Son, Rise, Son, Shine: A Journey of Faith, Family, and Finding the Light Within

by Gerald Garth

Born in Baton Rouge and raised between church pews, front porches, and the quiet expectations of a Southern Black family, Gerald Garth learned early what it meant to carry both promise and pressure. In Son, Rise, Son, Shine, he recounts a journey of faith, identity, heartbreak, and healing as he navigates the complex intersections of family, church, sexuality, and purpose.

From sunrise conversations with his beloved grandmother to the rigid doctrines of a religious upbringing, from first love and devastating loss to finding his voice on the stage and in the world, Garth traces the path of a young man determined to reconcile the many parts of himself that others insisted could not coexist.
With lyrical storytelling and disarming honesty, Son, Rise, Son, Shine is a story about becoming—about learning that faith and authenticity are not enemies, that love can outlast shame, and that sometimes the greatest act of courage is simply choosing to live.

This is the story of a son rising—again and again—until he finally learns how to shine.

252 pages, Paperback

Published August 14, 2026

Reviews

[Charlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book that is so well written written. It tells the story of a Southern Black Queer man who truly personifies Black Boy Joy.