Alejandro Jimenez - for brown boys

Summary

This powerful spoken word piece explores the struggles and contradictions faced by 'brown boys,' who navigate the complexities of absent fathers, the pressure to appear strong, and the emotional toll of survival. It highlights the challenges of reconciling machismo with tenderness, acknowledging the pain of societal expectations, and the need for self-love and healing. The piece advocates for breaking cycles of violence and embracing vulnerability, reminding brown boys of their inherent worth and the possibility of love and growth. It calls for revolution through love, healing, and self-acceptance.

Takeaways

• 👤 The script speaks to the experiences of brown boys, highlighting the struggles and resilience of those who have faced abandonment and those who have stayed to rebuild.
• 💪 It acknowledges the unrecognized battles and hardships faced by these individuals, often symbolized by tattoos and physical scars.
• 🤲 The balance between love and providing for oneself is depicted as a challenging task for brown boys who are expected to be tough and stoic.
• 🧔 The script touches on the societal pressures that lead brown boys to hide their vulnerability behind facial hair and hard exteriors.
• 🔪 It critiques the conflation of passion with violence and the romanticization of guns over love, which are seen as harmful contradictions.
• 🛌 The narrative encourages brown boys to let their guard down, to accept and show love, and to not equate affection with self-destructive behaviors.
• 🌱 The script uses the metaphor of trees to inspire hope, suggesting that even after hardship, there is potential for growth and renewal.
• 🌞 It calls for brown boys to embrace life, to be present for their children, and to use their experiences to guide and educate the next generation.
• 💥 The final message is a call to action for brown boys to commit to self-love, which is presented as the most rebellious and transformative act they can undertake.
• 🎶 The script is accompanied by music, suggesting an emotional and artistic expression of the themes discussed.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the script?

The central theme of the script is the exploration of the identity and experiences of brown boys, focusing on their struggles, resilience, and the need for self-love and acceptance.

What does the script suggest about the challenges faced by brown boys?

The script suggests that brown boys face numerous challenges, including unrecognized battles, societal pressures to be tough, and the internal conflict between macho ideals and the desire for tenderness and love.

How does the script address the concept of masculinity as it relates to brown boys?

The script critiques the traditional concept of masculinity, highlighting how it can lead to violence and the romanticization of guns, while also encouraging brown boys to embrace vulnerability and tenderness.

What is the significance of the line 'tattooed life stories engraved in arms'?

This line metaphorically suggests that the experiences and hardships of brown boys are deeply etched into their being, much like tattoos, serving as a permanent reminder of their life's journey.

How does the script encourage brown boys to view their relationships with love and affection?

The script encourages brown boys to seek and show love, to let their guard down, and to recognize that they deserve affection and love beyond the harmful coping mechanisms they might have adopted.

What message does the script convey about self-worth and self-love for brown boys?

The script conveys that brown boys have inherent worth and should engage in the act of self-love, recognizing their beauty and value, and not letting societal pressures define their self-image.

What does the script say about the role of brown boys in their families and communities?

The script suggests that brown boys are often expected to take on significant responsibilities at a young age, and it encourages them to be present, alive, and supportive in their roles as fathers and community members.

How does the script use the metaphor of trees to convey a message to brown boys?

The script uses the metaphor of trees shedding their leaves in the fall and enduring the winter to bloom in the spring as a way to tell brown boys that they too can overcome hardships and grow stronger.

What is the 'rebellious act' mentioned in the script, and why is it significant?

The 'rebellious act' mentioned in the script is the act of self-love, which is significant because it goes against societal expectations and pressures that often lead brown boys to suppress their emotions and deny themselves affection.

How does the script view the concept of revolution in relation to brown boys?

The script views revolution as a personal transformation, where brown boys can break free from harmful cycles and societal expectations, and instead embrace self-love, healing, and positive change.

What is the overall tone and message of the script towards brown boys?

