The Black Flamingo

by Dean Atta

[Angie]

I was super excited for The Black Flamingo. First, the title. I've always felt a kinship with flamingos, probably because my last name sounds similar. Also pink, awkwardness! Second, I'm always excited for new verse novels. Third, and most importantly, it's about a biracial boy exploring his race, sexuality, and self expression. All of which, ultimately brings him to drag! Yes, please!

The Black Flamingo follows Michael from being a young boy, playing with Barbie, to a college student performing in his first drag show. Michael has always known he's different. His family has always known he's different. His peers have always known he's different. He never really had any major events that made him feel badly for his differences, but he was always aware of them. Being biracial, he wasn't Black enough for the Black crowd, nor did he quite fit in with his Greek family. He was also gay, and didn't know any other Black gay men.

Michael tells his story in verse, which I loved. It makes this an extremely quick and pleasant read. It's a mix of narration in verse and the poems he writes throughout his adolescence. Poetry was his original way of working through his feelings surrounding identity before he discovers drag at the start of college.

I highly recommend giving The Black Flamingo a try even if it's not your usual type of read. Michael is fantastic and his story is so relatable. We've all questioned where we belong among our family and friends and society in general. I was 100% invested in his story from the early pages of him asking his mother for a Barbie doll, all the way until his epic performance at the end.