Shades of Love: Black Homosexuality Volume 1 explains many interesting facts about the origins of homophobia in the black communities and the lies perpetuated about homosexuality in pre-colonial Africa by missionaries and racist European travelers.
In a time of cloaked racial bigotry and acceptable “in-your-face” homophobia, there are many voices that are lost in the shadows. Among them are black homosexuals who find themselves and the issues they face largely ignored. Being black and gay separates them from the greater society and they often find themselves on the outskirts of the black communities being judged and questioned about their loyalty and integrity. Neither phenomenon exists by accident. The same racism the black general population experience throughout their lives is the same racism magnified within the LGBT communities against LGBT people of color. The same racism that fed slavery is the same racism that led missionaries and European travelers to declare there was no homosexuality in pre-colonial Africa.
Shades Of Love: Black Homosexuality Volume 2 presents the shocking reality that African Americans have the leading rates of HIV infection in the country. This documentary also allowed us to touch upon prevention methods, and the dangers of pointing the finger at specific groups, i.e. bisexual men.
This volume also reveals the complex psychosocial dynamics involved in the duality of being both black and gay. Interviewees describe how they live their lives outside of the gay communities through the effects of racism. Then at the same time, they are facing homophobia from the black communities and recognize that the homophobia in the black communities stems from the racism of the greater society.
There are attitudes and feelings that are internalized within the gay communities based on racism and sexism. Interviewees speak about looking down on their fellow black, LGBT community members because of their own self hate about being black causing them to despise other black people as well. In addition, sexism is also very real within the LGBT communities as well.
For those who are both black and gay there is dual isolation. The level of understanding and bonding that people of color get from each other, gay black people are cut off from.
Shades Of Love: Black Homosexuality Volume 3 features the life stories of a wonderful group of proud, black, gay and lesbian sistahs and brothas and one heterosexual sistah who speaks about what life was like being raised by a lesbian mother. These men and women bravely expose themselves so that we may learn and understand black homosexual existence. All from vastly different backgrounds, this courageous group of people share the joys, pains and lessons experienced throughout their lives. We all have a story to tell and when we tell it, we inspire others.