Ike Randolph, Black ex-con, and Buddy Lee Jenkins, white ex-con, develop an unlikely friendship after their sons are murdered. Isiah Randolph and Derek Jenkins, the sons, were a married gay couple with a young daughter named Arriana. Neither Buddy Lee nor Ike had accepted the sexual orientation of his son when he was alive, but each realizes that the murders were hate crimes. Together, they gradually understand how foolish it was to have rejected their sons since their paternal love transcends all and their hearts ache for the sons they no longer have.
It becomes apparent early in the novel that the Blue Anarchists, a one-percenter motorcycle group like Hells Angels, were responsible for the deaths of Isiah and Derek. Isiah, a journalist, had written an article calling the hate group out for their transphobia. Since Ike and Buddy Lee did not trust the police investigation of their sons’ murders, they agreed to use personal resources to take on the violent haters. Each had criminal experiences and street smarts to rely upon in their quest to get revenge on the murderers.
It was difficult to stomach the violence that occurs throughout this story, but Razorblade Tears is a story that is violent by necessity. The violence is representative of hate wars in our society. Too many people suffer violent discrimination because of their sexual and gender identities. Some of the real-life attacks are not as physical as they were in this book but equally detrimental to the well-being of countless victims. Cosby does a fabulous job developing a poignant relationship between a Black guy and a white guy who had been decidedly racist. He also shows how two criminals who rejected their sons because of homophobia overcame their prejudices and became an ally of LGBTQ. The “razorblade” tears they shed over their past viewpoints are a sharp-cutting message to all readers. If these hardened criminals can see the path to acceptance, everybody can.
