Black Flamingo

In verse, author Dean Atta tells a tale of a young man who struggles to learn his place in this world as he explores his identity, both in terms of race and sexuality. In a society that tries to pin you down to a single identity, Michael’s story is one that brings to light the difficulty of figuring out who you are in this world—while also highlighting issues around race, gender identity, and sexuality. Appropriate for senior secondary students, “The Black Flamingo” can be used for independent reading or as part of a literature circle with a theme of identity or social justice. The novel’s particular style can be used to explore the writing process and how to build a story through verse, also lending itself to classroom discussions around identity, stereotypes, and prejudice.