The overall tone of the script is one of empathy, encouragement, and empowerment, with a message that brown boys should recognize their worth, love themselves, and defy negative stereotypes and expectations.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Identity and Struggle of Brown Boys

The paragraph delves into the complex identity and experiences of brown boys, highlighting the duality of those who leave and those who stay to rebuild. It acknowledges the unseen battles and the resilience of these individuals, often overlooked and unrewarded with traditional symbols of honor. The narrative touches on the physical and emotional scars borne from hardship and the rapid maturation forced upon them. It discusses the societal pressures that lead to a conflation of passion with violence and the romanticization of guns over love. The speaker encourages brown boys to recognize their worth, to seek and show love, and to break free from the cycles of pain and self-destruction. The paragraph ends with a call to embrace life, to let go of the need for external validation, and to love oneself as an act of rebellion and self-affirmation.

Keywords

💡Brown Boys

The term 'Brown Boys' refers to young men of color, particularly those of mixed or darker skin tones. In the context of the video, it symbolizes the struggles and experiences that are often unique to individuals from these backgrounds. The script mentions 'brown boys' multiple times, emphasizing their resilience and the need for self-love and recognition of their worth, as seen in lines like 'for us brown boys, for us brown boys, trying to hide behind beards and mustaches.'

💡Fatherless

The concept of 'fatherless' children is used to describe those who have grown up without a father figure in their lives. This term is significant in the video as it speaks to the emotional and psychological impact of such an absence. The script touches on this with phrases like 'for us fatherless children trying to fit the shoes of men we have never known,' highlighting the challenge of identity and role modeling.

💡Battles Unrecognized

'Battles Unrecognized' refers to the internal and external struggles that are often overlooked or not given the recognition they deserve. The video uses this term to emphasize the silent and unseen fights that 'brown boys' face, such as 'so many battles go unrecognized no, purple hearts pinned to our chest just, tattooed life stories engraved in arms.' It underscores the need for acknowledgment and understanding of these struggles.

💡Macho Ideas

The term 'Macho Ideas' encapsulates the traditional, often stereotypical notions of masculinity that can be harmful and limiting. In the video, it is used to critique the societal pressures that enforce certain behaviors and attitudes, as in 'cut between macho ideas and proletariat, revolution.' It calls for a reevaluation of these ideas to allow for a healthier and more authentic expression of manhood.

💡Contradictions

'Contradictions' in the video script highlight the conflicting emotions, behaviors, and societal expectations that 'brown boys' might experience. It is used to illustrate the complexity of their identities and the challenges of navigating a world that often forces them into binary choices, as seen in 'we brown boys are so full of contradictions.'

💡Revolution

The word 'Revolution' is used to signify the need for change and transformation, both personally and societally. In the context of the video, it suggests a radical shift in perspectives and actions, as in 'cut between body bags, and survival, cut between macho ideas and proletariat, revolution.' It calls for a proactive stance against oppressive norms and systems.

💡Tender Touch

A 'Tender Touch' represents affection, love, and vulnerability, which are often suppressed or seen as weak in certain cultural contexts. The video uses this term to challenge these notions and to encourage embracing softer emotions, as illustrated by 'like when she caresses my back I cannot help feel uneasy even in bed.' It advocates for the acceptance of tenderness as a strength.

💡Shattered Image

The 'Shattered Image' in the video script symbolizes the breaking away from negative self-perceptions and societal expectations. It is used to express the desire to break free from the constraints of others' views and to rebuild a more authentic self, as in 'want to break every last piece of my mother out of my smile.' It is an empowering call to reject the labels and limitations imposed by others.

💡Rebellious Act

The term 'Rebellious Act' is used to describe actions that defy societal norms or expectations, particularly those that are oppressive or harmful. In the video, it is used to encourage self-love and authenticity, as in 'let us commit the most rebellious act of them all, let us love ourselves.' It frames the act of self-acceptance and love as a form of resistance against negative influences.

💡Embrace

An 'Embrace' in the video script signifies acceptance, love, and support. It is used to convey the importance of physical and emotional closeness as a means of healing and connection, as seen in 'let every embrace you give set up for revolution.' The term is a metaphor for the nurturing and transformative power of love and support in the lives of 'brown boys.'

