Black gay poet and performance artist, Yolo Akili, released a docu-poem 2 days ago. “Are We The Kind Of Boys We Want” looks at black gay men, gender and desire and is the third poetry video from his studio album, Purple Galaxy. As soon as I watched the video, I knew I had to post it on Black Gay Men’s Blog, but the last couple of days have been so hectic – better late than never. Are We The Kind Of Boys We Want looks at issues we have been exploring on the blog, so I knew you guys would appreciate it. Some well known Atlanta activists reflect on gender stereotypes, sexism in gay men, romantic relationships and sexual roles. The poem is performed in interview and commentary style and includes appearances by Blogger Darian Aaron (Living Out Loud With Darian) , Rapper/Singer Anye Elite, Singer/Activist, Anthony Antoine McWilliams and many more.
Yolo says: “I wrote this poem in college after realizing that me and my friends, who would definitely be considered “feminine”, not only never liked boys like us, but often seemed disgusted at them. I began to wonder what it meant when a reflection of you walks by and you are repulsed. The poem is about just that, pondering what that kind of behavior means for our own self esteem and self image in the context of gender and sexuality. “Purple Galaxy: A Poetic Experience” is an audio-visual journey into sexuality, politics and the sacred. In the show, Yolo is a spirit sent to earth to learn about radical social justice, sexuality without orientation, religion vs. spirituality and love. “If people thought my work was controversial before, well then this project will take that even further.” says Yolo. “The show will include new theatrical monologues, poems from the album, and new videos. It’s gonna be out of this world!” Yolo is raising funds to complete the videos and pay the artists who are helping him put the show together, as well as premiere it in Atlanta GA in the fall. He will be touring across the country this summer performing different parts of the show.
This piece really speaks to me, because the question “Are We The Kind Of Boys or Men We Want” can be applied not just to gender stereotypes, but also character as well. Opposites attract, so they say and that’s fine. It is one thing to be attracted to a man who is nothing like you, but if you look down on other men, who are just like you, you are looking down on yourself. Personally, I find that now that I have truly accepted the totality of who I am, I am more attracted to a wider variety of men. So yes I would date me and I am the kind of man I want. Are You?
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We need to support black gay artists and the LGBT arts in general. As mentioned above, Yolo is raising funds for his show and he needs our support. If this is your first introduction to Yolo, we will be posting his other videos in the videos section of Black Gay Men’s Blog. Get to know him, support him and check out his site, http://www.yoloakili.com. You can also show your support by tweeting this blog post and liking it on facebook(see buttons below), so we can get the word out there and support this brother and other black gay artists.
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I really enjoyed this!
I’m not the kind of man I want, YET – but I am a work in progress.
Opening my mind to new things, questioning old ways and growing over the last year. Imma soon be the kind of man I want!
Yolo, great job! Storm, thanks for introducing me to this brother and so much more on this blog. We gotta love and support each other.
Indeed a very profound performance piece. I liked the energy.
I would “date” me, no problem. I wouldn’t date a “fem”. I don’t look down on them, just not my cup of tea (pun intended). I find that the folks that do look down on them, 9 times out of 10 are “fem” themselves.
When someone says, “not my cup of tea” What I hear is.. a Fem black male wouldnt even be your friend. Why? Because what people with that attitude really mean is.. I can have people around me that call attension to what Im into,I like to be,discrete,and a dude is percieved to be gay sheds light on something that I only want to vocalize with someone I choose to voclaize that with.
As far as “9 out of 10 are fem themselves” its the reverse actually. Why? Lets ssy your in church,sports event,are 80% of the people in these places “fem guys”? Not! People with your attitude seem to think fem guys out number masculine guys when you group gay men all together.
If soemthing is self identifying its easy to point out a number thats visible. One thing masculine men are good at,and thats blending in so they cant be counted.(90% of the time dont want to be Identified)
Sure, if you go to a gay bar your going to Idnetify more “percieved gay men in larger numbers,because remember,in the early 19th century Precieved gay men were targeted and beatup and locked away for not acting manly enough and were Identified as gay. Men like yourself only revolted if they happeend to be attracted to the gay men that were vilified back then.
Your numbers are larger and always have been. Walk into any barber shop and tell me all the masculine men that sit aound and talk about females and fem gay guys they arent or havent had a homsexual experince? That wouldnt vocalize it.
“Its easy to take a path that is hidden,
(because your confortable with no conflict)
but its harder to survive a path that is revealed.”
(conflict is the backbone of streangth)
I saw this presentation a long time ago,and its thought provoking. What this made me realize is that,this is really about fem guys. Who reject other fem guys solely on the fact that they arent masculine or “Manly” I also got that the masculine guys that asked themelves that question didnt really create an impact for me because, I am fully aware of the fact that one of the biggest turn ons for masculine guys that date masculine guys is when they go out in public striaght people dont have the first thought, “They are lovers.” but more of “they are buddies” this implys a platonic association between the two men. The homosexual connection between them is hidden,unless vocalized or displayed.
I think many fem guys suffer from, “your not a real man unless you can act like one natrually.” Emasculating ourselves more so than those closeted masculine homophobes do.
The fem guys that I have datted have had this “attitude” since your not man enough Im going to do more to hurt you than I would if I came across a “real man” Every fem guy I dated broke up with me for a masculine actting guy. Im not saying all fem guys are like this, remember I said “Everyone I dated that was fem”
I would date myself,I said when I saw this video,but I have also come to realize ,many fem guys are more vicious because of the opression they get from all around ,race & community involved.
The perception of gay or (Fem guys) have existed long before media decided to clasify DL from closeted,when they are the same things.
This is the damage of religion that has influenced many to think “Femguy equals gay” Yes there was a time where if you were a fem guy you were looked at as “unique” But this time was before America was born.
Its easy to choose a path thats hidden,but harder to survive a path that is revealed.