“D’you ever wonder what it would be like if our positions were reversed?’ I ask. At Jack’s puzzled look I continue. ‘If we whites were in charge instead of you Crosses?’
‘Can’t say it’s ever crossed my mind,’ Jack shrugs.
‘I used to think about it a lot,’ I sigh. ‘Dreams of living in a world with no more discrimination, no more prejudice, a fair police force, an equal justice system, equality of education, equality of life, a level playing field…”
Good grief! Is that a thesis or a fairy tale?’ Jack asks drily.
Like I said, I used to think about it a lot.
I’m not sure I share your faith in a society ruled by noughts, Jack tells me thoughtfully. People are people. We’ll always find a way to mess up, no matter who’s in charge.
‘You think so?’
Jack shrugs.
‘You don’t believe that things get better? That they have to, one day, some day?’
‘When?’
‘It takes a long time.’
‘But they do?’ asks Jack.
‘They do.’
The phenomenal Noughts & Crosses (2001) by the British multi-award winning and former Children’s Laureate Marjorie Blackman (1962-). The book is the first of nine books in the series of the same name, which tells of a world where whites and blacks are defined as noughts and crosses, with whites seen as the discriminated class.
Alex Raphael 