Customer Reviews

One More River to Cross: Black & Gay in America

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Intelligent, inspiring and insightful are just 3 of the great "I" words that describe "One More River To Cross." Never before has a book dealt with the issues of being part of multiple minority groups in such an honest way. The combination of politics and a peak into Boykins personal life really make this book hard to put down. Not everyone will be able to relate and or agree directly to every point made in this book, even if they're exactly part of the subject matter. Even with that obstacle the highs and lows of life for a specific group of Americans (whom to often go unnoticed and unacknowledged)are still brought to the surface and told in a way that will enlighten all. A must read for anyone who is supposedly a "minority."

There is not enough discourse concerning the intersections and conflicts of black and homosexual america. This book does a great job at detailing these cross sections and differences. This book is best when we hear from the Boykin's personal memoirs and anecdotes. Stories about his gay uncle, his grandmother and his childhood wrestling buddy show the nuances of a developing black gay youth. The only problem with the book is that it compares homosexuality to blackness. This is not a problem in and of itself, however Boykin merely restates what is already known, without really bringing anything new to the table. Especially since these comparisons and contrasts have frequently been made. This book is strongest--and most interesting--when Boykin relates his personal childhood, educational and employment anecdotes. Boykin, a black gay Harvard Law graduate, occupies an unusual niche in America, his stories and perspective are bound to be insightful.

Reading Keith Boykins book "Black and Gay in America" gives insight to both, Non African American Gay persons and hetrosexuals of all race and gender, to the experiences and challenges of surving the dificulties of race and gender in the United States. After reading and sharing this book i'm convinced that it could be a useful tool in gaining greater insight about Black Gay Folks. As a African American Gay Man, I proud to have the opportunity to share such a well written, well documented, and thought provking book with persons regardless of race, gender or sexual orrientation.

Keith Boykin's One More River to Cross offers a wonderful discussion on issues that arise with being African American and gay in today's society. He does a wonderful job of making relevant issues known and connects the African American struggle from Frederic Douglass to Audre Lorde's Zami. Read it, you'll love it.

Obviously this was written to the straight crowd to understand the points of view and lives of the Black male and the Gay Black male. Some gay reviewers were upset that they did not learn much, true but it helps put thing in perspective even for you Divas! For the feminist reviewers, well all i can say is no one can ever please a woman, especially the feminist ones. For the rapper: OK, he a clear dumb as* and probably did not have the attention span to get past the first pages, and what a shame! It is great for the white str8 guys and for the newbies at being gay and being black. Its a great review onto other gay books including the mediocre "On the Down-low". So, you will either love it, or hate it. No in betweens here. Buy it of course, and read the entire thing. Form your own opinion. DOnt be cheap and let these reviews make up your mind. i'd love to read what you had to say about it.

Kudos to Boykin for writing the book, but in all honesty, the work seems written for an audience that is either non-black or black but non-gay. For black gays, most of Boykin's observations will seem obvious, and he doesn't offer much new insight.

After a while, books like this grow tiresome and seem almost cynical in their opportunism.

This book is a page turner, you feel yourself actually wanting to coniue reading it.

This book takes the time to live up to every lie there is in the African American In the Life community. It is a sad that this was even allowed to go to print.

As an AA, Lesbian Sistah, I found this book to be oppressive, separatist, and offensive. How does Boykin expect to find unity as a black supremacist?

I am a rapper. I hate this book. It's wack and stupid.