While the novel is fictional, it draws inspiration from several real-life incidents of police violence against Black Americans, including the deaths of Eric Garner and George Floyd, creating a composite narrative that speaks to this ongoing national crisis.

Milwaukee serves as a representative American city, allowing the author to explore issues of racial injustice and community response in a setting that reflects the broader American experience while maintaining a focused, intimate perspective on the characters and their relationships.

The novel's unique approach of telling the story through multiple perspectives of people who knew the victim creates a rich, multifaceted portrait that goes beyond the tragedy itself to explore the victim's humanity and the lasting impact of his life on others.