This engagement project is about learning to make connections with words rather than fists. This is about letting young men of color know that their experiences are not isolated and that they are not alone even when they are taught to remain stoic, in-control and dominant. This is about feeling a sense of community and a source of inspiration. This is about hope. With this project, I wanted to provide the space and experience for them to feel comfortable determining their own future; their own path; their own identity apart from societal expectations because this affects more than just boys and men, this affects everyone. Today, one of my newest friends, Jose, and I discuss masculinity in the Latinx community, animated movies, going to Disneyland and the optics of being a man in the world. Justin Baldoni, American actor, filmmaker and podcaster, whose 2017 TED Talk on ‘what it means to be man enough’ went viral, has written a chatty, kind, honest guide to being a boy. Covering topics like being brave, being smart, being cool, as well as sex, puberty, bullying and being bullied, body image and love, this is essential reading for 10+. In this incredibly honest, informational, eye-opening nonfiction work. Middle grade & young adult readers will UNLEARN society’s unwritten rules for how boys should behave/feel/act/live their lives. He takes a deep dive into what it means to be HUMAN rather than all the expectations placed on our boys and young men. After lovvving Man Enough, I immediately went and requested Boys Will Be Human, knowing I’d absolutely need this book for my family. My boys are 9 and 5, and while this book is geared for boys 11+, I loved learning more concepts and language I can start using now before I have my oldest listen to this book when it’s more age appropriate. I am totally using this french fry analogy to describe consent - it was so good! I just loved this book. It’s everything I want my sons to hear and know. The whole time I was listening to this, I was also just thinking about how valuable this could be for single mothers, too, who may not have a solid male role model to connect with on some of these topics.

Boys Will Be Boys Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Dua Lipa – Boys Will Be Boys Lyrics | Genius Lyrics

So I started thinking that I wanted to get people together to share their experiences and then share that discussion online for even more people to relate to, learn from or be influenced in some other way by it. I realized from my initial research that having an informed discussion about how men are socialized is serving a huge need in the community of boys and men of color in itself.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I wonder if Justin Baldoni knows he’s a Marxist 🥰☮️✌️ The next generation of boys may still be dealing with the generations of mistreatment of women…I guess we’re watching systemic trauma play out live with our own sons… Patriarchy really does hurt all of us. Now tell me I don’t sound like an actual insane person. Would you believe I’m quite educated? Would you believe I look normal and act normal in society? Would you believe i put on my mask like everyone else and go and function in the real world with a smile on my face for my children? Would you believe I’m just like you? Another hurt victim of this terrible system with a good heart and belief in humanity. Really makes you think…doesn’t it. Really makes me want to read Marx and get into my community ❤️✌️ Today is a little different. Today we start a new segment at BWBH where we will be revisiting films and TV episodes talking about how toxic masculinity is portrayed in each project. I am joined by Paul Miller who is a returning guest and this was a lot of fun. Harvey Weinstein New Yorker - https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/from-aggressive-overtures-to-sexual-assault-harvey-weinsteins-accusers-tell-their-stories

Boys Will Be Human: A Get-Real Gut-Check Guide to Becoming

Have you ever noticed that there are unwritten rules that tell boys how to act, think, and feel Nobody knows where they came from, but one day—BAM!—you suddenly feel these invisible forces, pushing you to follow the rules of masculinity, even if they don’t make you happy.My only concern is that the author has pitched it pretty clearly at boys aged about 12-15 (he says 11+), while I feel that some of that the level of self-reflection expected is more realistic for slightly older teenagers. Be prepared: This book is raw and surprising. There is no subject off-limits or lies detected. Sometimes things might get a little uncomfortable, but that’s an important part of getting to know—and believe in—yourself. This MG+ book has my whole heart. I believe every human should be required to read it and have the conversations that come naturally in every chapter. If you get uncomfortable or disagree KEEP READING! It’s okay to have those feelings—if you don’t have them while reading a personal development book then you’re doing it wrong. This was real, raw & relatable and it goes in any middle/high/public library immediately. This is the rant/plea I needed deep down in my soul through very angry tears after listening while putting my 8 year old son to bed who has to grow up in this place too. We’re real people too ❤️

BOYS WILL BE HUMAN | Kirkus Reviews BOYS WILL BE HUMAN | Kirkus Reviews

ON OUR LAST EPISODE of 2020, we discuss the title topics as well as The Hanky Code, if you're a friend of Dorothy, and what is something we all enjoy that society wouldn't expect us enjoy. This has been amazing to do these past 21 episodes, and there will be more next year. If you have an idea you'd want to hear about, or be part of let us know!From filmmaker, actor, and author Justin Baldoni comes a real-talk, self-esteem-building guidebook that helps boys ages 11 and up embrace their feelings and fears instead of repress them. It's been five years since your Ted Talk on masculinity. What was the root of that talk? That feels to me like the root of Boys Will Be Human, in many ways. This week I talk to another one of my best friends, Sean Bolton. We talk about creating a safe space for men and what he saw while studying abroad in Denmark in college. I am not the target audience for this book. However, as a mom of a boy and a teacher of many boys I wanted to read it before recommending my students take a look at it. Unfortunately I found it to be very boring and I don't see my students having the attention span for this book. I think there were a lot of great insights and gems inside the book. The prompts were great and I could see myself using those with students but some of the stories just dragged on. I often hook kids in with graphic novels and I could totally see them loving a graphic novel adaptation of this book. Or a possible workbook/journal type book where they read shorter stories and have space to reflect on the journal prompts. As any sort of independent reading I don't know if this would hold their attention.