“they asked us if we had any weapons,” james said. . “they said, ‘we’re going to pass the basket around again. . ” after the second circuit, he said, “it was full with pocketknives; somebody had brass knuckles, any little thing that people thought would give them an edge . . we didn’t know if we were going to be mixed with the jail population. so you’re wondering how you’re going to fit in with the guys who have been in there twenty years.” —we’ve got a job, cynthia levinson in which two ways do james’s own words readers connect with him? they show that he was not afraid of being hurt. they show that he was devoted to nonviolence. they show that he was nervous about being locked up with criminals. they show that he and his friends liked brass knuckles. they show how being a good student pays off.