Our group of boys can’t get enough of Miles Morales, a fictional 13-year-old boy of African American and Puerto Rican ancestry who went mainstream as Spider-Man in 2018.
This week on Breaking the Boy Code, we continue our discussion on the power of representation in the media and on screen. Betsa, Siddig, Aksayan and Yoel explore the impact of seeing themselves in characters like Miles Morales, Naruto, and Will Smith's iconic Fresh Prince. From the startlingly low percentage of BIPOC characters in children’s books to the increase in lead roles of color in films, it’s evident that while progress is being made, there’s still a long way to go.
The takeaway? Representation matters. It fuels dreams, builds confidence, and shows young people the heights they can achieve.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, What’s Up Danger →
The Opportunity Agenda, Media Portrayals and Black Male Outcomes →