All American Boys

Uniforms play a significant role in All American Boys, from Rashad’s JROTC uniform to Paul’s police uniform to Spoony’s UPS uniform. At the beginning of the novel, we learn how much Rashad’s father respects American institutions like the Army and the police force yet disapproves of Spoony’s UPS job “as if only green and blue uniforms were okay, but brown ones meant failure” (9). However, the surface meaning of certain uniforms is soon upended in the novel. Rashad’s ROTC uniform, which should identify him as an upstanding citizen, doesn’t prevent him from being labeled a “thug” (23), while Paul’s police uniform, which should represent protection and safety, becomes a vehicle of senseless violence. Uniforms are a symbol used to reveal the deception of preset labels, and All American Boys suggests that in looking beyond uniforms to see the person underneath, people can take steps toward achieving true equality and mutual respect.

The motif of the ROTC recurs throughout the novel to highlight the theme that even those who represent American values, such as justice and freedom, need to be accountable for prejudicial actions. At the beginning of All American Boys, Rashad’s father places a huge value on the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps as a gateway to future success. However, Rashad’s status as an ROTC member fails to protect him from being the victim of a hate crime. Similarly, Rashad’s father, despite his upstanding military background, killed an unarmed black kid in the field of duty. Later in the novel, Quinn notices an uncomfortable parallel between Rashad and his own father, who was also in ROTC, and this is Quinn’s first step toward seeing Rashad as an individual, rather than evaluating him based on his race. Rashad’s rejection of the ROTC creed indicates that in a racist and divided America, the tenets may need to be viewed and evaluated in a new light. In the hospital, Rashad reads: “I am the future of the United States of America. I do not lie, cheat, or steal and will always be accountable for my actions and deeds” (227). This sentiment bothers Rashad, as he questions if people like Officer Galluzzo are considered as upholding America values. 

Carlos first creates “RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY” as a graffiti tag, and it’s copied throughout Springfield and gains even broader currency as a social media hashtag. This slogan is a symbol of how youth can take back power, spread awareness of their message, and garner support using Digital Age activism. The hashtag underscores the fact that Rashad has been ripped from the normal life he deserves through no fault of his own. It becomes an important part of the protest movement against Rashad’s beating and police brutality in general. The novel ends with a subversion of this hashtag, as Rashad’s final statement reads: “Rashad Butler. Present” (310).