Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/black-boyhood-just-dont-stop-a-reflection-on-the-necessity-of-meaningful-boyhoods/5026419/
To the K-5 admin that saw our Blackness as “uncontrollable.” Sorry, but we refused to have adults police our mind, body, and spirits.
To the high school teachers that called us “dumb.” Sorry, but we refused to have our brilliance dimmed by the boxes you wanted us placed in.
And to the society today that deems us “hyperactive.” Sorry, but we refuse to let the boyhood joy in our souls be contained.
The violence levied against us during our lives serves as a constant reminder that we must love and honor the Black boyhood within, in order to be the best adult version of ourselves.
— Mike and Amir
As Black male educators deeply committed to Black boys’ joy, brilliance, resilience, and educational well-being, we have spent an abundance of time working with, speaking on, and theorizing about boys.
Boy. While it is one word, its fluidity and signification vary depending upon its context. At times, using “boy” can be polarizing because, on one hand, it can signify a term of endearment in male nonfamilial relationships (e.g., ‘that’s my boy’) and on the other hand, it can be jarring because of its historical connotations of Black male subordination. Speaking about boys is not the same as speaking ...