When about 100 Black male students at Gary Comer College Prep gathered Friday with storytellers during “Real Men Read,” author and educator Tracy Brown shared his own story.
“Reading was my way to escape into another world because my world wasn’t safe.”
Brown began writing his community into his books, as did college professor Willie Williams.
“Being able to write in a language that is specific to young Black men was my purpose for writing,” said Williams, a 16-time published author. “I don’t want to write about anything else.”
Members of the Comer Black Male Initiative and the authors — all members of the Divine Nine, a group of nine Black fraternities and sororities — spent Friday encouraging the young middle-schoolers to find joy in reading and storytelling.
It was important to organizer and high school teacher Rashad Davis that Black male educators be the ones spearheading the event.
Gary Comer College Prep, a Chicago Public School part of Noble Charter Schools, has an unusually large amount of Black male teachers working at the school, said Principal Judonne Hemingway.
About 35 Black men are teachers and facilitators between middle and high school, Davis said.
“I think it’s important that they see us and themselves, that they see us as teachers, as educators,” Davis said.
Although Davis teaches at the college prep high school, he thought reaching out to middle school students first was important.
“As a high school teacher, we realize that once we receive them, there are certain things they have missed, so we want to … address those missing issues and instill the love of reading. So when they come to high school, they have a love of learning, but it starts at a younger age.”
Williams read from one of his books, “The Black Male Wisdom Experience,” which evoked the energy and advice of the Bible’s Book of Proverbs and inspiration from sports.
“Be wise, young king, dear young Black man,” read Williams. “Sticks and stones may break your bones, but keep going till you make it to a point where words never hurt you and … you do not hurt yourself with your own thoughts or words. Make necessary half-time adjustments so you don’t lose the entire game, even if you play bad in the first half.”
Marvis Boyd, a 12-year-old 6th grader, said he isn’t a fan of reading but the activity Friday convinced him to do more.
“I don’t really like to read,” said Boyd. “But I think it’ll probably get me to start reading what I like.”
Boyd, who says he likes to read “funny books,” was part of a group of 6th graders who were instructed to write stories — true or fiction — about a time they got in trouble undeservedly.
Boyd and his classmates happily competed to share their stories with the class led by Brown. The boys then discussed whether or not the stories had fair outcomes.
One student shared a story about being bothered by a classmate who then blamed the disruption on him.
“I was so frustrated that, when I went back to class, I started crying,” recalled Kahmari Adams, 12.
By sharing personal experiences, teachers hope the students will relate and enjoy reading and telling stories more, teacher Carlos Smith said.
“When we are reading, oftentimes the reason why we disconnect originally is because we cannot connect with what is going on in that world,” Williams said.
Ultimately the storytelling served to inspire the young men.
“As I’m saying the words, I want you to write the words down: My experience shapes my behavior,” Brown chanted as the boys diligently wrote down his words. “Make sure you follow this: A storyteller has the ability to create multiple universes.”