Chatroom For Downlow Brothas

MC 2000

Robertson Treatment Syndicated Colu...

* 6 questions with Terrence Dean

Terrence Dean is perhaps the most notable black gay author to hit the literary scene since E. Lynn Harris. With more than five books to his credit (including the bestseller "Hiding in Hip Hop"), Dean has built a reputation for creating stories that reveal the complex life faced by black gay men in society . In his latest book, "Mogul," Dean continues to explore this territory, with its frank and interesting perspective.Robertson Treatment recently spoke with him about his new project, and lingering questions that a majority segment of the African American community still have gay identities.

Robertson Treatment: Why is homophobia so prevalent in urban music?

Terrence Dean: Homosexuality is a taboo conversation in our communities. People are afraid to discuss the topic, and if they do with some venomous hatred, so that it leads to young victims of bullying, and the other suicide. It is time for us to have an intelligent discourse on homosexuality, especially in Hip Hop.It says a lot about our communities where we always attack someone based on their sexuality, and we saw that happening with the DJ / Producer Mister Cee situation where he was arrested for lewd sexual acts with another man, and the rapper B, Lil, who has announced plans to title his next album, "I am gay", and it is a heterosexual man. Both incidents created an outcry in the black community, especially in Hip Hop. And it was a great moment for us to meet with black and brown leaders, churches and the LGBT community to have a homosexual in the dialogue in America.It would be great if people did eventually speak and say something. Thus, the conversations begin. That's how a dialogue is created. If people do not feel anything after reading this book so basically, I have not done my job. I want readers to become angry, sad, upset, happy or joyful when they read this book and get to know these characters. I want them to feel invested in their lives, and especially what and how the entertainment industry is about. People need to feel involved in such a way that they take what they read at work, school, blogs, chat room tips, Twitter and Facebook.At the end of the day, I am writing on a controversial subject and topic that has plagued our communities and around the world for over a decade. And despite the many top-secret conversations, or speculation about sex in a certain celebrity, not a black celebrity (music artist) came forward. No one has publicly announced that they are gays. Why? Again, I ask in this day and age we have a black president, and the repeal of "Do not ask, do not say, that not a single black celebrity will appear and be who they are and they like desire, without fear of trial or ridicule?I hope my book will create conversation, and a platform for a Black celebrity / s to appear.

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