An Interview with JAKE Small: Author of “For Every Black Boy”
JAKE Small is a poet and writer who demonstrates that creativity is not only a way to tell a story but also an act of healing. The artist is a TEDx Roxbury 2024 speaker. He is one of the only 1.3% of Black men in education. They also ascribes to he/him and they/them pronouns. Small is a justice-driven researcher, nonprofit leader, and advocate with a decade of experience in education.
In a recent interview, JAKE told us about his new book, For Every Black Boy. We discussed his journey as a writer, the lessons they learned, insights he hopes his audiences take away, and more! Evidently, JAKE is not only a writer of soul but also one who brings head and heart together in profound ways.
JAKE's journey as a writer started when he was in grade school. The assignments his teachers gave him served as the bedrock for the love he had for writing. During his time in school he wrote poems and essays. Writing became pinnacle to his relationship with learning and formal education. As he progressed further into education, he studied themes of equity and justice in his undergraduate studies.
His concern for Black, Brown, and Queer youth...and their various intersections...in conservative spaces became pinnacle to his academic career. To this day he is working on a textbook-related piece that fleshes out these topics. For Every Black Boy was a creative venture. When asked what the premise of the book was about, JAKE said, "It is a text that recounts my racialized experiences and how rediscovering my inner-child helped me heal."
The book has no shortage of profound themes. Topics such as death, manhood, grieving, coming of age, and others are dealt with in introspective and poetic ways. All of them are rooted in a desire to reconnect with JAKE's inner-child.
JAKE said, "We all deserve the opportunity to be the best version of ourselves."
Releasing his book taught JAKE two valuable lessons.
1) Self-publishing a book is a lot of work and marketing it is rooted in strategy.
2) Writing -- while grueling at times-- can also be a healing process.
For JAKE, writing his book was about healing and restoration. He mentioned that writing from a place of personal experience can be viewed as a selfish act...yet it is necessary to reconnect to one's own sense of self. By doing so, we can own our stories and achieve wholeness in our journey.
Publishing his book is also a communal venture. JAKE quickly realized that self-publishing a book was going to require a lot of business acumen and marketing ability. "You have to figure out what bookstores you want to carry it. Or how you want to get it to audiences. I got to really rely on my community, even asking my parents and siblings for their perspectives." (Side note: JAKE is the youngest of five siblings.)
When asked about who the novel was for, JAKE responded, "For anyone that is willing to step into the experience of a Black boy."
He shared some disturbing statistics. Black children are more likely to be expelled from school. Black men have the highest rates of unemployment in the United States. Only 40% of Black men finish school and 1/4 are likely to serve a prison sentence.
JAKE also said, "The book itself is for young and old, and for anyone who is willing to expand their empathy."
When asked about what kept him writing on the days that he didn't want to do it, he mentioned that the book needed to be written. It was a book that was for him first and foremost. The healing and restoration process was emotional and driving.
One of his experiences he recalled was when a police officer pulled him over for no apparent reason. His father was a cop for twenty-five years, and imparted JAKE with critical life lessons that served JAKE well in that moment. Among those lessons were to have his wallet on the dashboard of his car and his hands on the wheel.
This was the advice that JAKE used during his interaction with the police officer that day. As he followed the cop's instruction, the author prayed that the officer wouldn't escalate the situation. It was an experience that when it was over...left him exhausted in every sense of the word.
"Writing my story was a way of reclaiming my narrative."
The book features several thoughtful, tender, and joyful moments. When asked about what he hopes audiences will take away from his book, JAKE said, "I want everyone to understand that no one person can be a spokesperson for an entire community. Black people-- and Black men-- are not a monolith."
JAKE hopes that audiences will get curious and engage with multiple different perspectives. Instead of us hearing only one voice...we will be encouraged to hear out others too. It is a call to reckon with the totality of being a Black man in the United States by first starting with who is front of you. We are showing empathy by hearing first what someone has to say.
He also wanted people reading it to take away excitement and joy. That growing up Black in the United States has a lot of challenges, absolutely. Yet there are moments of excitement and joy that are worth honoring. These moments also lead to self-discovery. JAKE's book is an invitation to step inside the world that he created in the text which is also a reflection of himself.
During the interview, JAKE admitted that writing For Every Black Boy was a project that taught him more about himself. It helped him reconcile with his need to heal and to respond to the trauma that he endured as a queer, gay Black man. He openly admitted that he seeks counseling.
"Therapy taught me ways to heal."
This restoration came through the completion of his book. By externalizing the pain and trauma that they had internalized, JAKE culminated his experiences and gave them recognition. By acknowledging the emotional and personal scars, he brings forth new purpose.
When asked about his advice for writers, JAKE mentioned that when he was learning to write, he was taught to think that there are those who are authors and those who are not. This came from his academic training. However, it was an idea that the author quickly realized was false.
They said, "Everyone has a story to tell. Not everyone needs to be an author, but everyone should be a writer."
Writing helped JAKE overcome negative self-talk and to deconstruct the stories he had been told about himself. In doing this, they saw that everyone has stories to tell. He also realized that writing is an art that takes time. One of the key things he learned was to have patience with himself.
JAKE mentioned that he is writing this book now because he needed to selfishly heal. Especially in this age when the presence of Black boys and men in schools and in professions are decreasing in alarming rates. The sense of urgency was there for him.
When asked what allies and accomplices can take away from his work, JAKE said, "Allies can be a part of the movement for Black liberation and emancipation. There are several ways that one can get involved. One of those is by uplifting the challenges of Black folks."
What comes next for JAKE? The author highlighted that he is going on a college tour this fall to promote his book. He will be visiting schools across the country. There is a link to pre-order the book here. Proceeds from the book will benefit Black-serving libraries such as Langston Hughes Community Library and Cultural Center in Corona, Queens.
"This book is a way for me to leave my impact."
You can learn more about JAKE Small and his work here. You can also reach out for requests of services or collaboration. For Every Black Boy is set for publication on August 1st, 2024.
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