black gay men
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I May Destroy You: Paapa Essiedu Rejects the 'Violent Erasure of the Black Male Experience Spectrum' by Portraying Kwame
The Root recently talked with show creator and star Michaela Coel about the inner-workings of the critically acclaimed I May Destroy You. As I mentioned previously, one of the things I love about the show is its ability to showcase a wide range of aspects concerning sexual assault and rape (it’s already impressive enough as…
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Thoughts Can Do Harm: In Defense of ‘Policing’ Our Fantasies
I wanted to kill my boyfriend in ways that let me observe his suffering and return the power in our relationship to my hands. The thought crossed my mind in the heat of an argument. It is a dangerous, albeit relatable, thought for many people who have experienced romantic love. Although I will not commit…
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Emil Wilbekin’s Native Son Will Change the Way Black Gay Men Are Represented in the Media
Emil Wilbekin is a superstar journalist who intends to change the way black gay men are perceived and received in mainstream media. He intends to shift culture through his initiative, Native Son, which is inspired by James Baldwin’s Notes of a Native Son. “Mr. Baldwin talks a lot about social justice, the black church, family,…
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Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative: Empowering Black Gay Men to Tackle Trump’s America
Since Donald Trump was elected, marginalized communities have understood that life could become more difficult, but no one could have imagined just how difficult. From the moment Trump was inaugurated, we have borne witness to the ways in which his presidency has negatively affected our lives. From instituting a Muslim ban to emboldening and supporting…
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If Black Gay Men on TV Were All Masculine ‘Professionals,’ Would We Still Care About Diversity?
On modern-day reality-television shows, audiences often bear witness to stereotypical, one-dimensional representations of black queer men. From the iconic Miss J. Alexander on America’s Next Top Model to the frequent appearances on Real Housewives of Atlanta and even Love & Hip Hop, we have often seen narrow depictions of the black male queer experience: divas…
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Be a ‘Real’ Man: Black Gay Man Shares Homophobic Experience in Nail Salon
I love everything about manicures: the soaking of my nails, the clipping of my stressed-out cuticles, the massaging of my hands, the polishing and drying—and the lotion that people can never seem to find anywhere else. The nail salon has been my home away from home since my undergraduate years in northeastern Ohio. It provided…