Nightcrawling

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes references to sexual abuse, sex trafficking, rape, racism, and police brutality.

The social and economic forces surrounding Kiara are the primary drivers of conflict in the novel. After her father’s death and her mother’s incarceration, she and Marcus are left with few resources. It is suggested that both considered remaining in high school to be futile, as scraping together enough money to pay each month’s rent and other bills took precedence. They are surrounded by people who struggle against the same economic challenges. Some, like Dee, retreat into drug dependency while others, such as Cole, opt to risk dealing drugs to make ends meet. As a minor, Kiara has difficulty securing reliable employment, which leads her to sex work. The illegality of this work, however, places Kiara at risk for legal repercussions, so when police “invite” her to engage in sex work at their parties, Kiara feels she has little choice but to comply. To refuse would mean being arrested, which would be detrimental not only to her but to those, like Marcus and Trevor, who rely on her. Her position highlights the difficulties those in poverty often face—to survive she must put herself in dangerous situations where she has little if any power to protect herself.

Were it not for Sandra and other women in positions of power, it is likely that the sexual exploitation of Kiara and other young women would continue unchallenged. The other women and girls participating in the “parties” are undoubtedly in the same position as Kiara, where their lack of resources forces them to remain silent about the abuse they are suffering. The grand-jury trial provides some hope that the police officers’ wrongs will be righted and that Kiara may even receive financial compensation. Ultimately, however, the trial only emphasizes the injustice inherent in the judicial system, where outcomes are slanted in favor of those who have authority and power. The judge twists and reframes Kiara’s statements to suggest that Kiara freely chose to engage in the sex work, rejecting the idea that her circumstances had anything to do with her involvement. When the ruling not to indict is announced, it likely comes as little surprise to Kiara, who knows the system is rigged against people of color and people living in poverty. The same system that exploited her also framed, incarcerated, and indirectly killed her father. Likewise, the police have made no effort to locate Alé’s sister, viewing her life as disposable. While Kiara’s decision to speak out against the police in her testimony is symbolically important, it doesn’t affect the final ruling, which upholds systemic injustice.