I was just a freshman in highschool, barely fourteen, when I was introduced to my first E Lynn Harris novel. I remember talking to my homegirl and one of her new friends, the two of them talking about some new book that one of them was reading " Invisible Life". The girl couldn't seem to put down the book apparently, this book that seemed to be about a gay man, a gay black man. My thought bubble exclaimed , " WHAT ?!?!?!" I was very intrigued and made a mental note to research this book further and somehow get my hands on it. I had recently become aware of my own sexuality and in effort to get some type of understanding, I had secretly been checking every book out of the library about the subject that I could possibly relate to fiction and nonfiction. I had found some things of interest ,but of course, any relation to me the Mary J Blige, SWV, Xscape, Notorious BIG, Method Man, Rap City, quietstorm R&B, and Dancehall Reggae influenced teenager was a little farfetched. So I searched the library but they didn't have it. Instead, they had " Just As I Am" to which I immediately grabbed and brought home to sink into. Although it was fiction, the book showed me what I had been hoping and praying had existed. Gay black men living, loving, and lusting beyond the stereotypes that I had been exposed to. I was excited beyond belief and somewhat awakened with a new love of self and what I was to become. I became an immediate supporter and have read and owned every novel written plus his memoirs. E Lynn's writing style has influenced my own writing by his colorful choice of descriptives like using Vanilla Wafers as someone's skintone. I personally believe that his writing has impacted a generation of our community as well as brought a movement and an awareness before any such propaganda and frenzy about a " DL phenomenon". E Lynn Harris was a great writer and inspiration to the community. May he Rest In Peace.
