Alternative Names for Black Boys
Cover for Poetry Magazine
By Jonathon Reed
In 2014, Danez Smith wrote the poem alternate names for black boys. Two years later, the poem was included in a piece created by a theatre teacher in the Bronx named Sentell Harper—a performance that remains one of the most powerful reflections on Black boyhood that I have ever seen.
When the boys were getting ready to perform at Stage the Change, Sentell wrote about the piece in an article in the Success Academy Charter Schools Mission Possible blog:
“I also wanted to tell the boys, my boys, through the words of the piece, that they are a gift. That they matter. Their voice matters. Their talent matters. Their intelligence matters. And what better way to share that gift than theater. My hope for all that see this performance is that they truly understand our black young men have so much to offer. Then together we can stage a change.”
I encourage you to read the article, which explains the different sections of the poem, and share the performance with young people or colleagues before the end of Black History Month.
ICYMI This Week
Dwyane Wade recalls moment his 12-year-old came out as transgender (Today)
He jumped off a nine-storey bridge and lived, now he's working to end 'man up' mentality (CBC News)
Boys Can Be Confident In Their Gentle Selves If Men Pave The Way (Huffington Post)
Written by Next Gen Men Program Manager Jonathon Reed as part of Learnings & Unlearnings, a weekly newsletter reflecting on our experiences working with boys and young men. Subscribe to get Learnings & Unlearnings delivered to your email inbox.