The Black Flamingo
by samanthar
The Black Flamingo is a YA book written in verse by poet and performer Dean Atta. It’s a queer coming of age story that follows Michael, a teenager living in London who’s half Greek-Cypriot, half Jamaican. Readers follow Michael from a young child who would rather receive a Barbie than a Ninja Turtle for his birthday, to a high schooler sharing his feelings to his crush, to a young adult finding his place on a college campus. Atta’s verse is rich, and expounds the themes of love, identity, and belonging.
Watch Dean Atta explain the book’s title and read an excerpt here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfl6JIIA6hA
"Don't let anyone tell you
that you are half black
and half-white. Half-Cypriot
and half-Jamaican.
You are a full human
being. It's never as simple
as being half and half.
You are born in Britain.
You need to make space
for what British means."
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