Pride: A Pride and Prejudice Remix

These chapters offer a critical turning point in Zuri’s romantic narrative. Once Warren’s evil nature is exposed, Zuri cuts ties with him. This moment is foreshadowed in Chapter 19, when Darius tells Zuri, “You don’t know Warren like I do, Zuri” (198). The ominous tone sets the narrative up for the revelation in Chapter 20—that Warren took “sexy pics” of Georgia and shared them with classmates at school.

Meanwhile, Zuri is increasingly drawn towards Darius—and even kisses him. However, there are still obstacles in the way to Darius and Zuri pursuing a successful romantic relationship. First, there is the class difference between the Darcys and Benitezes. The class difference alone wouldn’t necessarily be an issue, but when coupled with Darius’s prejudiced nature and Zuri’s pride, it could be insurmountable. The hurdles posed by class differences are epitomized by Darius’s grandmother. She clearly dislikes Zuri and favors Carrie. Carrie’s character is essentially the antithesis to Zuri’s—the antagonist. Carrie has the superficial markers of being “high class” that Darius’s grandmother appears to value. For example, she has an elite education and speaks in “proper” English without slang. However, these are only superficial traits.

Zuri herself notes more than once that “Money can’t buy manners” (43). She tells Darius this when he’s being snobby and rude and the thought again comes into her head when she meets Darius’s grandmother. By recognizing this fact, Zuri unveils the truth that superficial markers of being “high class” like having money and a fancy education don’t actually make someone “classy.” The word “classy” can be defined as being “elegant or stylish” or “having or reflecting high standards of personal behavior.” Rudeness doesn’t fit with this definition, and the Darcys have acted rudely on multiple occasions, proving Zuri’s point that money can’t buy manners or class.

The scene at Darius’s grandmother’s house also underscores a meaningful motif that has appeared throughout the book—the importance of food. Darius’s grandmother serves lobster, which Zuri has never eaten before. She notes that she’s been to a Red Lobster but never actually ordered lobster, because it was the most expensive thing on the menu. She has no clue how to eat the lobster and doesn’t touch it, not wanting to give away this fact, illustrating her lack of experience with more expensive foods.

These chapters force Zuri to confront some of her own prejudices as well. Darius calls her out on her own tendency to judge others: “I’m baffled by how judgmental you are” (197). Shortly after, Zuri is forced to acknowledge that she misjudged Warren’s character. When she learns about what he did to Georgia, she swiftly cuts ties. In doing so, her whole worldview shifts—she’s chosen to put her trust in Darius, previously the untrustworthy outsider, instead of Warren, the “boy from the hood” who she identified with. She recognizes the shift: “I know for sure that those boys [Darius and Ainsley] moving onto this block has changed everything” (206).

The critical turning point in Zuri’s romantic storyline also parallels a larger turning point in her character development. While at Howard, Zuri for the first time thought to herself that a place other than Bushwick could be “home.” She’s starting to open herself up to a wider world beyond her familiar neighborhood. The fact that she’s placing her trust in an outsider like Darius instead of a Bushwick “native” like Warren speaks to this new openness. Zuri’s beginning to confront her own judgmental moments as she changes.

The introduction of Georgia’s character in these chapters serves in setting up Warren’s downfall. By allowing Zuri to fist meet Georgia and recognize her sweet nature, Warren’s actions become even more despicable. Georgia’s character highlights how classicism is also passed down to younger generations who don’t understand the extent of its damage. For example, Georgia tells Zuri that Darius told her that the Bushwick neighborhood is noisy. Zuri replies, “It’s not noisy […] As a matter of fact, if it gets too quiet, I won’t be able to sleep” (160). Georgia replies, “Cause you’re used to it, right?” (160). Zuri stares Georgia down, who promptly apologizes and says that she didn’t mean to disrespect Zuri. While Georgia’s intentions weren’t bad, her “innocent” question draws a class line, implying that Darius is used to a quieter (“nicer”) neighborhood, while Zuri—born and raised in the hood—is used to the louder (“less nice”) neighborhood.