratitude for what she’s provided for them. Although Alex strongly disagrees with her, he does what he feels is expected of him and defuses the situation instead of sharing his honest opinions because he knows this white adult is too fragile for an honest conversation about her racism. This is just one example of the racism and pressures that Alex contends with on a daily basis as a young Black man.

“The orisha asked how he wanted to live. He thought about the battlefield, about his fear of death, and how it made him ashamed. He felt like a coward. He answered the orisha, ‘To live without fear,’ and then he just had to get greedy. He asked to be able to ‘see what cannot be seen’ and ‘know the unknowable.’”

The revelation that psychic powers have been passed down through their family for generations develops the theme of Fate Versus Free Will. The boys’ destinies are intertwined with their broader family legacy, and it’s up to them to break the curse that has clung to their family for hundreds of years.

“‘It’s some bullshit,’ I say. I would’ve been cool with the first part of Takaa’s wish. The to live without fear part. ‘We shouldn’t have to live with what happened to Takaa. We didn’t even know him. We didn’t ask for what he wanted. Why do we have to live with this?’ ‘Because the world remembers what he asked for. What happened to our ancestors is still punishing us, too. In more ways than one.’”

When Alex points out the unfairness of their situation, Isaiah reminds him that They’re still living their family’s curse generations later. This refers not only to the curse on King Takaa’s family and its deleterious impact on the boys’ mental health but also to the lingering impact of the slave trade through the persistence of systemic injustice and racism. Isaiah’s dialogue in this scene is an example of how Brittney Morris uses magical realism: The supernatural elements highlight and explore real-world issues facing Black youth instead of offering magical cures or distractions from these problems.

“A man’s not a man without his paycheck. But a man who doesn’t protect his family is no man either, I think. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say, to Scoop and to my father, my voice so unsteady it comes out as a whisper. If staying here means letting Isaiah die alone, if it means letting go of whatever idea my dad had about staying employed, if keeping this job comes at the expense of being there for my brother, then fuck it.”

Alex’s choice to leave the ice cream shop after his boss threatens to fire him develops the theme of The Pressure to Grow Up Too Soon. Money serves as a motif for this theme because the pressure to be a provider weighs heavily on Alex’s mind and informs his understanding of what it means to be a man. Alex sifts through what he’s been taught to find what he personally believes, and he makes protecting his brother his highest priority.

“When you lose both your parents at twelve, your best friend at thirteen, and your little brother at sixteen, you don’t get to be sixteen. Not if you’re a man-in-training. Not if you’re the oldest. Not if you have an example to set. Not if you’re constantly fighting for a future. ‘Talia, I don’t get to be sixteen,’ I hiss. I’m angry now. Rage is racing through my veins like a drug. ‘You think any of these people see a kid when they see me?’ I gesture to the dwindling crowd gathered around the body bag in the distance. ‘You think any of these people see a kid when they see me or Isaiah run out of our front door? Either of us could’ve been the one in that body bag today. I don’t get to be sixteen, because people judge me like a twenty-year-old! I’ve got a job, I’ve got a car, I do okay in school, and when I come home, that shit is still staring me in the face. Don’t tell me to be sixteen, Talia. Don’t you dare.’”

Alex’s fight with Talia after she shows him the concert tickets develops the theme of The Pressure to Grow Up Too Soon. Alex is forced to mature too quickly because of a combination of personal losses and broader issues, like racism. Alex’s statement that either he or Isaiah could be “the one in that body bag” is a sobering reminder of Isaiah’s imminent death.

“‘You boys,’ she continues, ‘give my life meaning. And you keep me laughing. You constantly impress me. And you, Alex, have been a stellar example to Isaiah of what it means to be a man. Even when it’s scary.’”

This excerpt offers insight into Aunt Mackie’s character. Alex’s usually strong and stern guardian opens up and reveals how proud she is of him. This conversation occurs because an unarmed Black boy Alex’s age was just killed in their neighborhood, reminding Aunt Mackie of the dangers facing her nephew.

“‘I want to go out and do things, and hang out with people and…not be scared when I leave my room.’ ‘This is perfect then, right?’ I exclaim. ‘You’re facing your fears by going to this concert, and I’m facing my fears by…’ By being around Isaiah until it happens. ‘…quitting my job to hang with you all day. Including this concert.’”

Alex and Isaiah’s decision to attend the Shiv Skeptic concert develops the themes of The Importance of Brotherhood and Fate Versus Free Will. They bond over their favorite artist’s music, and this exciting experience represents an opportunity to connect. Moreover, the concert represents a chance to break the curse by facing their fears and taking their fates into their own hands.

“You knew, and you didn’t even tell me. I could’ve stopped him from getting into that car that day! We could’ve tried to stop it! Shaun may have been your friend, but he was my brother!”

In an important plot development, Alex’s vision of Talia in the black sundress comes true at the concert. Her anger and grief remind Alex that he is not the only one to suffer because of Shaun’s death. even if Alex’s feelings on the subject are the novel’s focus. This scene creates suspense because Alex hasn’t received any visions to indicate that he and Talia will get back together.

“‘It’s okay,’ I whisper up to him. There are tears welling in my eyes as I step forward. ‘It’s okay to be scared, Isaiah.’ ‘I…can’t do it by myself.’ ‘You’re not by yourself,’ I say, knowing it’s about to happen. ‘I’m here. I’m right here.’ I close my eyes and think of Shaun. ‘I’m right here, okay? I promise. I’m not going anywhere.’”

