Winter 20182018 YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL

Home , Down for Whatever, Hiding in Hip Hop, Throw It in the Bag

MESSAGEWinterWinter 20182018 YOU CAN HAVE IT ALL

Winter 2018 MESSAGE

editor and publisher Jeffrey C. King

art director Alan Bell

photography Alan Bell Jeffrey C. King Louis J. Smith III BoiRevolution board of directors Joel Byrd, M.D. 5 6 Garry Gregory LA’S HOTTEST URBAN SOCIAL CLUB Jeffrey C. King Roger Quinney, Ph.D. Young Black Gay Men 18-29 Years of age Earl Wooten

on the cover Greg Wilson Quarterly Social Events Community Outreach/Condom Distribution

Message is published quarterly by In The Meantime My Life My Style Men’s Group, Inc., 2146 W. Health Education Empowerment Series Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, 10 16 California 90018-2039. Mailing address: P.O. Box 29861, Los Angeles, California 90029-0861, 323-733-4868, Throw It In The Bag [email protected], Drop-In Social Discussion Groups www.inthemeantimemen. The Dawning of a New Day org, Facebook: Jeffrey King. by Jeffrey C. King �� 5 © 2018 In The Meantime LIFE Men’s Group, Inc. All rights Personal and Professional Development Trainings reserved. I Realized Time Was Running Out The slogan “Creating Unity by Charles McWells �� 6 and Affirming Our Common Bond” is a trademark of In The Bridge The Meantime Men’s Group, Resource Linkage and Referral Service Inc. Views and opinions The Boy on His Way expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of In by Louis Smith III �� 8 The Meantime Men’s Group, In The Meantime Get Tested Inc. Publication of the name or photograph of a person HIV Testing and STI Screenings/Peer Navigation does not indicate the sexual No Longer a Victim orientation or HIV status of by Greg Wilson �� 10 the person or necessarily constitute an endorsement of In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. or its policies. Message BoiRevolution Staff �� 14 is designed for educational purposes only and is not engaged in rendering medical advice or professional Reading Is Fundamental �� 16 facebook.com/BoiRevolution2017 services. Some photographs in this publication use professional models. ITMT in Pictures ��23

Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 3 In The Meantime The Dawning of Wants to Be Your a New Day Charity Personal Tester Begins at Home

By Jeffrey C. King We are proud to announce the launch of our homegrown s we stand on the brink of a BoiRevolution youth-focused new year, I am reflecting on initiative. We are encouraged by A what will go down in the In the community’s response to our IN THE MEANTIME The Meantime annals as one of the MENtorship project and the way that most ambitious years ever. 2017 LA’s leading men have stepped up to was filled with new and innovative the plate to support younger men. Our approaches to outreach and program seniors deserve better treatment and Get Te st ed implementation. We provided more attention. ITMT plans to amplify extensive support to other community our programmatic and social support Insti HIV Test Results Available in 1 Minute initiatives while fueling those specific efforts to engage and address their to In The Meantime. needs. Our theme for 2018 is “Char- In The Meantime offers our deep- CALL FOR SPECIFIC TIMES AND LOCATIONS ity Begins at Home,” and we plan to est thanks for your continued support, increase our fundraising efforts to and we wish everyone a Happy New subsidize our ongoing programs and Year! 818-441-1216 or 323-733-4868 services. ITMT will focus on strength- In The Meantime Wellness ening our infrastructure and building Jeffrey C. King is Founder and Executive 2146 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 our capacity to reach even more men Director of In The Meantime Men’s Group, InTheMeantimeMen.org of all ages. Inc.

Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 5 and calling shots as an Assistant Vice thing far worse than the stepfather I President of an investment banking loathed. firm; the next day I was in the lock- Permanent recovery would mean down unit of a drug rehab in East setting aside everything I thought Manhattan. I knew, accepting that there was I “did a geographic” and moved Something greater than me and that I Realized Time to New York on the theory that I my survival depended on surrender- wouldn’t be able to get high in a city ing to that Something. The nine-year where I didn’t have any connections. journey to discover these truths has Was Running Out (Right!) I moved back to L.A. because been aided by sponsors and thera- living with Mom would help me stay pists, sober friends and church. sober. (Really?) But most of all, I have been A Lifelong Journey to From 1986 until 2008 I was in and helped by an acceptance of myself— out (mainly out) of recovery. I can’t flaws and all. Self-Acceptance remember how many times I’ve been arrested on possession charges. I Charles McWells is currently the Commu- destroyed every single personal rela- nity Services Manager at the Los Angeles Centers for Alcohol and Drug Abuse. He tionship I had, ran up over $50,000 in manages a substance use debt and contracted HIV because of disorder outpatient the risky sexual behavior I en- program in down- By Charles McWells country’s most prestigious colleges. gaged in when high. I’ve stared town Los Ange- For a long time, the experiment down the barrel of guns, was les. He can be reached at on’t you smoke none of that was an unmitigated success. I drank nearly stabbed by a scissors- cmcwells@ stuff, or you’ll wind up like and smoked weed every day and wielding junkie in McArthur lacada.com. “Dyour stepdaddy.” dropped acid, smoked hashish and Park and was beaten by My grandmother’s voice was as took “magic mushrooms” whenever a mob of dope dealers in clear as if she were standing there they were available. But despite being Pacoima. next to me. But she was dozens in a constant state of intoxication, I of miles away. And I, having finally managed to graduate with academic n 2008, I realized time reached adulthood, could do whatev- honors. Within a few months, I had was running out. I was er I wanted for the first time in my life. moved to Washington, D.C., to begin a I50 years old, 80 pounds What I most wanted at that moment career as a political economist with a underweight and suffering was to fit in. To be not-Black, not- major brokerage firm. Reagan had just from hallucinations every poor, not-gay. To fit in with the rich, been elected, and the stock market time I got high. The person white, preppie college freshmen who was at the beginning of a long boom. I was living with gave me an had congregated at one end of the For the first few years, I made a ultimatum: move out and live on dorm building—laughing and rough- lot of money and received a num- the streets, or go back to rehab. housing as they drank keg beer and ber of high-level career promotions. If I’d taken the first suggestion, I’d smoked commercial marijuana. Drugs, sex and disco fueled the probably be dead by now. “Why not,” I thought. “When in nightlife that I found myself a part of. This was my fourth rehab, and Rome, do as the Romans.” In those days before AIDS and crack, from the start I vowed to do And that’s how my drugging and D.C.’s Black elite ran the city after things differently this time. drinking started—as a mid-1970s sundown, after the white Federal gov- First, I had to be experiment; a way to see if I could fit ernment workers went home to the honest. I had to real- in with people who seemed so differ- suburbs of Virginia or Maryland. ize that my lifelong ent from me. As for my grandmother’s One of those Black power- effort to ‘fit in’ had warning—well, winding up like my brokers turned me on to free-basing. only succeeded stepfather was the furthest thing from It was love at first puff. For the next in taking away my mind. After all, he was an unedu- three years, every penny I would earn, everyone and cated, drugged-out alcoholic, while I borrow or steal went up in smoke. It everything that was a former student body president all happened so fast. One day I was was dear to and national forensics champion wearing Brooks Brothers suits, taking me, turning me who had been accepted to one of the annual vacations in the Caribbean into some-

6 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 7 The Boy 2146 on His Way The West Adams By Louis J. Smith III Group

Proud fathers stand up to the forefront at birth The weak run to hide Constantly fighting against the roaring tide When knocked down as little boys They are comforted with toys Hugs and kisses are given without second thought This type of love cant be bought Crawl, walk and run He has so much fun A great time for him to play Small, he will never stay

Destroying everything in his sight Sad, he grew up learning how to fight Soon to lose his identity when father leaves out the door Internally kicking and screaming on the floor Unanswered questions of why All Head pointed to the endless sky Taught that adult tears bring shame Fellowships His heart wants to blame Hiding pain behind anger 12-Step The orange jump suit shows the result of his danger Recovery Meeting Veiling his lonely soul that longs to be free Bricks stacked high, slowly forgetting the stable tree He cant wait to walk out the gate One Hour Statistical isolation is not his fate Backs have turned and true hues shown Speaker/Participation Meeting Cascading from above, his thrown To reclaim his stay Nothing can stop the boy on his way 2146 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 On-site Parking

Louis J. Smith III is a Group Facilitator at In The Meantime Men’s Group, Inc. He is also a visual artist and writer. You can follow him @louiii_s3. Every Saturday 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

8 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 do you know how to get to Palmdale down into his lap and forcing me to Boulevard?” choke on his dick as my tears rolled I sighed instantly with relief uncontrollably down my cheeks. I had thinking, “Okay, these people were every intention of just biting the shit just lost.” I turned around to point out of it, but as soon as the thought No Longer in the correct direction of Palmdale rushed into my mind he put the gun to Boulevard. As I turned back around, my head and said, “Don’t try anything the short one was out of the car and stupid or I will shoot your ass! Believe a Victim right in front of me with a little shiny me.” silver gun to my ribs! Tears started The next thing I felt was the car forming in my eyes immediately. I was stopping. I tried lifting my head to An Excerpt from in shock. I had never seen a real gun see where we were, but he pushed before and someone was going to use my head down hard jamming his dick “The Metamorphosis of a Heart” it on me. In my mind all I could think halfway down my throat and said, was, “Really, after the night I’ve had? “You better put your head down and By Greg Wilson Why me? I thought my life couldn’t get keep sucking!” any worse than the humiliation I had Furious, the driver got out of suffered at the party.” the driver’s seat and jerked open the back door. With the door open he he short one yelled, “Get in the forced my pants off and tried jamming began walking. I was in my the people in the car tried something, car!,” and he pushed me toward himself inside me. I turned around and own world, a world where I was because though I was deep in thought Tthe open back door. At first I just tried to fight him off, but he punched Iimportant, trying to sort through I couldn’t help but notice that every stood there crying, and he repeated me in the mouth and continued to my life. After a while I kind of noticed five minutes they would find a way his demand shoving the gun into my hit me in the ribs and the back of my this one car kept passing me. Back to pass by me again. They just didn’t ribs again. I got in the car. The short head until the guy with the gun used and forth. Back and forth. This made know they would be messing with the one got in the back seat with me. I brute force to turn my head to make me more than a little nervous, so I wrong person. They caught me on was crying hysterically. He said, “If me keep sucking his dick. The driver decided to just head home. Palmdale, a bad night and there was no telling you just shut up I might change my then jammed his erect penis inside of California, is a pretty wide-spread what I would do. I figured I wanted mind about killing you.” The taller one me. Rough, dry and unprotected. My city, so I knew this walk was a mission to be smart, because you have to be was driving. He cut off the short one continuous bleeding didn’t make him in itself; but I was determined to take prepared in a situation like this. Of saying, “Make him shut up!” stop at all. It actually made him push it on and get away from the pain I had course, when a “situation” takes place The short one said, “Oh yeah, I in and out even more. just endured. Still, I noticed the white nothing ever goes as planned. know how to make him shut up,” and As I cried and screamed, the guy car kept passing by. I ignored it and The car pulled up beside me as I began to pull his pants down with his with the gun jammed his penis kept on walking. was about to cut through the desert, right hand while holding the gun with down my throat while Twenty minutes into my walk I and two dark-skinned Black men— his left. When he got his pants down the other guy began thinking of a plan just in case one short and one taller, both older, near his knees, he told me to suck on scruffy and unattractive—stopped his dick. He said, “This will shut your the car and asked me, “Excuse us, ass up.” He began shoving my head

