A coming-of-age collection set to the music of the 1980s and 90s.
This novel in poetic form tells the story of a young man dealing with
the challenges of growing up mixed-race in 1980s suburbia. In this time
of change, both for himself and the world around him, he seeks to
"remember / just when I stopped being cute..."
Narrating run-ins with the police ("The minute they see me, fear me")
and confrontations with himself, the speaker in this collection must
learn to navigate a world that sees him as a threat. When Did We Stop
Being Cute? reflects on the beauty and horrors of life in the United
States, telling a personal story that shows Black lives and how they
matter.