Patrice shares about how the idea for Orangeboy came from the colour yellow, why she wanted to write about a young black boy from Hackney and how Black Panther has impacted her writing.
Intro to activity
In Orangeboy, Patrice Lawrence explores how the weight of expectations—those placed by family, society, and peers—shapes the life of Marlon, a 16-year-old trying to do the right thing. Marlon is expected to be like his older brother Andre, whose involvement in gangs and crime led to his death. Teachers, police, and even strangers judge Marlon based on his background, skin color, and postcode.
Despite his efforts to live a quiet life, Marlon is pulled into a world of violence and criminal pressure simply because of who he’s assumed to be. The below activity will ask you to reflect on the constraints of stereotypes and how to challenge them.
Activity
Have you ever been judged based on a stereotype?
Think about a time when someone made an assumption about you for negative reasons—because of how you look, where you’re from, or what group you belong to. What were those stereotypes, and how did they make you feel? Do you identify with the group they were referring to, and if so, are you proud of that identity?
Now flip the perspective: every group has strengths and positive qualities. What are some positive expectations or values that come from being part of your community or culture? How can you embrace those strengths and challenge the negative stereotypes others may have?
