AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO BLACK BOYS & MEN: ‘REWRITING MASCULINITY’ ROSCOE BURNEMS |TEDXYOUTH@RVA

Our good friend Roscoe Burenems took the stage at TEDxYouth@RVA last November and delivered a very important message for Black men and Black youth about the dangers of toxic masculinity. It’s worth your 12 minutes. Check it out. #WESEEIT

Some people find therapy on a couch; Douglas Powell, also known as Roscoe Burnems, finds it on a stage as well. In this powerful talk, we hear from both Douglas the father and educator and Roscoe the spoken-word poet and writer, as he takes us through an extraordinary exploration of toxic masculinity, depression and the weight carried by black boys and men. Fusing comedy, conversational talk, and spoken word poetry, he delivers the strong message that emotions don’t mean emasculation; they are what make us human, if we allow ourselves to be vulnerable. Douglas Powell/Roscoe Burnems is a National Poetry Slam champion, two-time regional poetry slam finalist, and award-winning poetry slam coach. He is a spoken-word artist, teacher, husband, and father that has dedicated his life to poetry, education, activism, and entertainment. Roscoe blends those worlds together; he speaks candidly on everything from bullying to equality, from depression to oppression, what it means to overcome all obstacles, and how to do it through spoken-word. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx