Get By: A Survival Guide for Black Gay Youth (Paperback)

~ Jonathan W. Jones (Author)
Key Phrases: ball culture, Gay Pride, New York, Men of All Colors Together (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

To be a male who is both Black and Gay is often referred to as 'the greatest taboo'. Growing up with such a stigma presents the young African-American homosexual with a lifetime of dilemmas. This book gives Black Gay youth a comprehensive guide to embracing their identity and developing into a proud, strong, and powerful member of their communities. With chapters on coming out, staying healthy, Black Gay history, religion, safe sex, drugs, self-defense, and more, 'Get By: A Survival Guide for Black Gay Youth' serves to empower the young Black Gay male against rising adversity, and triumph in the face of multiple oppressions.

About the Author

There exist certain advantages to communicating through print, in that it removes our natural verbal impediments. Our stammering and bobbling of words is replaced by the smooth machine-like flow of simple letters on a page. Of course, there are times when that's an advantage. Yet the passion behind Jonathan W. Jones' words reminds us of how this impersonal communication can do us an incredible disservice. Jonathan W. Jones' words have always conveyed a sense of his intelligence, but they cannot begin to illustrate the conviction with which he makes his points. When he talks about social advocacy, you can hear the irrepressible smile in his voice. When he discusses confronting homophobia in the Black community, the words start to come faster and begin spilling into one another as containing his enthusiasm becomes increasingly difficult. And when he talks about the woes of life as a "double minority", his tone takes on an acidic gravity that shows how deeply offended he is at the injustices of the world. It is this sincerity, manifested in his script, that makes Jonathan W. Jones the seminal young author that he is today. Whatever the topic, he seems to be lurking behind every word he writes; he genuinely means them. He is not some fly-by-night writer looking to make a quick buck before his limited scope diminishes. He is an author who carefully considers every factor that goes into his work and labors tirelessly to achieve his goals. Jonathan W. Jones represents a great deal of that which is good about the current generation of empowered young minds.

Product Details

• Paperback: 129 pages
• Publisher: BookSurge Publishing (December 28, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419623338
• ISBN-13: 978-1419623332
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,096,022 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THA BOMB....., March 1, 2006

By	DaGr8tOne "ROE" (Temple Hills, MD) - See all my reviews

This was an outstanding book.......i even let a couple of my friends read it......I wish i had this book b4 i started in "tha Life".......i say that because it tells you damn near EVERYTHING you need and want to know about "Tha Life".......It left out little things, but i would recommend this book to anyone coming out, out, about to come out, or in the closet......My Hats off to the author...... A job WELL DONE!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book might actually be one of my favorites of all time., September 14, 2008

By	Justin B (Boston) - See all my reviews

I completely agree with all the other reviews. This book was everything I was looking for. The author discusses every part of the black gay culture. Being a black gay college student I felt like I was having a conversation with one of my friends. If you're on the fence about this book buy it; you won't be disappointed.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I can do it because of this book., March 3, 2006

By	Aaron Rooney (Bath, PA) - See all my reviews

I got this book and opened it right away. I skipped to the chapter on downlow and coming out. It made me feel a lot better. I didn't come out yet, but I will, because it tells me how to do it safely, and with a backup plan. This book helped me a lot.