How Can I Get A Young Black Male To Read? by Rambling Raven
By Raven • Jun 22nd, 2009 • Category: Rambling Raven •
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How Can I Get A Young Black Male To Read? by Rambling Raven
My nephew is the typical teen. He has a cell phone, a computer, the latest game system, an iPod and television with cable. So when he stated to me the other day that he was bored, all I could do was laugh. The boy was holding his phone in one hand, checking his Myspace page with the other, all while the television was blasting in the background.
I sat there marveled at the fact that he could think, with all that was going on around him, let alone actually declare himself bored. So in my infinite wisdom I told him to turn off everything and go grab a book to read. The look I got from him was priceless. You would have thought I told him that I was taking away all of his little gadgets. After about a second of looking at me as if my head had just rolled off, he told me he didn’t read books. It was then my turn to look at him as if he just grew an extra head.
Not read books, who ever heard of such a thing? He was my nephew. There were books all over every household in the family. How in the world did he not read? He stated to me that books were too time consuming and he never found anything to hold his interest.
In his world if things aren’t fast paced, with bells and whistles going off, then he probably wouldn’t give it the time of the day. I realized that most teenage boys I know are not readers. I see lots of teen girls reading but not the boys. In fact, I don’t see many African American males reading for pleasure, period. Even my nephew’s father, who is college educated, doesn’t read outside a text book.
My nephew’s response piqued my interest as to why men in general, black men specifically, are not regular readers of novels. I questioned the men in my family and my immediate social circle and found several common reasons:
1. Reading is time consuming and they just don’t have
the time to dedicate to it.
2. There just doesn’t seem to be enough books out
there that caters to the interest of black men.
3. There are not too many books where the black man
is the lead character and portrayed in a favorable
light.
4. Most novels cater to the fantasies of women. Even
genre’s like street lit., tilt towards the female.
5. There doesn’t seem to be enough black author’s
writing in the action/adventure, suspense/thriller or
speculative genre’s.
6. Few were encouraged early on to read for pleasure
either from their families or their teachers.
7. Somewhere along the way, reading wasn’t
considered “cool” for young black males to do.
I have a lot to combat in order to try and encourage my teen nephew to read for pleasure. I have to combat a world that is consumed with computers, game systems, texting, twittering, etc. And I have to find books that will appeal to him. Books where he can identify with the characters and be entertained enough where he won’t get BORED.
ANY SUGGESTIONS?????
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Raven is an educator with a B.A. in Psychology and a M.A. in Education. She has been an avid reader since childhood. Her favorite genres are mystery, suspense, and horror, although she will give any genre a try. She is a life long resident of Chicago. Her love of books opened her mind to people, places and events far beyond her Chicago home. Reading helped to shape her world and her opinion of the events that took place within it. No matter what demands her career requires of her, she has always found time to read and write in a journal. Along with reading and journaling, she loves to watch the sunset, and discuss hot topics with family and friends. She loves baseball, horror movies, mysteries, listening to music from every corner of the world and expressing her view of the latest books with the women of APOOO.
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My son is 11 and it took me two years to get him to read for pleasure, now he begs to go to the bookstore, which is where he wants to spend his just aquired birthday money. I never understood why it was so hard since from a young age I always but a book in front of him.
My husband does not read. He will skim a book from time to time, such as the Steve Harvey book because it was on Oprah or one of my street lit books because it is in the bathroom. But he does not come from a reading family so I get that.
For your nephew, have you looked at Omar Tyree. I have not looked at his new work but I know it is supposed to be geared towards young AA boys. Sorry, I am on the blackberry as I blog or I would go search for at least one title for you. I have male friends who enjoyed Eric JD older works. Not sure how old your nephew is so that may not be an option for him.
I truthfully can not think of books written with our AA men in mind. Hope you can get him interested, just as I hope I can keep my son interested as he gets older.
I’ve got three young black men, all ages 14 or less. They read. Some. My oldest not as much as I would like as he matures. I read to them, nearly every single night while they were small. I take them to bookstores, and have taught them how to find things they might be interested in. (And always had a few suggestions in my hip pocket.) I take them to libraries and have made borrowing books fun. Of course, Mommy always has a book with her, so that helps. Always.
