Atamini Akoma

The narrator of the story characterizes Andy as a strong boy who can hold his own. He takes pride in being a boy and everything that comes with it. He loves getting validation and approval from other boys as well, whether it is by copying what the older boys do or picking on his sister. Even if the acknowledgement from the older boys is indifferent, any kind of acknowledgement from them means Andy is one step closer to achieving the status that comes with being a man. Dobson and Abe Powers are Andy’s ideal image of what a boy should be. Their engagement in traditionally masculine and adult activities like smoking and using advanced language is Andy’s model for how he wants to behave. He finds immense joy in being seen by others as the strong, young boy he believes he is. Still, Andy’s desire for a doll contradicts the construct of masculinity that he possesses. His sister, Sissy, plays an active role in the way he expresses himself, and he uses her to facilitate his play into a socially acceptable version of it.

After you read "His Heart's Desire," you might be interested in some thoughts on Black manhood expressed by James Baldwin and Ta-Nehisi Coates.

First, a quotation from Baldwin:

“Try to imagine how you would feel if you woke up one morning to find the sun shivering and all the stars aflame. You would be frightened because it is out of the order of nature. Any upheaval in the universe is terrifying because it so profoundly attacks one's sense of one's own reality. Well, the black man has functioned in the white man's world as a fixed star, as an immovable pillar, and as he moves out of his place, heaven and earth are shaken to their foundations.”

–James Baldwin, Author of “Letter to my Nephew”

The “Letter to My Nephew” is addressed to James Baldwin’s nephew, who is also named James. Similarly to Coates, Baldwin tells his nephew that he will have to overcome poor treatment simply because of the color of his skin, and that integration is a system that pressures James to become accepted by white people even though they will never accept him. However, Baldwin writes that despite that unacceptance, James still must accept white people with genuine love because it is the only hope white people have.

Here's a line from Coates, addressing his son:

“You are growing into consciousness, and my wish for you is that you feel no need to constrict yourself to make other people comfortable. ”

— Ta-Nehisi Coates, 2015

Ta-Nehisi Coates wrote Between the World and Me as a letter to his then 15-year-old son, Samori. It follows Coates’ thoughts and feelings about his life and follows the ways his beliefs and opinions on the reality of being a Black man in the United States change over time. Coates gives his son insight on his experiences that he will need to navigate the world as a Black man, and especially urges him to reject the Dream, which is an idealized version of the American Dream that excludes Black people entirely. Coates does not end this book on a high or optimistic note, as he sees optimism as a myth. Instead, Coates shares his personal insight to his son as a way to prepare him for reality.

Together, Dunbar-Nelson, Baldwin and Coates are all powerful and insightful writers. Each of them has a unique viewpoint to the conversation about Black Boyhood and this experience in the United States. Alice Dunbar-Nelson, during the time of this story, focused her writing on the struggles of Black boys, merging race and gender in ways that many others did not during that time. James Baldwin is the epitome of balancing hope and despair. His writings offer insight into the personal and social struggles of Black life, yet they also hold room for transformation and understanding. The way he critiques the identity and the complexities of Black masculinity in this country is timeless. Ta-Nehisi Coates is raw. His perspective on the legacy of systemic racism, the weight of history, and the constant threat of violence faced by Black Americans—there is just such a sense of urgency in his words. These three bring a blend of historical depth, modern-day reflections, and the possibilities of change. 

Discussion questions

1. How would you interpret Andy’s relationship with the doll and Sissy? 

2. What reasons could there be for Andy to think it’s not acceptable for him to want a doll? Think about the cultural and societal context in which the story takes place. 

3. What are ways that Black boys today subvert or go against the grain in how they express masculinity? 

4. How do Coates’ and Baldwin’s messages contrast with Dunbar-Nelson’s in “His Heart’s Desire”?

5. How do you think either author would respond to this story?