Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South by Johnson, E. Patrick (2011) Paperback

by E. Patrick Johnson

"Giving voice to a population rarely acknowledged in southern history, Sweet Tea collects life stories from black gay men who were born, raised, and continue to live in the southern United States. E. Patrick Johnson challenges stereotypes of the South as "backward" or "repressive," suggesting that these men draw upon the performance of "southernness" - politeness, coded speech, and religiosity, for example - to legitimate themselves as members of both southern and black cultures. At the same time, Johnson argues, they deploy those same codes to establish and build friendship networks and find sexual partners and life partners." "Traveling to every southern state, Johnson conducted interviews with more than seventy black gay men between the ages of 19 and 93 - lawyers, hairdressers, ministers, artists, doctors, architects, students, professors, and corporate executives, as well as the retired and unemployed. Sweet Tea is arranged according to themes echoed in their narratives. Chapters explore unique experiences as well as shared ones, from coming out stories and church life to homosex and love relationships." The voices collected here dispute the idea that gay subcultures flourish primarily in northern, secular, urban areas. In addition to filling in a gap in the sexual history of the South, Sweet Tea offers a window into the ways that black gay men negotiate their sexual and racial identities with their southern cultural and religious identities. The interviews also reveal how they build and maintain community in many spaces and activities, some of which may appear to be anti-gay. Through Johnson's use of critical performance ethnography, Sweet Tea validates the lives of these black gay men and reinforces the role of storytelling in both African American and southern cultures.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, LGBT, Race, Queer, Memoir, Biography

Paperback

First published September 15, 2008

About the author

E. Patrick Johnson (Ph.D.) is an African-American performance artist, ethnographer, and scholar.

Reviews

[Jeffrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Squash what you THINK you know about many stereotypes about gay black men
(GBM) of the south, this book "BRINGS IT".

While some stereotypes are self-actualized, most GBM inwardly chuckle at
the misconceptions about how they "get down".

I enjoyed this book because it was told from the perspective of several GBM
Who unabashedly describe (some in detail) their own personal experiences
that shaped who they are.

I would recommend this book for an honest look inside the lives of GBM of
the"South".

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very slow reading but fascinating collection of interviews gathered by the author in 2004-2005 in different cities in the South, including several from men in New Orleans. One narrator, Countess Vivian, lived directly across the street from me when I first moved to New Orleans and into the French Quarter. Instructed me a lot in a culture outside my norm - very interesting. Because he quotes the narrators exactly, it can be hard to follow sometimes.

[LaJuan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the men interviewed, grew up in the South and have remained in the South. But I think the book can be applied specifically to many black gay men regardless of geographical location. An interesting academic exercise...

[Anilea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe E.Patrick Johnson did a remarkable scholarly work that shall be studied and and preserved for generations to come.
Not only by tracing oral records of the Southern Queers in the south but by amplifying them as testimonies of their existence, experiences, strife, survival and leaving their mark in history in a world that keep on denying their existence in creating the culture, recording their history, and all while retaining their Dignity.

[Sanchita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful exploration of performance and oral history.

[Michael Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book

[melissa]

I saw E. Patrick Johnson do an informal performance of some of the stories in the book. Really fascinating stories to be sure. Can't wait to read it when I have more time.