George M. Johnson’s “Flamboyants” uncovers the heroes of Black queer history

Photo by Vincent Marc

Beyoncé’s “Welcome to the Renaissance”—which opened every show of her $579.8 million-grossing, 39-city concert tour of 2023—was an invitation to step into a brave world celebrating Black creativity, intersectionality and multi-faceted expressions of sexual identity. It looked back at one of the most impactful moments of intellectualism, social consciousness, and artistic expression in Black 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

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