At Risk

Focusing on literary portrayals of adolescent artists, the book examines how young Black individuals navigate the "at risk" label in the post-Civil Rights era. It analyzes key works from 1968 onward, including Sapphire's Push and Walter Dean Myers's Monster, highlighting the tension between hypervisibility and invisibility they face. Through creative expression, these narratives challenge limiting stereotypes and explore the complexities of identity and freedom. Ultimately, the text offers a nuanced understanding of Black youth subjectivity and the possibilities for creative liberation amid societal constraints.