Dear Black Boy

Dear Black Boy is a letter of encouragement to all of the black boys around the world who feel like sports are all they have. It is a reminder that they are more than athletes, more than a jersey number, more than a great crossover or a forty-yard dash, that the biggest game that they’ll ever play is the game of life, and there are people rooting for them off of the courts and fields, not as athletes, but as future leaders of the world. The same things that make these strong beautiful black boys great on whatever playing surface they choose are the same things that will propel them forward in life: mental toughness, dedication, passion, determination, and effort are all things that carry over into the game of life. With the right preparation, every Black Boy can win.

10% of proceeds from book sales will go to charity.

PRAISES

for Dear Black Boy

”Ever since we were kids, Martellus has been driven, passionate, and most of all, creative. He is a voice for young minority kids to explore their creativity and entrepreneurship through art and technology.”

Michael Bennett

“A brilliant and beautiful letter to young black boys everywhere. Martellus inspires our kids not just to succeed, but to be prepared to fight for our full freedom.”

Shaun King
Columnist, The Intercept

“This is a book every child of every color and creed should read and so should every adult.”

Chelsea Handler
Activist, Author, and Comedian

“Many of us have long believed that Martellus Bennett is one of the most interesting people of his generation, a unique creative thinker who just happens to be an NFL Pro Bowl player. With Dear Black Boy, all of those beliefs are prove on the page.”

Dave Zirin
Sports Editor, The Nation

“Martellus Bennett provides a genuine, caring voice in the Houston community, rolling up his sleeves to help others through his words and actions. Well done, Martellus!”

Aaron Wilson
Texas and NFL writer, Houston Chronicle

“There’s more to an athlete than just stats. Martellus has displayed that throughout his playing career, both in his work with children through The Imagination Agency and his voice as a political activist.”

Master Tesfatsion
Senior Writer, Bleacher Report

“This book should be mantra. Martellus Bennett’s superb, wise words are steeped in rich, sports metaphor, and provide the inspiration our sons, nephews and loved ones require to grow into thoughtful, well-rounded young men and adults.”

Angela Bronner Helm
Contributing Editor, The Root Founder, At Helm Media

FEATURED

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WHY NOW?

Martellus Bennett grew up outside of Houston, Texas. He was an artist, a musician, and a creator throughout his childhood, but he was most often identified as a talented football and basketball player. After ten years in the NFL, he owns and runs Imagination Agency Studios, a storytelling agency committed to making the world a more colorful place for families and kids of color.

In the summer of 2016, after Alton Sterling was shot and killed by police in Baton Rouge, LA and Philando Castile was shot and killed by police in a suburb of Minneapolis, Martellus wrote a poem to young black and brown boys - a message of hope - that became the basis for the book and this campaign. Dear Black Boy Now What? builds upon that message of hope by facilitating a conversation about the myriad opportunities for young black and brown boys, and giving them a platform to tell their own stories.