Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing [Paperback]

Isaac Jackson (Collaborator)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2004

Freedom in This Village charts for the first time ever the innovative course of black gay male literature of the past 25 years. Starting in 1979 with the publication of James Baldwin's final novel, Just Above My Head, then on to the radical writings of the 1980s, the breakthrough successes of the 1990s, and up to today's new works, editor E. Lynn Harris collects 47 sensational stories, poems, novel excerpts, and essays. Authors featured include Samuel R. Delany, Essex Hemphill, Melvin Dixon, Marlon Riggs, Assotto Saint, Larry Duplechan, Reginald Shepherd, Carl Phillips, Keith Boykin, Randall Kenan, Thomas Glave, James Earl Hardy, Darieck Scott, Gary Fisher, Bruce Morrow, John Keene, G. Winston James, Bil Wright, Robert Reid Pharr, Brian Keith Jackson, as well as an array of exciting new and established writers.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press (December 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786713879
• ISBN-13: 978-0786713875
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,282,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Our Time Has Come, January 5, 2005

By 

Juss Books "Juss" (Brooklyn, New York USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing (Paperback)

I just started reading it (smile) but am compelled to write the following...If you are a lover of Black Gay Male Literature then this is the book to purchase.

Freedom In This Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing edited and and with an introudction by E. Lynn Harris.

I happened (smile) to be coming from The Abbey during my time home in Los Angeles last week when I passed A Different Light Bookstore. I went in and displayed prominently was this book and of course, I had to have it, and so I bought it, and anticipated reading it once I completed "The Last Dream Before Dawn."

I started reading this book last night on the 2 train (New York City) and while I was reading "About The Contributors" a combination of anger and sadness came over me and one that at this time I cannot capture but it was more to the fact that we need books that celebrate us...Black Gay Men

I was saddened by the number of men who died of AIDS related illnesses and was like what are we doing, what am I doing, to honor these men who made it possible for me to be one that to some degree has a bit more "freedom in the village" than they did.

As I was looking through the "Table of Contents" I saw some familiar names and new names that I look forward to reading.

We need or rather I feel we need books like this on the regular as there are so many voices as one is not merely enough and also cannot tell all our stories.

I implore you, each of you, to rise and have your voices heard and if you are a lover of Black Gay Male Literature then by all means purchase this book if not for you then for someone else.

With that said, I have some reading to do (smile)...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Poetic and Emotive pieces on black gay life/vision/passions/joys, November 19, 2008

By 

steVando (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing (Paperback)

Its not a book to read from cover to cover, but beautifully written short pieces that you can skip to and delve into unexplored black gay world of love, passions, sufferings, perspectives. This is NOT for the beginner or the one discovering their sexuality. It is NOT for the gay friendly NOR for the one looking for erotic turn-ons. This is a very mature compilation of different authors writings that will only be appreciated by the one who has already experienced gay black sexuality. Then you will discover, like I did, that there is this wonderful abstract underworld of meaningfulness in being black and gay at the same time not shoving it down your throat, but merely inviting the reader to experience the other end of the burning cigarette. OK this makes no sense to me either... But dont listen to this mediocre review and get the book if you are a mature reader. If you just green at the gay black thang, dont choose this. Look at my other reviews and select the books you think fit you best. I LOVE THIS BOOK! BUT ITS NOT FOR EVERYONE...

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Brother Likes This Book, January 25, 2005

By 

BORED by SOME Books (Syracuse, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Freedom in this Village: Twenty-Five Years of Black Gay Men's Writing (Paperback)

Syracuse New York

My brother happens to be gay and I got him this book for christmas. He LOOOOOOOVES it. He says it's one of the best books he's read in years.

Just my two cents.