With a teen, though, it’s tougher.
1) Try books by Walter Dean Myers. My son loves him. He’s the king of writing for young black men. But don’t think the books have to be written by a brotha.
2) Try Paul Volponi too, a white NYC schoolteacher who understands and writes for his students.
3) My most recent recommendation is Booker T. Mattison’s Unsigned Hype. Christian fiction, yes, but NOT a heavy, preachy message. I’d give it to any and every young brother I could.
4) If you’re not opposed to the Christian book thing, also try Stephanie Perry Moore. She writes for the YA market, and has a Payton Skyy series specifically for boys.
5) Try books that don’t look like books, i.e. graphic novels about subject matter that he’s interested in.
6) Load him up with comic books, if that’s what it takes. When you see that he’s into a particular action hero, find the books written for the YA market about that action hero, as a means of segue into reading books.
7) Or, get the book that goes with whatever the hottest movie is now. (Xmen Wolverine?) They always write a YA book that goes with the movie.
I’m assuming he’s reading at least on grade level, but, auntie, don’t you make that assumption. Be sure so that as you work through this with him, you’re not fighting an obstacle you don’t even know about.
Best wishes.
PatriciaW´s last blog ..A Few Public Buses Will Do The Trick
Great suggestions ladies. Thank you for all the detailed info Patricia. I certainly am taking all suggestions to heart. My nephew will be seventeen. I just assummed that he was a reader. His mom reads, I do and so does his other aunt and grandmother. Even his sister reads, she is fourteen. You see, I am listing females because as far as I know his dad, his grandfather and male cousins are not readers. Books are not at all hard to find, I personally have over several hundred from a slew of genres.
We certainly let the ball drop with him. He does well in school and there is no indication that he isn’t reading at grade level. He is socializing more with girls from school. As fas as I know they aren’t readers. I think his interest are with girls and sports, only. I believe because he didn’t take to reading for pleasure earlier it will be a bit more difficult to try and get him to do it now.
There is a really cute teenage girl who is a neighbor of my parents. She is an honors student and reads a lot. She has even borrowed books from me that are in storage at my parents house. I think he should befriend her.
I am going to take him out for a movie and dinner this weekend and purposely make a stop at one of the trendy bookstores in the city. I will tell him he can choose any book in the store he wants, my treat.
I can second Patricia’s “Walter Dean Myers” suggestion. My son has long been a fan of his work. Also, if your nephew enjoys sports, that’s another angle. Mike Lupica has a series of sports books for young/teen readers. Sports magazines, like Sports Illustrated for Teens, are big in our house as well.
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You did not say how old actually but here are a couple of suggestions (depending on his age):
- graphic novels – there are now a couple of black artist out there that have been getting some play – the Hellblazer series – Mat Johnson wrote one of the series books and if he likes his writing he might want to read one of this other books – Jeremy Love also has done graphic books from adult to children. There are many types of graphic novels – it just a matter of finding one that fits his taste
– Steven Barnes writes sci fi which appeal to young males
- Walter Mosley had an young adult novel – 47
- Males tend to like non-fiction a little more than fiction – the Hill Harper book is good
- if he likes sports there are books that center around the sports of his chice – but Tony Dungy’s book is good
- Brandon Massey writes thrillers
- there are other black mystery writers like Chester Himes
But the key is the first book or two that you suggest for him – have to be right on to get his attention then he will be more willing to accept other suggestions for him when
Great suggestions from Pat. I used to pay my son $5 a week to read a book when he was 13 and 14. It was the only thing I did that worked. Praise the Lord, now he reads for pleasure. Not as much as I’d like, but at least 2 books a month which I’ll take. He recently wrote a book review for my blog on one of the books Pat suggested, UnSigned Hype by Booker T. Mattison. He enjoyed that book.
I really, really search for things with either sports or music in them, because he likes those things. He loved Stephanie Perry Moore’s series. It’s actually the Perry Skyy series for the young men. The main character was a teenage football player. Each time one was released in the series he read it in a day, so I know if I find something he likes, he’ll devour it. Just so hard to find things, but I’m always on the proul looking.
