By Albert Smith
Among the genres discussed as being Black men’s favorite, the most consistent one had been novels. When asked why fiction was favored, the response was typically that it allowed an escape from what they had been reading.
Black men cited comic books and graphic novels as being among their favorite books as well. Some even noted that Japanese manga were essential to their reading habits as it allowed for a new world that they weren’t accustomed to or responsible for participating in. The overarching theme of escaping from what they know was very apparent throughout interviews.
This trend was vital in understanding the reading habits of Black men as those I spoke with noted that they weren’t able to do much reading outside of their assigned class readings. In their non-academic reading time, there was a purposeful attempt to engage with reading that would encourage creativity and imagination rather than add to something that was pre-existing and limited by reality.
Recognizing that students often read for escape in their free time helps us understand why their preferences lean toward narrative forms that allow them to imagine worlds beyond their immediate circumstances. experiences.
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