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All Boys Aren't Blue, by George M. Johnson, Random House UK, 2021.

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5 years old when he got his teeth knocked (1) 

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5 years old when he got his teeth knocked (1) 

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“I was five years old when my teeth got kicked out. It was my first trauma.” (pg.19)

He was walking to his Nanny's with his older cousins when they encountered a group of kids. His cousins instantly started arguing with the other kids. Instantly a fight broke out and him being the youngest was targeted and his teeth were knocked which caused to feel rage for the first time.

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" January 15, 2015, would signal a change in my smile related trauma." (pg 34)

His mother had two brain aneurysms and his family was very unprepared. While being taken into surgery his mother said

"Smile Matt. Just smile."

and he gave her the biggest smile possible all while losing his childhood smile trauma.

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In the book up 5th grade George went by his middle name Matthew. Until day while bickering with his cousin Little Rall George made a snarky remark about his poor grades in return Little Rall blurted out

" THAT'S WHY YOUR REAL NAME IS GEORGE" (pg.39)

This lead to a spiral of minor identity crisis and what name George would want to go by. Obviously in the end he decided on his given name George like his father and brother.

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He made up a phrase that would go against masculinity (4) 

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He made up a phrase that would go against masculinity (4) 

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"Adults began to wonder why a boy would be saying a term so "femine"'(pg.59).

One day while hanging out with his girlfriends he let out the word "Honeychild" which then would be spread around and used by many other kids and adults. However, because he was a boy using "girl lingo" he was asked to stop using all while stripping him of part of his identity.

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Having to stop double dutch for football (5)

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Having to stop double dutch for football (5)

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While at recess his friend Todd asked if they could talk. Todd informed him that,

" that the boys were saying that [I] wanted to be a girl with several anothers calling [me] a f**".(pg.75)

So they went down to the football field with the other boys and played with them so he would be liked momentarily. When they began playing he proved his "toughness" and since that day he used his talents as a shield for his femininity.

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Presentation on black history month (6) 

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Presentation on black history month (6) 

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On black history month in elementary George and the other students were asked to pick a black historical figure. In which he choose Malcolm x. They then had to make a vest representing the historical figure. While presenting his vest George felt great joy and like one day he would be known in the world.

"It made me feel like I could one day be someone known t o the world" (pg. 85)

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A play in the 3rd grade about showing equality between all races (7) 

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A play in the 3rd grade about showing equality between all races (7) 

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The play was made for students to act as different historical figures to symbol unity. In the play, George was cast as Abraham lincoln. In the play, he felt great pride and would often find himself defending Abraham Lincoln later in elementary.

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In elementry he rapped his Pual Revere poem (8) 

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In elementry he rapped his Pual Revere poem (8) 

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For a school project, he and a group of classmates had to write a poem about Paul Revere and his story. However, George had his group do a rap instead because rapping was a talent in his family. The rap was liked by his teachers so she had them share their rap with all the other classes as well.

"My older cousin Rual and Rasual could legitimately rap as well. I guess you could say it was in our DNA" (pg 90.)

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Connected to entry (8)

Biography and facts about Paul Revere

https://www.paulreverehouse.org/biography/

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The topic of slavery with a white teacher in a predominately white school (9) 

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The topic of slavery with a white teacher in a predominately white school (9) 

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Junior year the topic of slavery was brought up in class. His teacher kept referring to slavery as a

"Thing of its time" (pg.101)

This comment did not sit well with George. To which he pressed him on why be believed that. In return, the teacher responded with.

"There are many things back that wouldn't be accepted now. I mean, if I lived during that time, I probably would've had slaves too" (pg.101)

In contrast to the first comment, this one had the entire class silenced. After this George learned to be an activist for not just others but himself.

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Connected to entry (9)

https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/15/books/not-so-honest-abe.html

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One day while swimming with his cousins. Cierra even though swimming with floating began panicking. Little Rall went in to save her. While trying to save her he also began to struggle. So then Rall and George had to go in and grab them.

"I always remembered that moment as a funny one. But now I'm realizing it likely triggered my fear of the water" ( pg. 107)

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In the summer of 1992 "Cross colors " was the hottest sneaker and brand. Nanny took George and his cousins out to buy sneakers.  However unlike his cousins George wanted cowboy boots. Trying to save him from himself his cousins pleaded with him to get "Cross Colors" but he wouldn't budge. Quickly his frustration turned into rage and showed in the way of tears. Nanny quickly took notice and said

"If Matt wants cowboy boots, than we are getting matt cowboy boots" (pg 150).

And Nanny did everything possible(including fighting with the store clerk to get George his cowboy boots.

