All boys aren't blue

Author: George M. Johnson 

Genre: Nonfiction, -Memoir

Original publication date: April 28th 2020

Book description: In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.
Both a primer for teens eager to be allies as well as a reassuring testimony for young queer men of color, All Boys Aren't Blue covers topics such as gender identity, toxic masculinity, brotherhood, family, structural marginalization, consent, and Black joy. Johnson's emotionally frank style of writing will appeal directly to young adults.

Thoughts:

This book has been getting a lot of people talking especially after June and a few dedicated readathons. I could not stay off that wagon. 

I have to admit that I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a memoir of a person's life you can't really say its wrong or right, you can dismiss their feelings or say they have a very objective POV. It's their lives' of course it's subjective!

This is the type of story everyone should read about. We have to accept that even if you are not in the same situation the point of this story is to read it and be able to understand a different POV than your own. George touches different very powerful and impactful topics such as:

-Being black and queer

-Toxic masculinity that most men face especially while growing up

-Facing family expectations

-Coming out and yet wishing to hide so your loved ones (family) do not feel disappointed.

It is such an emotional punch.

Sometimes people behave in such a way that even if they do not realize their attitude places such compulsory heterosexuality and such gender-specific expectations on girls and boys since they're so young that they do not feel comfortable accepting themselves.

This book should be a mandatory read for teenagers, it would bring such light to many of thee questions they might also face on their own self-discovery journey.