Mychal Denzel Smith

“And the more the image of black men is connected to everything wrong with the world, the easier it is to justify killing us. Racism comes to be seen as a natural reaction to the existence of black monsters.”
― Mychal Denzel Smith, Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man's Education

“What would we happen if we reframed the way we understand black male life in a way that took mental health seriously? If we looked outside and didn't see ruthless gangbangers, but teenage boys left hopeless and giving themselves suicide missions. If instead of chastising young men for fighting over sneakers we asked why they felt worthless and unseen without them. If we didn't label them junkies, but rather recognized their need for affirmation.”
― Mychal Denzel Smith, Invisible Man, Got the Whole World Watching: A Young Black Man's Education