Just Looking ...

I have recently read an ethnography called, One of a Children: Gay black men in Harlem. It was quite interesting to note that gay men in Harlem recognize the discrimination against them has to do with their skin colour, rather than sexuality. They were being discriminated against in the white gay community, but are accepted in their own black community. The author illustrates the importance of these gay black men’s pride in black culture. They strongly feel the need to maintain a unique ethnic identity that is in opposition to mainstream culture. Agreeing with Rach’s post, gay black men in Harlem is about being black in America, that is not to be white. They transgress the “whitewashed” norms in mainstream culture. In doing so, they search for African roots to bring out a unique black culture, a culture that cannot be imitated by white people. They emphasis that white men can dress, and talk like black people, but they will never understand how it is like to be black. Because being black is learn through family and associating with black roots. Understanding that they have been treated as second-class citizens in America, they want to be defined as Black African-Americans.