Reviewed by Kellie Tabron
Set in a Chicago neighborhood in the midst of gentrification, Free Burning, the second novel from Bayo Ojikutu, tells the story of a neighborhood in flux. At odds with itself– not yet new but no longer old—it serves as an external metaphor for the internal angst of the novel’s primary character, Tommie Simms. Ojikutu presents Simms as a young man capable of having it all, with all of the tools necessary to rise about his less than affluent past. He is college educated, married to a “good girl” from the neighborhood and newly a father. But a series of bad choices send his life quickly reeling out of control, significantly effecting everyone around him.
From the novel’s start, Ojikutu’s realistic and sometimes raw dialogue pulls us directly into “The Corners,” Simms’ childhood home. The author’s use of energetic, descriptive language makes Simms’ desperation rise from the pages. Unsure of where he belongs in the world, Simms has been cast out of his white collar job and downtown tower —a symbol of success and upward mobility. In an attempt to restore his manhood in the eyes of those that matter to him, he is thrust into a life for which he is tragically ill prepared.
Simms’ desire to earn a living and support his family struggles against many important relationships in his life, including those with his family, coworkers and even the local police. Tension mounts as Simms continually grapples with the ever-present tumult of the human experience—facing hard choices. He often finds himself stuck between good and evil, and love and hate as he watches hustlers make more money in one deal than he makes in a year. He also endures a nagging sense of disappointment, fearing that the old neighborhood’s collective resolution that “It’s better to accept life as it is and not ask for more” may just be true.
Throughout the novel, Ojikutu expertly captures Simms’ “fog like” existence. The protagonist seems to blindly stumble through the world without ever really connecting with it. With the exception of interactions with his infant daughter, where the love and hope he has for her feels truthful, he internalizes his real feelings appearing mostly unaware or afraid of them.
However, in contrast to Simms’ emotional distance, are Ojikutu’s other more expressive characters. A complicated lot, as a group, while not entirely easy to like, many are in some way sympathetic. Simms’ mother, whose life as a single parent with a history of substance abuse and unhealthy relationships has been a difficult one. Yet, she displays a genuine love and concern for her son and his family. Westside Jackie Lowe, the local militant, is consumed by his anger and what he perceives to be an unfair life. And, the despicable Officer Weidmann, the ugly, hateful cop who uses his badge to appear powerful in a world where he feels powerless. Ojikutu’s characters represent lives that show the consequence of choices both good and bad, and offer a mirror to the directions Simms’ life could eventually take.
Options narrowed, Simms becomes a reluctant criminal. But if the novel lacks anything, it’s the fact the Simms’ naiveté feels unbelievable, bordering on pure stupidity. While not a trained hustler, he is an intelligent man and his surprise at some of the predicaments he finds himself in sometimes feel a bit contrived.
Still Ojikutu weaves an extremely compelling tale. And just when it seems it is over for Simms, Ojikutu offers glimpses of hope. Light pierces Simms’ fog in the form of the sudden departure of one of the characters who senses things have gone out of control. Further, a touching interaction between Simms and his mother suggests that despite all that has gone wrong in his world, while the view isn’t always pretty where he lives—somewhere between the corporate tower and the old neighborhood—maybe even the worst mistakes can be recovered from if you remember what matters most in life…loyalty, family, and love.