💡Trigger to Heal

The phrase 'Trigger to Heal' is used metaphorically to suggest that the very things that might cause pain or discomfort can also be the catalysts for healing and growth. In the video, it is used to encourage a shift in perspective, as in 'let every kiss you give become the trigger to your throat to heal with words.' It suggests that facing and acknowledging pain can lead to healing and personal growth.

Highlights

For brown boys who come and go, acknowledging the transient nature of their presence.

For those who stayed to pick up the pieces, like the speaker's stepfather, highlighting resilience.

The recognition of unrecognized battles, symbolizing the unseen struggles of brown boys.

Life stories engraved in arms, representing the tattoos of experience.

The duality of loving and providing, a dubious task for brown boys.

The pressure to appear hard and the confusion between passion and violence.

The contradiction of being cautious of tenderness, even in intimate moments.

The call for brown boys to let their guard down and accept love.

The idea that sorrow does not have to be a burden, encouraging emotional resilience.

The reminder that brown boys are not their mistakes, promoting self-forgiveness.

The act of breathing as a form of rebellion, a powerful metaphor for survival.

The desire to shatter the negative image imposed by societal expectations.

The metaphor of trees letting go in the fall, a call for acceptance of change.

The need for brown boys to be alive, not just remembered through memorials.

The revolutionary act of self-love and the breaking of destructive cycles.

The encouragement to use hands for nurturing the next generation, not for violence.

The final call for brown boys to commit to loving themselves, the most rebellious act.

Transcripts

for brown boys who come and go

for brown boys who walked out

like my father

for those who stayed to pick up the

pieces

like my

stepfather for us rambles

for us fatherless children trying to fit

the shoes of men we have never known

i know

so many battles go unrecognized no

purple hearts pinned to our chest just

tattooed life stories engraved in arms

callous hands from all the work put in

bruised knees from getting back up when

we get knocked down stretch marks on

backs from being forced to grow up way

too fast i know

the balance of loving

and providing can be such a dubious task

for us brown boys

for us brown boys

trying to hide behind beards and

mustaches trying way too hard to be as

hard as possible cut between body bags

and survival

cut between macho ideas and proletariat

revolution look at how

we confuse passion for violence

look at how we romanticize guns over a

love affair we brown boys are so full of

contradictions

for us bramble who have been taught to

be cautious of a tender touch like when

she caresses my back i cannot help feel

uneasy even in bed let your guard down

brown boy

we don't always have to be in fight or

flight mode we deserve to be loved we

deserve to show love we do not have to

look for affection in the bottom of shot

glasses we cannot drown our pain

trust me it will learn how to swim

sorrow does not have to be a burden we

make mistakes but we are not the

mistakes brown boy

who told yusef love was a battlefield

who turned your throat into a shotgun

who taught you how to fight brown boy i

once heard someone say

that for us dark ones

the act of breathing

is rebellious

remember they were the ones that called

the savages they were the ones that

desecrated our family tree

they turned us into thugs they told us

women were inferior and some days

some days i want to shatter the image in

the mirror want to break every last

piece of my mother out of my smile i

know you two get tired of choosing

between your hopes and your demons of

trying to hold the ends of the world

keeping them from falling i know that

you don't want to crumble into pieces

brown boy just remember that trees let

go of themselves in the fall

endure the winter so that they can bloom

beautiful in the spring and provide

shade in the summer brown boy we do not

need street corners stained with candle

wax decorated with flowers and pictures

of you we need you alive

so let every embrace you give

set up for revolution

let every kiss you give become the

trigger to your throat to heal with

words

let forgiveness become the pin to the

grenade of your heart explode delicately

smash those shot glasses on the floor

fireworks announcing the new you let

yourself be loved watch how much we can

grow let every man that has walked out

of your life become a reason for you to

stay

use these hands to help your children

count to help them learn their abc's

brown boy

we are not explosions waiting to happen

we are enough just as we are so let us

believe that we are beautiful brown boy

let us commit

the most rebellious act of them all

let us

love

ourselves

[Music]

you