On Monday July 13, 2020 a group of young men gathered together to kick off The Black Boys Movement (A community book club for black boys) in Marion, SC. Atlanta Educator and Author of “I Declare” Ms. Marie S. Boatwright was the keynote speaker, Donovon Eaddy (Retired Military) and then Marion School District Board Member Elect, Mrs. Nadine Harris Foxworth offered words of empowerment. While the initiative was held up somewhat during the pandemic, the organizer Christopher Davis continued to keep books and other academic material in the hands of black youth in the community, especially black boys.
Moving forward and evolving into 2024 four years after the initiative was launched, a re-launch has occurred on Sunday July 28, 2024 from the New Mt. Zion AME Church in Sellers, SC; where Rev. Shernard R. Barnes is the pastor. Community members are eager to come together for effective change. Ready to be the shift in the atmosphere because they have black sons, or because they have
black children as neighbors or within their congregations. The Black Boys Movement has re-launched and ready to block plagues that bring black youth, especially black boys, to the intersections of crime and illiteracy. Creating book clubs are great ways to create space for critical conversations. Among those in the audience or offered reflections were (back row) Abdalla Straker Non-Profit CEO, Real Estate Investor, and Entrepreneur, Judge Janette Dupree, Zaire Davis, Mrs. Jessica Davis, retired educator Mrs. Ann Jones and retired educator/pastor Rev. Shernard R. Barnes. Front row; Zakar Straker, Zack King, and Adrienne Phillips. This project
came with a huge impact, and every adult was given a free copy of the book Black Boy Joy donated by community members and companies.
The Black Boys Movement Membership is open to any black male third grade through ninth grade. We are also hosting mentoring training sessions for black men interested in volunteering some devoted time to work with boys in counites across the state of South Carolina like Florence, Dillon, Marion, Marlboro, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Richland, Lexington, and Greenville, to name a few. Interested persons should contact Christopher Davis (980)-210-9448 curatingbooksandart@gmail.com.