When I ran my afterschool literacy program, I used bribe: cash or prizes after reading x-amount of books. Also we read with them, either one on one or in a group.
I recommend checking BlackScienceFictionSociety.com and their BlackScienceFictionStore.com for works where underrepresented characters are portrayed in an empowering light. There are alot of speculative authors out there offering quality alternatives that knock down the usual stereotypes pushed upon us by the mainstream.
Also Cailloux Williams started the Ancients & Immortals series after one of the Wayans brothers suggested he put the idea into action rather than keep it in his head. The books can be found at Imajen.com and they’re anything but boring. Perfect for a teenage male.
Also check Ecbacc.com for many black comic books, and if you’re near ATL there’s OnyxCon (in August) which could be a great experience for him.
Troy Cle’s ‘Marvelous World’ was picked up by Simon and Shuster and is available on Amazon. It’s main character is a young black male, and the entire story focuses on empowering the underrepresented youth in a favorable light rather than the usual stereotypical nonsense. I haven’t read it yet but it’s been said to be received well by the younger demographic.
Coloronline.blogspot.com keeps an eye on and announces multicultural works, ExpandedHorizons.net also focuses on stories with empowered characters of color, and my ConsciousInk category at UltravioletUnderground.com and downloadable/print magazine at purplemag.com announce new authors and feature ‘Modern Myth’ that’s empowering and at least pg-15 appropriate and often more tame than that.
There are alot of resources out there not yet announced by the mainstream.
Once again, great suggestions from all. Thank you very much. I will try them all. I think the bribe thing may work, after all what kid doesn’t like a reward of some kind.
My nephew will be turning seventeen.
You got some great suggestions from everyone; I especially liked Patricia’s detailed list. I have to go with those who said to try the graphic novels. And giving them books with themes of what they like, as been said about music and sports. Years ago, a friend saw her son took an interest in the Donald Goins and Iceberg Slim series, so she bought those, then she gave him the Autobiography of Malcolm X and it was on.
I would also try something of a humorous, repitition them such as Langston Hughes Semple books. For nonfiction, the three doctors have written at least two books and as mentioned Hill Harper’s book. Walter Dean Myers is a good suggestion.
I kind of feel you about your nephew being cavalier about reading. My nephew just turmed 18 and graduated from high school and he gave me a flip answer when I asked what he was reading this summer; “I don’t feel like reading as he texted message.”. He could feel me mean mugging him amd quickly said, “Why don’t you suggest some books.” He read voroaciously through middle school and then slowed down as he got more involved in track and basketball. He read some intersting books this last year in his multicultural lit class. The Kite Runner, Namesake by Juhmpa Lahira. He said they were pretty good; it was the fact they were assigned. So, I am going to compile a list for him including some of the suggestions here.
Reading through the above comments, I see that my suggestion for you is already listed as far as books. I will just say persistence will pay off. My 9yo is in NY with family now and he tried to con my sister-in-law. He told her if you buy me this toy I will read the book you bought me. Her words to him was if you want anything from me, you better read the book that I bought for you. We don’t give rewards for things you might do after you receive the prize. When our power has gone out because of a storm, my children has immediately turned on the “I’m bored” scratched record. I tell them to pull out the old fashion games and television. I know you’re wondering what’s that…a book. You can never be bored when you live in a house with books coming out of the woodwork.
Keep on him and don’t give up Raven. In the long run it will pay off.
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Thanks for the mention Purple Zoe.
Does the author have to be AA or the main character?
AA male authors I like and recommend for an older teen:
Walter Mosley
Water Dean Myers
Troy Cle
Colson Whitehead
Aaron McGruedor
Genres
Graphic novels, science fiction, fantasy, dystopia, speculative fiction.
I’d ask him more about what he would read meaning genre or theme. Would he’d be interested in a book by a women that wrote in the genres he is interested in? Is he open to all people of color writers or thinks he only wants AA. What if it were the right genre but white author. Neil Gaiman is a fantastic graphic novel and fantasy writer. He’s British with a wicked, dark sense of humor.