Bring Brian Copeland's NOT A GENUINE BLACK MAN to Schools

Not a Genuine Black Man”

**Goal: $30,000**

## Help Us Build Bridges and Belonging in Our Schools

We’re raising funds to bring Brian Copeland’s powerful one-man show “Not a Genuine Black Man” to high schools and community colleges across our Bay Area community. This isn’t just entertainment—it’s empathy education that transforms how students see themselves and each other.

## Why This Matters Now

In an era where school bullying, social isolation, and student mental health challenges are at crisis levels, we need new tools to help young people connect across their differences. “Not a Genuine Black Man” uses humor, heart, and honest storytelling to build the empathy and understanding that every student deserves.

## What Is “Not a Genuine Black Man”?

“Not a Genuine Black Man” is the longest running one-man-show in Bay Area theatrical history.

This critically acclaimed play tells the true story of Brian Copeland’s childhood as one of the only Black families in an overwhelmingly white (and racially hostile) Bay Area suburb. Through laughter, tears and sociology, it explores universal themes everyone faces:

- Finding where you belong

- Dealing with bullying and exclusion

- Standing up for yourself and others

- Building resilience in the face of adversity

- Understanding that our differences make us stronger

**The results speak for themselves:** The book version is required reading at high schools and colleges nationwide, and the play (the longest running solo show in San Francisco theatrical history) has been performed over 1,000 times to standing ovations.

## Educational Impact & Academic Value

This program delivers measurable benefits that align with core educational goals:

**Character Development:** Students develop critical social-emotional skills including empathy, resilience, and conflict resolution—skills that research shows reduce anxiety and depression while improving academic performance.

**College & Career Readiness:** The storytelling format teaches critical thinking, perspective-taking, and communication skills that employers consistently rank as essential for 21st-century success.

**Creating Safer Schools:** By fostering understanding across differences, this program helps build the inclusive school communities where all students can focus on learning and growth.

**Anti-Bullying Education:** Rather than just telling students “don’t bully,” this approach helps them understand the real impact of exclusion and builds genuine motivation to create positive change.

## How Your Donation Creates Change

**$30,000 will fund:**

- Professional performance fees for multiple high school and college presentations

- Q&A sessions with the performer

- Transportation and technical requirements

- Program evaluation to measure impact on school climate

**Your investment reaches:**

- 2,000+ students and their families across multiple high school and college communities

- 100+ teachers and staff

- Countless families as these performances will be performed in the evening thus allowing entire school communities and families to attend free of charge.

## Why High Schools and Colleges Need This Now

Today’s young people are facing unprecedented challenges:

- Rising rates of anxiety, depression, and social isolation

- Increased polarization and division in communities

- Limited opportunities to engage with diverse perspectives

- Growing concerns about school safety and belonging

“Not a Genuine Black Man” addresses these challenges head-on by creating shared experiences that build bridges between students who might never otherwise connect.

## The Ripple Effect

When students experience this program, the impact extends far beyond the auditorium:

- Improved school climate and reduced incidents of exclusion

- Enhanced classroom discussions about literature, history, and current events

- Students becoming advocates for inclusion in their own communities

- Educators equipped with new tools for character education

- Families engaging in meaningful conversations about empathy and belonging

## Join Our Mission

Every student deserves to feel they belong. Every young person needs tools to navigate our diverse world with empathy and understanding. Every school community benefits when students learn to see beyond their differences to their shared humanity.

Your donation doesn’t just fund a performance—it invests in the next generation’s capacity for compassion, understanding, and positive change.

**Together, we can create schools where every student belongs and thrives.**

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No giveaways, or promotions are offered in exchange for any donations made to this GoFundMe

**Please share this campaign and help us reach our goal of $30,000 to transform how our students connect with each other and their community.