A 14-year-old student from Atlanta has received national attention for his poem he wrote and recited about his privilege as a white male.
Royce Mann, an eighth grader at The Paidea School in Atlanta, performed “White Boy Privilege” during a poetry contest in May. Since the video was shared two weeks ago on Twitter by actress Taraji P. Henson, Mann’s poem has gone viral.
#TheTRUTH GOD BLESS THIS LITTLE BRAVE ANGEL!!! https://t.co/oRrKoRmeFj https://t.co/RfNSsg8LCG
— Taraji P. Henson (@TherealTaraji) July 10, 2016
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mann is also a professional child actor and has played the role of Gina Gershon’s son in “The Lookalike” and starred in several film shorts on the festival circuit.
Mann made his acting debut as Tiny Tim in “Scrooge” at Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre, a role he played for three years when he was seven years old. Currently, Mann is in the pre-Broadway premiere of the musical “Zorro” at the Alliance Theatre, playing the role of young Diego.
Mann starts his poem by apologizing to people who are not “a middle or upper class white boy.”
“I have started life on the top of the ladder while you were born on the first rung. I say now that I would change places with you in an instant, but if given the opportunity, would I? Probably not,” Mann said.
While Mann goes on to say that “being privileged is awesome,” he calls for white men to make a difference and to help end inequality.
“It’s time to let go of that fear. It’s time to take that ladder and turn it into a bridge.”
Mann won the poetry competition.
Watch the video of Mann performing his poem “White Boy Privilege” below:
