By Dean Atta
This book I admittedly would not have picked up if not for my following B&N YA Book Club, but I am so glad I did! This became a very timely choice as well, as we who are not black need to keep shouting on behalf of black people, drawing attention to black people’s injustice, and voting for reform that actually changes the racist status quo.
Atta introduced me to my first verse novel – it is all in poems. I was afraid it would not be a cohesive narrative and I might miss various character’s individuality but I was wrong! He condenses such a powerful story into few vignettes, glimpses, and personal poetry.
Michael Brown is born in London, England with a Greek Cypriot mother and a Jamaican father. His father is not interested in family life, though his brother and mother make up for that, bringing Michael into all holiday affairs even though his father ignores him. His mother raises him, knows him, and worries for him every day.
From the age of six, Michael knows he is better friends with girls, and shy around boys. His penultimate gift is a Barbie. His gift is singing, though it does not save him from teasing nor bullying.
As he grows up, we see him succumb to peer pressure, and demonstrate remarkable courage in front of his school. There are moments where his family is targeted for being black and successful, when the appropriation of his locs by young white men and stereotypes causes him to cut them off himself, and when assumptions that he must be a drug dealer lead to embarrassing and potentially violent situations.
Added to all of this is the normal difficulty of growing up, deciding his identity, and defining his world view. The pressure is fierce, and Michael wishes he were too. He is drawn to the Drag Society at college, and feels it is the first place he is true to himself. There he learns what Drag is, what it means to him, and how he can express himself best through this medium. He becomes the Black Flamingo – who speaks his truth through poetry, pays homage to those who helped him on his journey, and will only accept what is his right and deserved going forward.
The Black Flamingo takes us through homophobic people learning truth, and also, sadly, those who are stuck in the narrow dark. It is humbling, it sparks outrage, it turns us inward, it inspires. Grab a boa and unleash you flamingo too!
Soundtrack
Inspired by artists and songs referenced in the book
- Sweet Dreams by Beyonce
- Lady Marmalade by Lil Kim, Mya, Christina Aguilera, P!nk
- Where is Love from Oliver!
- RuPaul’s Drag Race Theme Song by RuPaul
- Black Magic by Little Mix
- Raise You Up from Kinky Boots
- Shut up and Drive by Rihanna
- Born this Way by Lady Gaga
- Like a Prayer by Madonna
- Ring the Alarm by Nikki Minaj
- Back to Black by Beyonce and Andre 3000
- One Love by Bob Marley