Nineteen Minutes

A journal entry opens the section and precedes the chapter. The entry addresses how people pretend that tragedy cannot happen to them, especially in cases where people do not live in an inner city. Sterling was one such place where no one thought bad things might happen, yet they did. The writer says that people like to believe and pretend because it makes them feel safe.

The chapter opens with Diana and Jordan picking jurors for Peter’s trial. The narrative talks about what each attorney wants in a potential juror, how jurors are supposed to remain unbiased even though everyone now knows about the Sterling High shooting. Jordan, ultimately, wants someone who is open-minded in the sense that they can realize that “rules weren’t always what you thought they were” (337).

Alex and Patrick have been seeing each other for four months now. Alex still has mixed feelings about their relationship. For starters, she isn’t sure what to call it. She also doesn’t want to think it’s something more than what it is. Alex has promised to be there for Josie, and she tells herself that, despite being happy with Patrick, Josie comes first.