Scan barcode
A review by rebmartin31
Bad Boy: A Memoir by Walter Dean Myers
5.0
I read this book as part of the volunteer book club I participate in at a juvenile detention facility in my local area. I found a few surprises in this book--like how Walter was recommended Camus' The Stranger by one of his high school teachers, and was given Noh plays to put on at his school. So nice (maybe even a little bittersweet) to see public school access to literature, art and culture! Doesn't feel like that today. [Please politely correct me if I don't know what I'm talking about in this regard.] Also, I'm such a youngin' (25) I don't know what an "A&P" is. A quick Google search tells me it was an old grocery store chain. I'm from Washington State--maybe we never had them out here. It's like that time I asked my grandmother (born in 1935) what bobby socks were.
Overall this book gives a lot of great insight in how to understand and empathize with race and class issues in urban communities, especially as seen by/as they affect young black males. Also valuable is just how clearly (straight) white male achievement/excellence/superiority is emphasized to the exclusion and minimization of everything else (e.g. black history, art/culture), and how unhealthy and damaging the "masculine" ideal (i.e. toxic masculinity) is. While much has changed since Walter's childhood, much has also stayed the same or even gotten worse, or is at risk of regressing. At least the concept of representation seems to be gaining traction in our national cultural/media awareness.
Lastly, some of the book's setting is close to where Columbia University is in New York, where I will be going this fall to start a Masters in Teaching degree. I'll be bringing this book along with me!
Overall this book gives a lot of great insight in how to understand and empathize with race and class issues in urban communities, especially as seen by/as they affect young black males. Also valuable is just how clearly (straight) white male achievement/excellence/superiority is emphasized to the exclusion and minimization of everything else (e.g. black history, art/culture), and how unhealthy and damaging the "masculine" ideal (i.e. toxic masculinity) is. While much has changed since Walter's childhood, much has also stayed the same or even gotten worse, or is at risk of regressing. At least the concept of representation seems to be gaining traction in our national cultural/media awareness.
Lastly, some of the book's setting is close to where Columbia University is in New York, where I will be going this fall to start a Masters in Teaching degree. I'll be bringing this book along with me!