The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

Struggling with identity and finding it through drag. This coming-of-age verse novel is about sexual and racial identity. Micheal is gay. Michael is part Greek-Cypriot. Michael is part Jamaican. But none of those labels feels right. So who is Michael, really?

“I feel like Goldilocks:

trying to find a group of people

the perfect fit for me.

A group that’s ‘just right.’

I didn’t feel black enough

for African Caribbean Society,

I didn’t feel Greek enough

for Hellenic Society,

I didn’t feel queer enough

for LGBT Society.”

Some bits of this book were so painful I had to stare at the wall and take deep breaths to recover. Reading about the bullying Michael endures isn’t easy. But watching him find himself through drag, and become more confident, is inspirational and so beautiful.

This is a book for anyone struggling with #racialidentity or #sexualidentity. It has themes of #LGBT #comingout #drag #fittingin #identity

Video review here