Raped Black Male

Book excerpt: Raped Black Male tells my story of being homeless and struggling to overcome depression while coming to terms with being sexually assaulted by my sister at age eight. Beginning in my middle school years, the novel weaves its way through the ’90s to present day, as the stress of exceeding expectations of what it means to be a black male and the crippling unspoken belief that says (without saying) – it’s impossible for a man to be raped – has forced one mental breakdown after another, resulting in thoughts of suicide. This memoir is filled with depth, humor, and honesty about the reality and myth of what it means to be a black male (not all of us can handle a basketball or football), while explaining the burden and responsibility each assigned title has had on my life, the way I prepare my seventh grade students to enter the world, and the way my shattered thoughts have forced me to interact. Using original journal entries written during my early life, each page is inspirational and told from the heart.