The adultification of black male bodies
Growing up Iβve always been perceived as older than I actually was. When I was four people thought I was eight, and when I was eight people thought I was in my early teens. For reference, Iβm 17 years old and stand at 6β3 and I actively work out. The reason for me touching upon this subject is that I feel as if my body has never actually been mine. I constantly had to deal with the pressures of appearing older than I actually was or am. I would remember in elementary school towering over all my peers and not being shown the same graciousness as them because I was βtoo bigβ to be making those mistakes. I remember in middle school not being able to experience the same pre-teen angst as others because βI shouldβve out grown that phaseβ. And I still feel it today even people considered my friends will make sexual jokes about me knowing my inexperience, theyβll label me as aggressive and mean. And they actively participate in covert acts of racism without even knowing it. Itβs humiliating, itβs degrading and all around annoying.












