Meet E. Lynn Harris
One day after the Windstorm of 2003, hit Memphis on July 22,
despite no electricity, and thanks to a battery-powered laptop
computer and a cell phone, Family & Friends was able to talk to
noted African-American gay author E. Lynn Harris as he traveled
from Chicago to Flint, Mich. Harris, who has made the New York
Times best-seller list eight times with his novels, was on a cross-
country tour promoting his newest release, What Becomes of the
Brokenhearted.
”I write about my world, which is both gay and straight people,”
Harris told Family & Friends.
In July 2002, Harris signed his national bestseller, A Love of My
Own, at Davis-Kidd Booksellers in Memphis. His audience: besides a
strong representation of gay men, the majority of those seeking his
signature were straight women of color. This gay man has built a
world that many women find more than interesting, perhaps
hopeful, perhaps empowering. A Love of My Own gave them an
example of a high-level executive, a black woman, and her
relationships in her world.
But, What Becomes of the Brokenhearted, breaks Harris’s mold; it is
his memoir. The world can now finally see in this autobiography
who Harris, the author, truly is; who Harris, a black, gay, man is,
who Harris, the one with feelings and troubles, is.
”I felt it was time to write it,” Harris said, explaining his decision to
put his own story in print this time. Often, penning your own story
can be quite draining, emotionally, to produce. Harris was no
different.
”It was very difficult, the most difficult book I’ve written,” he said.
However, Harris soon learned the anguish was worth it.
”I have been validated by the emails that I have gotten from people
who say they have been helped by this book.” Harris said, “This
book has helped a lot of people.”
Unfortunately, Harris’s booksigning tour for What Becomes of the
Brokenhearted bypassed Memphis this year.
”I appreciate the support I get there (in Memphis),” Harris said. “My
tour this year is shorter because I’ve got to get back to the
University of Arkansas to teach in the Fall. But I’ll definitely be back
in the summer (of 2004).” Harris will be teaching classes in creative
writing and African American literature.
With two major decisions for gay civil rights having been handed
down only a month before, we asked Harris his views.
”I think it was a positive step,” Harris said in regard to Canada’s high
courts approving gay marriage for gay and lesbian couples. In regard
to the U.S. Supreme Court’s finding all state laws banning sodomy
unconstitutional, he said, “I think the courts are right.”
Harris offered this advice to those seeking to enter the world of
literature: “Be passionate about it and know why you are doing it.”
Although Harris feels parents should be the ones to advise their
children when they are dealing with their sexual identity, especially
a same-sex attraction, he did offer this advice:
"Truth is a powerful tool against anything,” he said. “When I started
telling the truth, my life became a lot simpler and a lot sweeter.”
And it is truth you will find in the pages of What Becomes of the
Brokenhearted.
(as published in Family & Friends Magazine, OCTOBER 2004, by Anita Moyt, editor)
