He is called "whitey," "honkeydonkey," and "fishbelly." When a racial epithet is written on the Beales' house, Maniac realizes that his presence is causing them pain, so he gives up his new home. Maniac is perceptive, and soon realizes that what he is experiencing is discrimination. Consequently, he is unprepared when Mars Bar tries to intimidate and hurt him or when John McNab and the Cobras chase him into the East End and stand on Hector Street laughing at him. Maniac is also unaware of the negative feelings each race has for the other. East Enders call themselves black." He observes a variety of colors in the East End, but not black. Maniac loves his life with the Beales and "can't see this color business." Color means nothing to Maniac. The Beales, a black family, invite him to live with them. Maniac is oblivious to discrimination and prejudice. Maniac is a catalyst used by Spinelli to try to unite the East End and the West End. He is somewhat naïve because he is "blind" to the dividing line, Hector Street, which separates the East End where the blacks live and the West End where the whites live. Beale an address in the East End, an unrealistic address because only black people live in the East End. Beale drives him "home." Maniac gives Mr. He never complains about his homelessness however, his embarrassment and shame are evident when Mr. Maniac makes a "home" for himself in the deer pen at the zoo. Even though the feats that he performs make him "different" from others, Maniac appears unaffected by his talents. Maniac's reputation precedes him wherever he goes in Two Mills. ![]() Maniac also runs on the rails of the railroad track, and when he wanders - which he does often - he jogs. Maniac hits several home runs - breaking John's perfect record. John McNab, a Little League pitcher who throws fastballs, does not intimidate Maniac. Unafraid, he rescues a young boy from Finsterwald's yard. When Maniac arrives in Two Mills, he performs extraordinary feats that amaze everyone, making him "cool times ten." With a book in one hand, he catches a football and punts it perfectly. In Maniac Magee, Spinelli has created a legendary character. ![]() the soles of both sneakers hanging by their hinges and flopping open." He is friendly and open minded, saying "hi" to everyone he passes and ignoring the prejudice that exists in Two Mills. He shows up in Two Mills, "a scraggly little kid jogging. After imparting the "birth scream of a legend" during his elementary school concert, Maniac runs from the dysfunctional home of his Aunt Dot and Uncle Dan. Maniac is an 11-year-old homeless orphan.
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