Remembering Walter Dean Myers

This past July, Walter Dean Myers—prolific author and inspiration to many—passed away. While publicly he will be remembered for authoring over 100 books and winning many awards, he will personally be remembered for the influence he had on the lives of children. As for me, I will remember him through the 10th grader who sat utterly absorbed in Monster, later confiding to me that it was the first book he had ever read all the way through. I will remember him through the multitude of young middle school boys who told me that Slam was the greatest book they'd ever read. I will remember him due to Fallen Angels being my go-to recommendation for any student who wants a clear and unwavering view of life in the military. 

While his books are easily accessible for the average reader, there is a depth that is often conspicuously absent in modern young adult fiction. Myers' protagonists experienced the conflict and emotions of real life, not the adolescent absurdity of a vampire/werewolf/human love triangle. While his novels are ideal material for independent reading, there are several ways you can have your class understand the text on a deeper level.

 

Understanding the Man

Myers wrote what he knew. He grew up in Harlem, struggled in school, and joined the military. Consequently, many of his stories feature young African-American men who struggle with their identity and purpose in a society that expects them to fail. His personal experience gives an authenticity to the voice of his characters—an authenticity that children instinctively recognize. 

Have your class research Walter Dean Myers or use this introductory PowerPoint to give a brief background and bibliography. Compare and contrast the protagonists of his stories with the author's life. Analyze why Myers was motivated to write about inner city life, and how the conflict made him the man he was. 

This serves as a launching point to discuss the struggles in the lives of young people today:

• What conflicts are your students going through?
• How can writing about their problems help them process what to do?
• How does experiencing this conflict make them stronger people? 

Critique the Culture

Because readers accept Myers as an authentic and realistic writer, his social critique is free from being overly preachy or driven by an agenda. He is able to show the crippling effect of drug culture in Slam, the terrifying juvenile system in Monster, and the racial tensions between white cops and black neighborhoods in "The Baddest Dog in Harlem." This social commentary is powerful because it's grounded in the experience of a believable character who is caught in difficult situations that often lack a clear-cut solution. 

For instance, in his short story, "The Baddest Dog in Harlem," the protagonist watches as the white police accidentally shoot a young African-American boy. This would be an easy moment for Myers to cast the cops as villains and (justifiably) condemn their actions. Instead, Myers shows the tension and fear that created an environment of distrust, and how that distrust led not just to this accident, but to a cycle that wouldn't be broken until people joined together to eliminate prejudice and injustice. 

Share the Emotions

Even though it's easy to get caught up in analysis of social commentary, it's important to notice the emotions of the characters. Monster uses the format of a screenplay written by a young man accused of a crime, who is told repeatedly that he is a monster, and that he deserves to be punished. Myers puts the reader in the mind of the protagonist as he struggles with his identity—is he the monster that people say he is? 

In other stories, the characters live in communities that ignore social problems because it's too uncomfortable to deal with the sadness that comes from acknowledging the pain and heartache in the world. The characters have to choose—do they take the easy and comfortable path of turning a blind eye to problems, or do they confront the problems and the pain they bring?

Whether or not your classes can understand the struggle of a teenager in Harlem, or a soldier in the Vietnam War, they can empathize with the emotional struggle of a person caught between the easy way and the right way. This emotionally authentic approach to life is what has made Walter Dean Myers such an influential author, and why his works will continue to affect young readers for generations to come.

Have you incorporated any of Myers' works into your classes? Post your experiences, ideas, and tips for engaging learners with Myers' works. 

Lesson Planet Resources:

Discussion Questions, Walter Dean Myers website, The Glory Field