George M. Johnson’s New Memoir Reminds Us That ‘All Boys Aren’t Blue’

If you follow George M. Johnson on Twitter or read any of their articles, it’s apparent that they (Johnson embraces plural pronouns) suffer no fools, especially racist, transphobic and homophobic ones. And that they have a profound love for their family, especially their grandmother Nanny, who died of brain cancer last year.

Thankfully, their debut book, ”All The Boys Aren’t Blue,”beautifully captures both personas, giving a much-needed pushback to the oppressive powers that be, while showing their softer side. One that celebrates their relationships, however complicated, with their kin and how that unconditional love helped create the Johnson audiences know and love today.

Dubbed a young adult “memoir-manifesto,” this fearless collection of “stories through essays” explores this little Black boy from Plainfield, New Jersey, who at an early age knew they were “different.” With each page, readers travel back in time with Johnson on this moving journey of self-discovery, self-love and, eventually, joy.

While it’s an empowering read, it also embodies a lot of pain. From their frank description of being bullied, to learning early on to hide their true, more effeminate self from the world and the sexual abuse they endured, Johnson doesn’t sanitize their story. “All Boys Aren’t Blue” is an unflinching testimony that carves out space for Black queer kids to be seen while serving as a much-needed resource for parents who need more affirming tools to raise their children.