Matthew R. Morris came to St. Joseph’s University, New York (SJNY) on April 8 to discuss his book, “Black Boys Like Me: Confrontations with Race, Identity, and Belonging.” The event was held during common hour inside the Tuohy Hall auditorium on SJNY’s Brooklyn campus.
Tracy Thomas, assistant director of student involvement, leadership, and intercultural engagement at SJNY, introduced Morris.
Matthew R. Morris
Morris shared insight about his life growing up in Canada as bi-racial, to his days as a college student in the U.S., to where he is today: an elementary school teacher, author and activist. He took the audience of students, guests, faculty and staff through his collection of essays, offering a breakdown of each chapter. Across his work, Morris confronts the complexity of race and masculinity in society and in the classroom.
Morris shared a passage from one essay on the convergence of attitude, assumption and expectation when he was a high school student. Referencing another chapter, Morris delved into clothing and culture through an experience when he was taking the subway from Brooklyn to Manhattan.
The full collection explores identity, Black culture, pop culture, education and more through his unique lens.
