Invisible Son: Chapter 37–Epilogue

by Kim Johnson
After serving two months in a youth correctional facility for a robbery he didn't commit, high school senior Andre Jackson returns to his Portland, Oregon neighborhood to find that his freedom is further restricted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are links to our lists for the novel: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–13, Chapters 14–23, Chapters 24–36, Chapter 37–Epilogue
35 words 5 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. corroborate
    support with evidence or authority or make more certain
    But the truth is, I’d need Brian to corroborate my story.
  2. concede
    admit or acknowledge, often reluctantly
    I shake my head. “He told Jim to watch me closely.”
    Kate chews on her lip, conceding.
  3. vilify
    spread negative information about
    There is no line someone won’t cross for power. This is the same playbook the government did with Malcolm X. Martin. Fred Hampton. The Black Panther Party. All the progress around people supporting Black Lives Matter. Whoever was in power or against progress found a way to end things. Whether by assassination of leaders or vilifying them.
  4. credible
    appearing to merit belief or acceptance
    I’m not credible with the police. The news didn’t listen.
  5. flank
    be located at the sides of something or somebody
    As I get closer I catch why she’s stopped. She’s flanked by Kate and Luis.
  6. infiltrate
    enter a group or organization in order to spy on the members
    As I approach her, a white guy pumps his fist in the air. He’s got a ribbon tied around his backpack, yellow and black. Just like Jim said. He’s infiltrating the crowd to start up a riot.
  7. undermine
    weaken or impair, especially gradually
    They’re gonna start a riot and who knows what’ll happen. People could be hurt. Arrested. And it just makes it seem like we need more police involvement. It undermines what everyone’s fighting for.
  8. deploy
    place troops or weapons in battle formation
    There’s no way they would deploy federal officers downtown, not out here.
  9. repercussion
    a remote or indirect consequence of some action
    Did you see anything happen to those white men in Michigan out on the state capitol with guns and no repercussions? Let a protester say BLM and they’re met with gas, batons, and beatdowns.
  10. bristle
    react in an offended or angry manner
    Speaking about the inner workings of her home only causes her to bristle.
  11. rile
    disturb, especially by minor irritations
    The same guy floats through the crowd, talking to people, raising his fist up. Working to get them riled.
  12. smoldering
    showing scarcely suppressed anger
    The agitators spread disruption that for now is just smoldering.
  13. reverberate
    have a long or continuing effect
    So even if the protests stop tomorrow, I can’t deny the impact already made. It reverberates through my body as the chants reach the sky.
  14. flush
    force to come into the open, as from a place of concealment
    Take photos and get them to the organizers so they can spread the word. Maybe we can flush them out, scare them from being outed.
  15. corrupt
    dishonest or immoral or evasive
    Let them know you worked against me, even had a corrupt probation officer in your pocket.
  16. cunning
    marked by skill in deception
    I let out a cunning smile so Mr. Whitaker knows I got him. He just hasn’t figured out how—that is, until I see Mrs. Whitaker run behind Mr. Whitaker.
  17. ricochet
    spring back; spring away from an impact
    Sierra finally calms enough to speak, but the crowd surges with a new energy. Their chants feel like they’re ricocheting across the city.
  18. intoxicating
    extremely exciting
    The crowd rushes with an energy that’s intoxicating.
  19. allegation
    statement affirming matters that you are prepared to prove
    March organizers pull Sierra aside to talk with her. Then they speak with the media, answering questions about the allegations that there have been infiltrators.
  20. emphatically
    in a forceful manner; with emphasis
    Sierra shakes her head emphatically.
  21. flounder
    have difficulties; behave awkwardly
    I can see that her fear is taking over. As she freezes I flounder on how to help her.
  22. brunt
    the main part, especially of a force or shock
    When the mouth of the bridge opens up, we run at the throwing of tear gas, batons shoving people in different directions. Sierra screams and I tug her closer so I take the brunt of bumping into the people.
  23. douse
    wet thoroughly
    It’s like the earth is on our side, because while the tear gas spreads, the rain pours down harder, dousing the gas so it’s ineffective.
  24. flustered
    thrown into a state of agitated confusion
    Jim gets flustered, cursing, but I can tell his heart isn’t in it. He’s scared.
  25. altercation
    a noisy, angry argument or fight between people
    “Okay, then explain what role you had in the altercations downtown.”
  26. concur
    be in agreement
    Then the judge speaks to the director, who oversees state placements. “Do you concur with the recommendation?”
  27. jurisdiction
    the territory within which power can be exercised
    “I concur. This looks like it’s still Multnomah County jurisdiction. With the pending investigation about the other party, we would recommend maintaining the current monitoring plan under Marcus Smith’s care until we learn more about the claims concerning Eric Whitaker.”
  28. uprising
    organized opposition to authority
    I believe his actions were stress-related because of the family’s recent recovery from coronavirus, Andre learning of the circumstances that led to his ultimate detention, and, of course, the uprising on these issues that deeply affect him.
  29. solemn
    dignified and somber in manner or character
    We walk closer to an officer, and Dad shows his ID, which gets us past the tape near police officers and media.
    A solemn crowd gathers down and around my block.
  30. trellis
    latticework used to support climbing plants
    But instead of Eric standing there, there are rows of roses, tall and rich in color, climbing up a trellis by the porch.
  31. sage
    aromatic fresh or dried gray-green leaves used as seasoning
    Grandma J says a prayer as she burns sage.
  32. accountability
    responsibility to someone or for some activity
    It was a long accountability letter filled with apologies, but I haven’t read it yet.
  33. muster
    summon up, call forth, or bring together
    Each time we go around for Eric, I pass, mustering up the perfect words to say.
  34. expunge
    remove by erasing or crossing out or as if by drawing a line
    Since my record’s been expunged, Terry asked me to help him start a diversion and community program for Black and brown kids.
  35. advocacy
    active support of an idea or cause
    Marcus got a grant to work with Terry on this new program, which will have a counselor, a social worker, a college program, job corps options, and classes. It will also have an advocacy program to combat the profiling that happens in the schools.
Created on Sat Jan 27 10:28:06 EST 2024 (updated Sun Jan 28 17:22:13 EST 2024)

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