After Eli Zaccari’s warning, Alex decides to stay at the concert. Isaiah faces his fears by going onstage, and Alex confronts his greatest fear by staying, even though he’s certain these are his brother’s final moments. By making this choice, Alex breaks the curse and makes up for abandoning Shaun. This moment is an important development for the themes of The Importance of Brotherhood and Fate Versus Free Will.

“Isaiah’s eyes flicker as he looks out at all the eyes staring back at him, and he takes the mic in his hand and says with newfound fire in him, ‘Whaddup, y’all. Izzy Red is in the house! The Red Dragon! Haaaaa!’ His haaaaa comes out like a baby lion cub on stage with three kings of the jungle and a mighty queen.”

Music has been a motif for The Importance of Brotherhood throughout the novel, and it plays a vital role in the climax. Alex and Isaiah bonded over Shiv Skeptic’s music in Chapter 3, and now Isaiah is onstage with his hero living out his dream of being a rapper. Alex gives his little brother this beautiful moment of pure joy by finding the courage to face his greatest fear.

“‘We did it, man,’ I say. ‘Yeah,’ he whispers, and then, after a long, deep breath, he says, ‘I love you, Alex.’ I kiss the top of his head and squeeze him tighter, that feeling like I could fly seeping back into me. I don’t want to let him go. ‘I love you too, Isaiah,’ I whisper. Joy in the face of oppression is its own kind of bravery.”

The brothers embrace after breaking the curse and escaping the shooting at the concert. Despite the dangers and adversity that they’ve faced, they hold onto the love and joy they share. This fulfills Aunt Mackie’s words to Alex in Chapter 9 that “Joy in the face of oppression is its own kind of bravery.”

“‘Isaiah, run!’ I holler. In a split second, everything changes. He hears me. He looks for me. His red hood is still pulled over his head. The truck screeches.”

Morris uses short, choppy sentences to show how time slows down in the moment before Isaiah’s death. She mentions that Isaiah’s “hood is still pulled over his head” because this detail is a major factor in his death: Mr. Zaccari doesn’t recognize the child as his neighbor, and, in his mind, that’s sufficient proof that this unknown Black person is a dangerous criminal and that he’s justified in taking their life.

“‘I’ll tell you the truth,’ I say, squeezing her wrists and raising her hands to my mouth to kiss her fingers. ‘I’ll be honest with you from now on, about how I’m feeling, about what’s going through my head, about…everything. Okay? You have my word. And…if you ever catch me slipping…please…tell me. I can’t do this anymore, Talia. I can’t live all bottled up, keeping everything to myself. I’ve been through so much.’”

Alex and Talia reconcile after Isaiah’s death, bringing significant character development for Alex: He’s no longer afraid to touch Talia because his visions are gone, and he’s able to face his fears with honesty. That he chooses honesty and connection with Talia shows that he is going to survive and create a better future for himself despite what he’s gone through.

“‘That’s the curse of knowledge,’ she says. ‘You can’t make her understand, baby.’”

In the hospital, Aunt Mackie and Alex discuss Mrs. Zaccari and other racist white people who make assumptions that cost Black people their lives. The “curse of knowledge” calls to mind the novel’s title, The Cost of Knowing. Although Aunt Mackie doesn’t know her nephews had psychic abilities, her words are applicable to their visions as well. This reiterates that the magical realism elements are a metaphor for the experience of young Black men.

“I won’t be quiet until people like you leave us alone. Brian may have pulled the trigger, Brian may have been behind the wheel. But he needed a scout. Someone to tip him off that something was amiss. Something was cause for alarm. And what was it that got my brother killed? What could’ve possibly scared you into sending your husband to investigate? A kid. A kid. Running past your house through his own neighborhood in the rain, in a hoodie, minding his own business. Just trying to get home. Just trying to get somewhere safe. Somewhere you tried to convince us you were making even safer.”

Demonstrating tremendous courage, Alex decides that he is done coddling Mrs. Zaccari’s white fragility. He lays out the consequences of her racism and her hand in his brother’s death at Isaiah’s burial. This departs from his earlier actions appeasing Mrs. Zaccari, and it reveals that his experiences over the past few days have worked a lasting change in his confidence and convictions.

“My dad’s words come back…A man’s not a man without his paycheck. And what I thought when I left Scoop’s…But a man who doesn’t protect his family is no man either. And my add-on…But one man can’t protect everyone. And a wave of peace comes over me as I bring it full circle. And a boy shouldn’t have to try.”

As Alex confronts Mrs. Zaccari, he achieves clarity and brings his thoughts about growing up to realization, building upon his father’s advice. He realizes that he’s still a boy and that he shouldn’t have to be a man despite what the world demands of him. This resolves the inner conflict he’s wrestled with the entire novel, allowing him to feel calm and bring the theme of The Pressure to Grow Up Too Soon to its full development.

“I’m suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude—for who I am. For who my father was. For who his father was. For having known Isaiah as long as I did. Here I am, in the middle of Elginwood Park Cemetery, where my entire immediate family will lie buried forever, in the arms of Takaa himself.”

Although Alex has endured great loss, he finds peace at the end of the novel. He has broken the curse, and he knows that his ancestors are with him, not only during the mystical reunion that gives the chapter its title, but always.