If You Come Softly

The locations of Manhattan and Brooklyn feature heavily in this book as symbols of contrast for the two main characters and their very different worlds. Fort Greene, Brooklyn is not only the backdrop to Jeremiah’s life, but it represents his community and a space of Blackness where he feels protected and good in his own skin. This is where Jeremiah went to school and feels comfortable, but once he begins his new year at Percy Academy, he must leave this comfort zone and interact with the world beyond Brooklyn. Ellie, who has ventured to Brooklyn only as a child, has preconceived notions of what the borough might be like. When she finally takes the train to Fort Greene with Jeremiah, she is surprised by its beauty and ultimately gains a whole new insight into Jeremiah’s life and world.

Manhattan, on the other hand, represents Ellie and the white, sheltered world she grew up in. Living on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, Ellie is surrounded by people who look and think like her and her family. Their whiteness, wealth, and privilege define this space and are especially present at Percy Academy. When Jeremiah leaves Brooklyn Tech to attend Percy, he is confronted with the challenges and dangers of being Black in this world.