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The People Can Fly: American Promise, Black Prodigies, and the Greatest Miracle of All Time
Whiting award-winning poet and Distinguished Chair of Humanities at MIT, Dr. Joshua Bennett creates a masterful synthesis of personal narrative and history that illuminates the promises and perils of being labelled a Black prodigy.
The outside world’s perception of Black promise comes and goes. It does so in ways that are undeniably advantageous for Black children. Yet here, Dr. Bennett explores the rarely examined pitfalls of being a Black prodigy in a society that has, too often, defined Blackness as the very absence of intellect. Bennett probes what it means to be othered, even if this othering is the same key to an individual’s success in an unfair world, demanding that we build alternative futures that make space for the promise and hope of every child.
In The People Can Fly Bennet shares his own academic journey—including spoken word performances at The White House and Sundance Film Festival, an NAACP Image Award, and a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship—mirrors the ebb and flow between being deemed promising and “a problem.” He bolsters this personal narrative by observing how disability within his own family complicates societies perception of genius, and by diving into the under-examined history of young intellectuals like Oscar Moore, Thomas Wiggins, Stephen Wiltshire, and others. Together, Bennett lays out an arresting portrait of a world that obscures genius behind a disorienting facade of otherness and exceptionality.
With arresting prose and grace, The People Can Fly is an eye-opening reflection on what it means to be labelled gifted in today’s world; and a personal history and love letter to all the Black prodigies who have disturbed the veil of racism, and the children who will continue to do so.
The outside world’s perception of Black promise comes and goes. It does so in ways that are undeniably advantageous for Black children. Yet here, Dr. Bennett explores the rarely examined pitfalls of being a Black prodigy in a society that has, too often, defined Blackness as the very absence of intellect. Bennett probes what it means to be othered, even if this othering is the same key to an individual’s success in an unfair world, demanding that we build alternative futures that make space for the promise and hope of every child.
In The People Can Fly Bennet shares his own academic journey—including spoken word performances at The White House and Sundance Film Festival, an NAACP Image Award, and a Guggenheim Foundation fellowship—mirrors the ebb and flow between being deemed promising and “a problem.” He bolsters this personal narrative by observing how disability within his own family complicates societies perception of genius, and by diving into the under-examined history of young intellectuals like Oscar Moore, Thomas Wiggins, Stephen Wiltshire, and others. Together, Bennett lays out an arresting portrait of a world that obscures genius behind a disorienting facade of otherness and exceptionality.
With arresting prose and grace, The People Can Fly is an eye-opening reflection on what it means to be labelled gifted in today’s world; and a personal history and love letter to all the Black prodigies who have disturbed the veil of racism, and the children who will continue to do so.
272 pages, Hardcover
Published February 3, 2026
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3080 people want to read
About the author
Joshua Bennett
35 books85 followersJoshua Bennett received his Ph.D. in English from Princeton University. He also holds an M.A. in Theatre and Performance Studies from the University of Warwick, where he was a Marshall Scholar. In 2010, he delivered the Commencement Address at the University of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated with the distinctions of Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude.
Winner of the 2015 National Poetry Series, Dr. Bennett has received fellowships from the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop, Cave Canem, the Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust, and the Ford Foundation. His writing has been published or is forthcoming in Boston Review, Callaloo, The Kenyon Review, Poetry and elsewhere. He has recited his original work at venues such as the Sundance Film Festival, the NAACP Image Awards, and President Obama’s Evening of Poetry and Music at The White House. He is currently a member of the Society of Fellows at Harvard University.
Winner of the 2015 National Poetry Series, Dr. Bennett has received fellowships from the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop, Cave Canem, the Josephine de Karman Fellowship Trust, and the Ford Foundation. His writing has been published or is forthcoming in Boston Review, Callaloo, The Kenyon Review, Poetry and elsewhere. He has recited his original work at venues such as the Sundance Film Festival, the NAACP Image Awards, and President Obama’s Evening of Poetry and Music at The White House. He is currently a member of the Society of Fellows at Harvard University.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 stars rounded up.
I recently had a conversation with a mentor about my experience with the gifted program because her son also went through it. As a science and math nerd, I was fascinated by his experience with the program and the classes he engaged in. I just assumed that all gifted students fell under the traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) pathways, but I was pleased to learn that my assumptions were incorrect.
I felt a similar feeling when listening to The People Can Fly. Bennett's review of what it means to be a prodigy and how various Black prodigies have existed across multiple decades was interesting. While I typically enjoy when authors blend their own personal narrative with history, it didn't always work here. I think I would've preferred two separate stories - one about Joshua and how he navigates the world as a Black prodigy and a separate one about Black prodigies across history.
Still, the writing was beautiful (this is the second book that I've read by a poet, and I've been spoiled) and really resonated with my experience as a Black prodigy. Give this one a chance if you're curious about how history treats Black prodigies and the ways we continue to survive and thrive.
The author narrated the audiobook, and I think he did a great job.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.
I recently had a conversation with a mentor about my experience with the gifted program because her son also went through it. As a science and math nerd, I was fascinated by his experience with the program and the classes he engaged in. I just assumed that all gifted students fell under the traditional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) pathways, but I was pleased to learn that my assumptions were incorrect.
I felt a similar feeling when listening to The People Can Fly. Bennett's review of what it means to be a prodigy and how various Black prodigies have existed across multiple decades was interesting. While I typically enjoy when authors blend their own personal narrative with history, it didn't always work here. I think I would've preferred two separate stories - one about Joshua and how he navigates the world as a Black prodigy and a separate one about Black prodigies across history.
Still, the writing was beautiful (this is the second book that I've read by a poet, and I've been spoiled) and really resonated with my experience as a Black prodigy. Give this one a chance if you're curious about how history treats Black prodigies and the ways we continue to survive and thrive.
The author narrated the audiobook, and I think he did a great job.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
This book is described as combining the author's personal narrative and history with the history of other Black people throughout history that were considered "gifted" in some way. Covering everyone from Stevie Wonder to Malcolm X to Nikki Giovanni, as well as lesser known gifted individuals, the book gives a glimpse into their life and how their talents and gifts were viewed. It also speaks to the hurdles they faced when being gifted and Black
I think this book is better termed as a collection of essays. The author is clearly a gifted writer and the writing overall is good. However, the book felt very disjointed to me. There wasn't a clear flow between, or even within, chapters. It seemed that the author jumped from person to person in some cases. Maybe it was just me, but I found it hard to figure out exactly where the author was going at times. I think the concept is great and the stories very interesting and inspiring, but the book needed more cohesion.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I think this book is better termed as a collection of essays. The author is clearly a gifted writer and the writing overall is good. However, the book felt very disjointed to me. There wasn't a clear flow between, or even within, chapters. It seemed that the author jumped from person to person in some cases. Maybe it was just me, but I found it hard to figure out exactly where the author was going at times. I think the concept is great and the stories very interesting and inspiring, but the book needed more cohesion.
I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
As an educator and a student of Black pedagogy and tradition I love how Dr Bennett mixed his story, his families histories with theory and the stories of current and historic forms of genius. I learned so much about so much (disability, the autism spectrum, music, art, philosophy, etc, etc,) and I have a list of people I am excited to learn more about!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced audio recording.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this advanced audio recording.
January 25, 2026
This book opened up a whole new world for me. I took pictures of all the people and incidents I wish to read more about. My heart breaks with the weight of hatred and misunderstanding that is in the world. Thank you Mr. Bennett for an enlightening book!
January 18, 2026
4 ⭐️ Joshua Bennett, you’ve got a beautiful gift
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Enlighting
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews