Dear Black Boy - by Martellus Bennett (Hardcover)

About the Book

Written and illustrated by multitalented father and Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett, Dear Black Boy is a letter of encouragement to all boys of color who feel like sports is their only choice.

Book Synopsis

"Children, regardless of their gender, are sure to love and learn from this beautiful book." - Angela Davis

"I wish someone could have provided this information to me when I was young" - Serigne Mbaye

"Dear Black Boy is a piece of art needed more now than ever." - Frank E. Abney III

Written and illustrated by multitalented father and Super Bowl champion Martellus Bennett, Dear Black Boy is a letter of encouragement to all boys of color who feel like sports is their only choice.

Dear Black Boy,
Today is the day that we lace up our shoes to do more than run another sprint, dunk another ball, catch another pass, or swing at another pitch.
[...]
Run, Black Boy, run!
Run in the direction of your dreams.
You can change the world for us all!
[...]
Win, Black Boy, Win!
The world needs more winners that look like you!

With dreamlike illustrations that invite children to place themselves in the pages' scenes, this uplifting picture book reminds kids that the biggest game they'll ever play is the game of life. Off the courts and pitches, people are rooting for them not as athletes, but as future leaders of the world.

In the book's rhythmic, reassuring words of wisdom, kids discover that the qualities that make them great athletes--mental toughness, dedication, passion, determination, and effort--are the same ones that will drive them forward in life.

Author Martellus Bennett is an NFL legend, but--just like the children he seeks to inspire with this book--he has talents that extend far beyond the playing field. Bennett is an entrepreneur, animator, illustrator, musician, dreamer, and loving father. He started creating children's literature to remedy the lack of black and brown representation in the books available to read to his daughter.

A different kind of coach for black and brown boys, and essential reading for children of every color, Dear Black Boy empowers kids to see new possibilities and follow their passions. Whenever self-doubt creeps in, they will find strength in its pages.

The world's more beautiful when the Black Boy dreams.

Review Quotes

"Written and illustrated by Super Bowl champion Bennett, this title is an empowering letter to boys of colour, encouraging them to explore their potential beyond sports and reminding them that they are capable of achieving greatness in any field."--The Bookseller

"...this text is recommended for families with Black boy readers."--Children's Literature

"Dear Black Boy is a piece of ART needed more now than ever. We're often confronted with finite ways we can dream and be successful. This book widens that view. These words breathe possibility, responsibility, and HOPE!"--Frank E. Abney III, Writer, director. and animator

"Dear Black Boy is a clarion call for resilience and imagination, urging Black boys everywhere to confront their challenges, embrace their identities, and envision a future where they define their own destinies."--Michael Bennett, Super Bowl Champion, pro bowler, and architect

"A great book for boys to read for the first time with an amazing mission. Written with amazing intentions for a futuristic direction."--Chuck Inglish, Producer, designer, artist, actor, and chef

"Dear Black Boy allows Black men to tap into their boyhood at its essence. It serves as a guide that allows us to explore every side that we've been told we don't possess. Working in education, representation, and imagination means everything. I think there is something for everyone to experience in Dear Black Boy."--Jarren Small, Co-founder and CEO of Reading with a Rapper

"I believe every Black boy in America should have this book as part of their curriculum from K through 12. It's monuMINTal."--Tobe Nwigwe, Rapper, singer, actor

"I wish someone could have provided this information to me when I was young. For men like me reading this now, I suggest you take its message to heart."--Serigne Mbaye, James Beard Award Winner, chef, and owner of Dakar NOLA Restaurant

"In every Black boy's heart, a world of untamed imagination awaits. Dear Black Boy is a celebration of that boundless creativity. Let this story remind you that within each of us lies the power to turn dreams into reality, transforming our most difficult days into unlimited possibilities and true freedom."--Carl Jones, Producer of The Boondocks/Black Dynamite, animation writer, director

"Martellus Bennett pens a story for dreamers. He inspires Black boys to aspire to more, work harder, and manifest a life they were once told they couldn't achieve. Dear Black Boy is a WIN for us all." --Ryan Clark, 44th Annual Sports Emmy Awards Winner, sports broadcaster, Super Bowl Champion, and pro bowler

"The captivating images in this wonderful new edition of Martellus Bennett's Dear Black Boy further highlight his inspirational message of individual and collective struggle - through sports disciplines and through social justice movements.Children, regardless of their gender, are sure to love and to learn from this beautiful book."--Angela Davis, Political Activist, Educator, Author

"This powerful book encourages young Black boys to prepare their minds, bodies, and skills to achieve the unimaginable. It's a heartfelt guide that champions passion and conviction, empowering them to lead with strength and purpose. Dear Black Boy is not just a book; it's a movement for every Black boy to embrace their potential and rise to greatness." --Jason Mayden, Chief Design Officer, Jordan Brand

About the Author

Martellus Bennett is a maker and master world builder who has dedicated his life to the liberation of the Black imagination. The Super Bowl Champion's creativity knows no boundaries. As a writer, animator, film director, educator, political cartoonist, game designer, and architect, his dedication to his craftsmanship is a testimony to the magnificent possibilities of the Black imagination when it works outside of the constructs of societal beliefs.

Working under the moniker MR. TOMONOSHi! he continues to prove that the world is beautiful when the Black Boy dreams and that with the right preparation and empowered imagination every Black Boy can win.