Have you read?
In this issue we want to bring your attention to Richard Bruce Nugent, a gay writer, painter and dancer of the Harlem Renaissance. He was one of the few gay Harlem artists who were publicly out, and he produced many pieces of art over the course of his career exploring gay and black culture.
One of his best-known pieces is a short story called "Smoke, Lilies, and Jade." Written as a stream of consciousness, it explored bisexuality and interracial male desire, and was published in the publication Fire!! by Wallace Thurman. Here is an excerpt:
One of his best-known pieces is a short story called "Smoke, Lilies, and Jade." Written as a stream of consciousness, it explored bisexuality and interracial male desire, and was published in the publication Fire!! by Wallace Thurman. Here is an excerpt:
…through his half-closed eyes he could see Beauty…propped…cheek in hand…on one elbow…looking at him…lips smiling quizzically…he wished Beauty wouldn’t look so hard…Alex was finding it difficult to breathe…breathe normally…why must Beauty look so long…and smile that way…his face seemed nearer…it was…Alex could feel Beauty’s hair on his forehead…breathe normally…breathe normally…
Bridging the gap between the black gay movement of the 1980s and the Harlem Renaissance, his work began to appear in anthologies like Black Men/White Men: A Gay Anthology (1983), and In The Life: A Black Gay Anthology (1986). He was also featured in the 1984 gay documentary Before Stonewall, and the 1989 film, Looking for Langston.
There’s much more to know about Richard and his work - so go check it out!
There’s much more to know about Richard and his work - so go check it out!