Man Up: A Poetic Reckoning with Shame, Violence, and Masculine Ideal | Rodney J. Lee | TEDxLasVegas

Описание: What does it really mean to “be a man”? In this raw and riveting spoken word performance, Rodney Lee unpacks how toxic masculinity scripts boys into cycles of violence, repression, and isolation. Drawing from his own life and his work inside Nevada’s only maximum-security juvenile prison, Lee explores how phrases like “man up” become mandates for emotional detachment - with devastating consequences.

Through poetic storytelling and lived experience, he invites us to redefine strength: not through dominance, but through empathy, vulnerability, and connection. This is more than a reflection - it’s a call to rewrite what we teach boys about manhood before it’s too late.

About the Speaker:
Rodney Lee is a poet, educator, and mentor who teaches English at Nevada’s only maximum-security prison for juvenile boys. A fierce advocate for restorative justice and youth empowerment, Lee uses language to break cycles of harm and reimagine identity. His TEDxLasVegas talk is a challenge to society and a call to educators, caregivers, and leaders alike: prepare our boys for a manhood rooted in healing, not harm. Rodney J. Lee is a seasoned poet and educator who has been prominent in the Las Vegas literary and educational scene for over 40 years. At 60, Rodney's poetic journey began at the tender age of fifteen, and his life experiences have enriched his work with a unique depth and authenticity.

A former Airman, construction worker, casino employee, English teacher, and Equity and Diversity Education Coordinator in Clark County, Rodney's diverse career has afforded him a wide-ranging perspective on the extraordinary-ordinary facets of everyday life. His latest publication, Soul Brothers, marks his fourth book of poetry, encapsulating his philosophy that poetry is "against all odds and by any means necessary." His poems are vivid expressions of tough lessons and earned revelations woven together in the lyrics of living. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx