BLACK ON BLACK

A novelist and scholar explores a variety of aspects of Blackness in modern America.

Black, a professor of African American studies at Clark Atlanta University, begins the book with “A Sermon,” which lists a series of reasons why he writes, including the erasure of queer Black love and the devaluing of Black beauty and culture. “I want Blackness to bloom all over this land to mend what whiteness has broken,” he writes in a forceful statement of purpose. “I want people to love the stranger, honor the ex-con, respect the sex worker. To assume their humanity regardless of their appearance or station. To know that every life is worth its breath. We all are. But sometimes we’re not so sure. So, for those in-between times, I write….Until we discover that as long as there are books, there is everlasting life! This is why I write.” The author examines the problem of patriarchy in the Black church and advocates for a new, revised Bible that celebrates Black divinity. He also questions the utility of integration, claiming that many “elders” regret how desegregation led to the breakdown of institutions like Black-run schools and businesses, which nurtured and celebrated Black excellence and success. Some of the most powerful essays feature Black’s personal experiences. For example, in one piece, the author writes about a professor in his undergraduate program who pushed him to do academic work that he never dreamed he could do—and to hold himself to high standards that have served him throughout his academic career. In another piece, he describes his grandmother’s subtle support of his queerness despite the danger this could have posed to both of them. Not all of the pieces are as potent, but overall, the author’s passionate prose reflects his unique, thought-provoking perspective.

An innovative, lyrical take on the queer Black experience.