Thirteen-year-old Joseph, a deaf African American boy who cannot speak, faces the universal struggles of adolescence multiplied by the weight of his silence. In a world that rarely listens, his mission is simple yet profound: to survive—and to become fully, fearlessly human.

SYNOPSIS:

Thirteen-year-old Joseph, an African American boy from Brooklyn, was born deaf due to a congenital brain condition. After his father left the family shortly after his birth, he was raised by his mother, who, working multiple jobs and living on a limited budget, couldn’t afford the time or money for specialized care. As a result, Joseph never learned to speak. However, his mind is exceptionally sharp: he easily masters mathematics, is passionate about physics, and has read nearly every book in the local library. By day, he attends a specialized class for deaf children; by night, he dreams of real communication and of telling his own story.

Despite all the challenges, Joseph is determined to learn how to speak. He trains through pain, exhaustion, despair, and even hopelessness — but he doesn’t give up. And over time, step by step, he begins to pronounce his first words.

At the threshold of adolescence, Joseph faces first love, school bullying, and the search for self-identity. A classmate who understands him without words becomes his emotional anchor and the first person who opens his heart. Idealized images on social media deepen his sense of inadequacy, as he compares his life to the seemingly perfect lives of others.

Alongside these struggles, Joseph’s relationship with his devout mother — whose strict religious beliefs often clash with his yearning for freedom — creates additional tension. His loving grandmother, however, supports him with warmth and understanding expressed through silent gestures. Joseph often faces misunderstanding from adults who aren’t willing — or able — to see the world through his eyes.

Each episode focuses on one of the key challenges of adolescence combined with the unique experience of deafness: from mastering sign language to confronting inner conflicts. As he overcomes obstacles, Joseph learns to find his true voice — not only in the silence of his heart, but also in the sounds he slowly begins to create himself.