George M. Johnson’s “Flamboyants” uncovers the heroes of Black queer history
The Harlem Renaissance of the 1920s, to help create a better future.Into this august territory steps author George M. Johnson with his new book Flamboyants: The Queer Harlem Renaissance I Wish I’d Known, a celebration of “writers, performers, and activists from 1920s Black America whose sexualities have been obscured throughout history.” Through 14 essays, Johnson reveals how American culture has been shaped by icons who are both Black and Queer—and whose stories deserve to be retold, celebrated and remembered.Subscribe to Native Son’s newsletter for more news, information, and conversations about Black gay and queer everything.Johnson, whose New York Times Best Selling memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue is one of the most banned books in the United States, is at the forefront of the cultural zeitgeist.
Flamboyants explores the expansive and intersectional existence of Black queer life from the past to create space for the future.Native Son asked Johnson five questions about Flamboyants, the Harlem Renaissance, and which historical figure inspires. Native Son: What is the origin story of Flamboyants? A post shared by George M Johnson (@iamgmjohnson)George M.
Johnson: Flamboyants is interesting in the sense that we originally wanted to do this on television or in film. I worked with Twiggy Pucci Garçon, my sister, my best friend.
We own a production company together called No Shade. And during the pandemic, after All Boys Aren’t Blue was optioned by Gabrielle Union, we were like, Oh, we wanna create more stories and renaissance-like periods of queerness where the stories have been told either incorrectly or not given the full Black experience.
