Anthologies of African American Writing

In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology (2nd ed.)

"In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology." Ed. Joseph Beam. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: RedBone, 2008. xxv+223 pp. (with new intro. by James Earl Hardy and updated biographies and resource listing)

● "In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology." Ed. Joseph Beam. Boston: Alyson, 1986. 255 pp.

● James Earl Hardy / And We Continue to Go the Way Our Blood Beats . . .
● Acknowledgements
● Joseph Beam / Introduction
● Brad Johnson / Coming of Age

Stepping Out
● Melvin Dixon / The Boy with Beer
● Gilberto Gerald / With My Head Held Up High

Cut Off from Among Their People
● Reginald Shepherd / On Not Being White
● Blackberri / Beautiful Blackman
● Stephan Lee Dais / Don’t Turn Your Back on Me
● Craig G. Harris / Cut Off from Among Their People

Creating Community
● James S. Tinney / Why a Black Gay Church?
● James Charles Roberts / A Light That Failed
● Donald W. Woods / Sister Lesbos

Brother/father/lover/son
● Essex Hemphill / Isn’t It Funny
● Essex Hemphill / Better Days
● Essex Hemphill / Cordon Negro
● Oye Apeji Ajanaku / Discharge USN ‘63
● Brad Johnson / Protest Poem
● Brad Johnson / The Buddy System
● Melvin Dixon / Getting Your Rocks Off
● Essex Hemphill / Serious Moonlight
● Donald W. Woods / Subway Trilogy
● Jerry Thompson / 19 a poem about Kenny / portrait of a hard rock
● Craig A. Reynolds / I Want to Love You
● Brad Johnson / The Hitter
● Craig G. Harris / Weekend Plans
● Melvin Dixon / Etymology: A Father’s Gift
● Billy S. Jones / A Father’s Need; A Parent’s Desire
● Philip Robinson / When I Stopped Kissing My Father
● Joseph Beam / Color Him Father: An Interview
● Donald W. Woods / A Poem for Eric

Speaking for Ourselves
● Joseph Beam / Emmett’s Story: Russell County, Alabama
● Bernard Branner / Blackberri: Singing for Our Lives
● Samuel R. Delaney and Joseph Beam / Samuel R. Delaney: The Possibility of Possibilities
● Charles Michael Smith / Bruce Nugent: Bohemian of the Harlem Renaissance

Stepping into Tomorrow . . .
● Essex Hemphill / For My Own Protection
● Max C. Smith / By the Year 2000
● Joseph Beam / Brother to Brother: Words from the Heart
● Assotto Saint / Risin’ to the Love We Need

● Contributors’ Biographies
● Resource Listing
● Updated Biographies
● Permissions

● About the Editor

● The anthology includes 36 contributions from 22 authors, plus the original introduction by Joseph Beam and the new introduction by James Earl Hardy.

● "In the Life, an expression which means being gay, is also the title of this collection of writings in which more than 25 [sic] black authors explore what it means to be doubly different--both black and gay--in modern America. These stories, verses, works of art and theater pieces voice the concerns and aspirations of an often silent minority. They can be poignant, erotic, resolute or angry, but always reflect the affirming power of coming together to build a strong black gay community. Editor Joseph Beam began collecting this material in 1984 after years of frustration with gay literature that had no message for--and little mention of--black gay men. 'The bottom line,' he wrote, 'is this: We are Black men who are proudly gay. What we offer is our lives, our love, our visions . . . We are coming home with our heads held up high.'
"With a new introduction by best-selling author James Earl Hardy. 'In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology' is a testament to the power of words to change lives. RedBone Press is pleased to reintroduce readers of all generations to this seminal collection of black gay men's writing" (back cover).
● Author Bio: "Joseph Beam (1954-1988) was a cultural and political activist, writer, editor and beloved son. Beam edited 'In the Life,' the groundbreaking anthology of black gay writing, originally published in 1986. He was a board member of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, was founding editor of 'BlackOut' magazine, served on the Gay and Lesbian Task Force of the American Friends Service Committee, and, prior to his death, had begun working on the book 'Brother to Brother.' Joseph Beam was a man who cared deeply about 'black men loving black men'" (back cover).
● "In IN THE LIFE, 29 [sic] black authors explore what it means to be doubly different--both black and gay--in modern America. These stories, verses, works of art and theater pieces voice the concerns and aspirations of an often silent minority. They can be poignant, erotic, resolute, or angry, but always reflect the affirming power of coming together to build a strong black gay community. In the introduction to the original 1986 edition, editor Joseph Beam wrote, 'The bottom line is this: We are Black men who are proudly gay. What we offer is our lives, our love, our visions . . . We are coming home with our heads held up high.' This twentieth anniversary edition includes a new introduction by James Earl Hardy" (WorldCat).

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Kinnamon 1997: 468]

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