A review by vanessarreads
The Little Black Boy: The Life of A Poor Kid From the East Side by Jonathan A. McKinney

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"The Little Black Boy" has been on my list of highly anticipated reads for 2023 for a couple of months now. 

Having known Jonathan, I expected to have a good laugh, which I did... A LOT. However, I didn't anticipate shedding tears, which I did... A LOT. I wept for the little boy who felt compelled to be a hero for his mom. I wept for the neighborhood kids who succumbed to crime and drug addiction as a means of coping or seeking an escape. Most significantly, I mourned for the children who never made it out at all.

Moreover, I was surprised by how much I could relate to many of his experiences. Being Black, impoverished, raised by a single Black mom who did her best for our family and others, residing in a neighborhood plagued by systemic oppression, and having to navigate a world fraught with obstacles just to obtain a decent education—these are all aspects of life with which I am intimately familiar.

It is always an honor to encounter someone's story, one filled with jokes and joyous moments. However, it is an even greater privilege to witness a narrative of pain, vulnerability, and unfiltered honesty. Such a story reassures you that "it's not just you, you are not alone, and it is not your fault."

This story is not only vital for adults but, more crucially, it must find its way into the hands of our children.

Jonathan, thanks for sharing you with the world.
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