The Nickel Boys

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As the Civil Rights movement reaches the black enclave of Frenchtown in segregated Tallahassee, Elwood Curtis embraces Dr. Martin Luther King’s belief that he is "as good as anyone." Abandoned by his parents but guided by his grandmother, Elwood is set to enroll in a local black college. However, one innocent mistake leads him to the Nickel Academy, a juvenile reformatory that claims to provide "physical, intellectual and moral training" to help boys become "honorable and honest men." In reality, it is a nightmarish place where sadistic staff abuse the students, corrupt officials steal resources, and any boy who resists risks disappearing. Faced with this brutal environment, Elwood clings to Dr. King's message: "Throw us in jail and we will still love you." In contrast, his friend Turner believes Elwood is overly idealistic, arguing that survival requires cunning and avoidance of trouble. Their differing views create tension, culminating in a decision that will have lasting consequences. The boys' fates, shaped by the horrors of Jim Crow, will be determined by their experiences at the Nickel Academy.