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: The center announced a new mural project titled The Faces of Our Future . Elias was invited to contribute. Instead of a traditional portrait, he decided to write a poem that would be integrated into the artwork.

: He wrote about the "unapologetic sun," a metaphor for living openly. He wrote about the strength it takes to be soft and the bravery found in being free to love. free blacks boy gay

Elias lived in a neighborhood where history wasn't just in books; it was painted on the brick walls of every alleyway. As a young Black man growing up in a vibrant urban community, he felt the weight and the beauty of those who came before him—the activists, the jazz musicians, and the resilient families. But Elias was also looking for a version of himself that wasn't always on the walls: a Black boy who loved poetry as much as he loved his neighborhood. : The center announced a new mural project

As he stood there, a younger boy from the basketball courts walked up, read the poem, and looked at Elias with a silent, knowing nod. In that moment, Elias realized that by being his authentic self, he wasn't just finding his own freedom—he was helping paint a path for someone else. : He wrote about the "unapologetic sun," a

For a long time, Elias kept his words tucked into a leather-bound notebook. He feared that being his true self might distance him from the "toughness" sometimes expected of him. However, his perspective began to shift when he started volunteering at the , a local hub for art and advocacy.