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Nanny decided she wanted to take George and his cousins form the east coast to south carolina making several stops in between with a final destination at Myrtle beach. While at the beach they did several activities including miniature golfing and swimming. While they were at the pool in there hotel Rall, Rasual wanted to teach Geroge how to swim . They pushed him into 10 feet of water. Outweighing his incapability to swim with fear made for him not to drown. So instead of enjoying there time at the pool doing other things Rall and Rasual supported and made George swim back and forth form the swallow ot the deep to make him conquer his fear. In the end in there twisted ways of making jim learn George learned how to swim and that his cousins would always be there to support him.

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Connected to entry (12)

In the Memoir George mentions the statistic of young black americans drawing compared to a white child. Rose Hackman's article touches on just that.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/04/black-children-swimming-drownings-segregation

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On thanksgiving a couple years Geroge was "Nanny's little helper" n the kitchen whle she cooked. He notced that she did not use mesureing spoons whilling cooking anything, not even a recipe. And when she asked him she responded with,

"If you use a measuring cup your food will taste measured" (pg. 200)

Which later became somethng that George look back on and apllies to his everyday life.

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Nanny was always a hustler and would sell food and other pastries. George became like her sidekick and helped her out through the years. One time he wanted to start selling candy at school to have extra cash for himself. So him and Nanny went to BJ's and bought candy in bulk. From there he learned different tricks to become a hustler like Nanny and life skills work alongside Nanny. As the years went on he still would help her in flea markets and other places.

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Community service hours with Nanny (15) 

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Community service hours with Nanny (15) 

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In Catholic school he was required to complete 250 hours of community service a year. And unlike the other students at his school his family did not have the money nor time to be doing such hours. However Nanny somehow did. She would stretch herself out so thin to help George complete the hours. By starting a literal soup kitchen in there church for him to complete his hours.

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Throughout his years in school while George was battling with identity he isolated himself from others. And of course Nanny was the only one who took notice. She would stay up late at night playing "Rummy 500" with him until he cleared his mind and was ready to go to sleep. Only to wake up bright and early to take him to flea market. She made sure he never felt alone or less than in comparison to the other kids.

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Connected to to entry #16

https://www.cardzmania.com/games/Rummy500/start/0

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In this memoir George often found himself asking the question of why each family did not have a "Nanny". What he means by this is, why is it that his Black queer experience (one of unconditional love) so different from others. And why is it that he had a father who accepted his femininity and a mother who ensured he always had support system and cousins/siblings who would fight for him. While the sad question will continue and remain solely statistics the comparison of his story to those of others made for a whirlwind of question for George growing up,

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At about age 25 George was ready to come out to Nanny. There he was crying over the phone in fear she wouldn't accept him. And Nanny stayed "as steady as a rock" she made sure he knew he was not to cry nor was he a embarrassment. She made him feel safe and loved and told him that if and when he was to have a boyfriend. That he would have to meet her just like all the grandkids significant other do.

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Traveling to Williamsburg Virginia (19) 

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Traveling to Williamsburg Virginia (19) 

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His family used to travel down to the house his Dad grew up in all the time. The house was built on a small piece of land gifted by the man his great grandfather used to work for. They didn't love it there but it was away from Jersey. Behind the house was woods.  Which him and his cousins were always warned to stay away form. The house raised his grandma and her siblings including his dad meaning it held many memories. Grandma would always tell them the house had the ghost of those who have pasted living there. She would tell them there was no reason to be afraid of ghosts because those in the houses were those of their family and "why be afraid of your family"? Form that point on George and his cousins never feared sleeping there any more.

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He was about to turn 21 when he got the call that his father had been hospitalized. Of course his stubbornness made for him not to be hospitalized right away and instead done until he was critical. His father was afraid of anything related to hospitals doctors as many as his family did as well. He was planning to celebrate his 21st birthday that day in sersy but he decided to drive 2 hours to plainfield instead to make sure his father saw him in his birthday. When he daw his father that was the first time he had ever seen his scared. The strongest man he had ever known showed that he was scared for the first. His dad was partially a selfish man and having George miss his birthday was at that expense.  In the end both George and his dad learned not take anything for granted including those around you.

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ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora 
Shot by @MarcMyStyle

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ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora 
Shot by @MarcMyStyle https://t.co/dBvU9ehipD

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ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora
Shot by @MarcMyStyle pic.twitter.com/dBvU9ehipD
— George M Johnson Garçon (@IamGMJohnson) June 11, 2021

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ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora 
Shot by @MarcMyStyle https://t.co/dBvU9ehipD

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.original_text
ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora 
Shot by @MarcMyStyle https://t.co/dBvU9ehipD

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.metadata.attachment_props.text
ON A BILLBOARD IN TIME SQUARE!!!
“Pride is Black History” @Sephora 
Shot by @MarcMyStyle