Not Straight, Not White

“Indispensable for those who reject the erasure of black queerness in American civil rights history."—The Guardian

“It’s easy to say that Mumford speaks the truth to power throughout Not Straight, Not White—because he does. Yet, a more nuanced treasure that Mumford gifts us with is a methodology for intimacy—to discover how in our closeness, throughout our vulnerabilities, and by articulating our failures we can (and must somehow) arrive at the love we all, each one of us, so desperately need.”—CLA Journal

“A wonderful primer for understanding the cultural context of and many important figures in black gay history.”—American Literature

“Mumford offer[s] insight into how generations of black gay men grappled with racial and sexual oppression . . . while also providing blueprints for black gay men today.”—Lambda Literary

“A pioneering book.”—American Historian

“An amazing reference that gives historical context of Black America around some of the most taboo subjects in our history.”—A&U Magazine

“Not Straight, Not White is a landmark book that adds a different voice, approach, and substance to the field of black queer studies. A joy to read, this astonishing and refreshing book is sure to be read closely, lauded, and debated.”—Marlon Ross, University of Virginia

“In Not Straight, Not White, Kevin Mumford sets the gay historical record 'straight' by deftly demonstrating the ways in which black gays played a pivotal role in the social and political movements of the last fifty years. Through meticulously researched archival material, Mumford persuasively argues that black gay men were neither silent nor passive participants in the gay or black liberation struggle. From the March on Washington to the AIDS epidemic, this book recuperates a history that has been shaded by other historical accounts that either erase black gay presence altogether or offer this presence as tangential. With this book Mumford affirms the humanity and fierceness of black gay men everywhere.”—E. Patrick Johnson, author of Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South