Black Men Read by John Rodriguez

Kayden and I sit behind our computer and read to an unseen audience the colorful words of One Day in the Eucalyptus, the Eucalyptus Tree (by Daniel Bernstrom, ill. by Brendan Wenzel, HarperCollins, 2016). That day, 7 year-old Kayden does most of the reading while I support him with color commentary and questions about his thoughts on the characters and situations. We are bonding over our love of clever stories. In this case, we are also fulfilling the mission of supporting Black Men Read (BMR) where we read books and stories from across the African diaspora by highlighting literature from Black authors or books with illustrations featuring Black and Brown characters. 

In the United States where Black Americans make up 14% of the population and Black males represent 2% of the teaching community, experiencing Black men in teaching and leadership roles is a rarity, which is a disservice for all communities. The BMR impact is not only limited to  Black children, but instead aims to inspire, entertain, and educate all children who wish to participate at our reading sessions. BMR normalizes the contributions of Black writers and illustrators when young readers join us at the local recreation centers, parks, or by video on Facebook (@BMRKIDSCLUB). 

Everyday that I read to my sons, I help them to develop self-appreciation by being an example  of a Black man who recognizes the value of the literary experience. This expands their imaginations about who they might one day become and how they actively perceive their own worth. As they experience representation through the characters, they now write their own creative stories where the primary characters look and think as they do. Through the efforts of BMR, I and other Black men are able to continue that type of impact for our entire community of young readers.

John Rodriguez is a multimedia creator and illustrator. Professionally, John serves as the Marketing and Communications Lead with the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan. John's goal is to tell stories to build community awareness and challenge stereotypical narratives that can be harmful. He is a member of the SCBWI-MI Equity & Inclusion Team.