Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual African American Fiction

Black Like Us compiles key works of lesbian, gay, and bisexual African American fiction spanning the 20th century. The anthology features both celebrated and lesser-known authors who wrote about same-sex desire and relationships during different historical periods. The collection is divided into three chronological sections: 1900-1950, 1950-1980, and 1980-2000. Each section includes biographical information about the authors and historical context about the cultural and social landscapes in which they wrote. Notable contributors include Langston Hughes, Alice Dunbar-Nelson, James Baldwin, and Audre Lorde. The selected works encompass various literary forms including short stories, novel excerpts, and autobiographical pieces. This groundbreaking anthology demonstrates how LGBTQ African American writers addressed intersecting identities and challenged social conventions throughout the century. The collected works reveal evolving attitudes about sexuality, race, and self-expression in American literature and society.

Readers appreciate the breadth of LGBTQ+ Black literature covered, with many noting the anthology fills a gap in documenting these intersectional voices over a full century. Multiple reviews mention the helpful historical context and biographical details provided for each author. Readers liked: - Introduction essays that frame each historical period - Inclusion of lesser-known writers alongside established names - Mix of styles from realism to experimental works Common criticisms: - Some selections feel too brief or excerpted - A few readers wanted more contemporary authors - Index could be more comprehensive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.17/5 (46 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (11 reviews) "This collection opened my eyes to so many incredible writers I'd never encountered before" - Goodreads reviewer "The historical framework helps show the evolution of these themes over time" - Amazon review "Would have liked full stories rather than excerpts in some cases" - LibraryThing review

Brother to Brother: New Writings by Black Gay Men by Essex Hemphill This anthology presents essays and creative works exploring intersections of Black and gay male identities through multiple generations of writers.

In the Life: A Black Gay Anthology by Joseph Beam The collection compiles poetry, essays, and short stories from Black gay men writing about their experiences in the 1980s.

Does Your Mama Know? An Anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories by Lisa C. Moore First-person narratives document Black lesbian experiences across different decades and social contexts.

The African American Writers Anthology by Charles Rowell This compilation features works by LGBTQ+ Black writers alongside texts exploring sexuality and gender in African American literature.

The Fire This Time: A New Generation Speaks about Race by Jesmyn Ward The anthology connects contemporary Black LGBTQ+ voices with historical civil rights discourse through essays and creative works.

📚 The book features over 40 authors spanning from the Harlem Renaissance through the 1990s, many of whom were "discovered" and published for the first time in this collection. 🖋️ Co-editor Dwight A. McBride is a renowned scholar who later became President of The New School in New York City and has written extensively about race and sexuality in American literature. 📖 The anthology includes works from well-known authors like Alice Walker and James Baldwin alongside lesser-known but influential writers like Richard Bruce Nugent and Audre Lorde. 🏆 When published in 2002, it was one of the first major collections to specifically focus on Black LGBTQ+ fiction across the entire 20th century. 🌟 The book helped bring attention to previously overlooked or suppressed queer themes in works by major African American writers, revealing a rich literary tradition that had been largely ignored by mainstream criticism.