Race and GIRL&BOY; Let’s clear this up…

I originally added this as a caption in response to someone questioning the decisions behind naming a black character Boy. I’m no good at Tumblr and I messed up something in my dashboard and that’s not showing up, so I’m just reposting my response here instead…

The reason it’s Girl&Boy and not for instance Woman&Man (or Man&Man or Woman&Woman) is entirely down to the comic dealing with maturity, in this case of an emotional not a physical kind. The implication being that maybe this pair still have some growing up to do.

I’m aware that in the US the term ‘boy’ had other more insulting uses during the time of slavery… but I’m not making those parallels. As the book is set in contemporary England and is about contemporary English characters I would assume my readers would realise the context I’m using the word in here is very, very far removed from any negative, slave-trade associations and they would not make those parallels either.

I am simply using the word the English speaking world most usually given to a man before he reaches maturity.

It’s also shorthand for Girlfriend & Boyfriend because, while more accurate, that wouldn’t fit as well on a red Supreme/Obey/Barbara Kruger box logo.

Also..

<spoilers>

He’s not the only Boy in the book.