10 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 11 continued to shove his dick in my ass. underwear was soaked with blood. I cried. I screamed. When the short My clothes were so dirty. I couldn’t Great job Greg! This book of yours is a good read. one ejaculated, he made sure to cum bear any more embarrassment. I just all over my face. They both laughed. I sat outside and tried to hold in my I absolutely love the fact that you truly found God. was dazed. I didn’t know what to do. I tears. Even worse, no one had even was scared, hurt, in pain, screaming, noticed I’d been gone. Blessings!—Jasmine McGruder crying. I was in the middle of who There are many forms of pain knows where. It all happened so fast. and ways that a body can ache. As I Touching and honest journey.—Sean Black No way I would make it out of this looked through blurred eyes I couldn’t alive. Even though I was screaming as stop crying. loud as I could, I knew nobody would When I got home I went straight “Metamorphosis hear me. Deep inside I knew my to the shower and couldn’t help but of a Heart” is a screaming was pointless. notice the stream of blood flowing story about a young They drove me to a desert not down the bathtub drain. I was far from where they picked me up. attempting to wash off the pain and African American It is a place I’ll never forget. There hurt. I scrubbed harder and harder in man’s journey and was nothing and no one around. The an attempt to wash off the feeling of transition through pain and shame of being raped by violation that enveloped me and the his teenage years two men was nearly unbearable. I shame I felt for having let those men to adulthood on was bleeding like a wounded animal. do such a thing to me. The flashes Southern California’s I cried so much, tears wouldn’t even of thought made me cringe. I could come out anymore. Only sound. I felt hear the sickening sound of my own L.A. County streets. as if all my pride and what was left of screams and I could see, as though I The book is a my self-esteem were ripped away. No were hovering above the scene of the shining light of one could ever know what had just crime, my own rape and my attempts happened to me. What would people to fight back. I couldn’t help but to truth, and the writer say? Would anyone even believe me? feel shame, guilt and disappointment. explores the harsh After the two men relieved I wasn’t a real man because I didn’t and sometimes themselves, they pushed me out of fight hard enough. I must not be a dark realities of the car bare and exposed. They left man because I couldn’t stop two men homelessness, love, me sitting helplessly in the desert. I forcing themselves into me. homosexuality and cried so much that I must’ve laid there crying for an hour. I was surprised to s I took a long shower, the relationships. be alive, but the way I felt I may as nightmare of what had This is a very well have been dead. As I gathered A happened became more and empowering story the strength to get up and walk out more painful. My body burned like of the desert, I regained my focus someone was pouring hot water all of faith, along with about what had just happened. I over me. I suffered from this pain long amazing poetry that was there with nothing on, bleeding, after this night, not only mentally and takes you through a dirty, in pain, semen all over my face emotionally, but physically too. It hurt vivid description of and inside of me. I began putting my me when I walked for almost a month. the metamorphosis clothes on. I knew I had to get away Every time I used the bathroom, blood of a heart, the from that spot before these guys found its way in the toilet. I feel like I returned to kill me. was never the same from that night butterfly effect. on. I was changed. I was scared, s I got back to the main street, ashamed and embarrassed. And I I realized I was much closer couldn’t even clearly remember what Metamorphosis of a Heart: The Butterfly Effect A to the party than I was to the assholes looked like. by Greg Wilson home, so I limped my way to a gas station. In the filthy station restroom, Jasmine McCloud, Illustrator Darrell Mitchell II, Editor Metamorphosis of a Heart is available on I cleaned myself up a bit and headed Amazon.com. Greg Wilson can be reached back to the party. I knew I couldn’t go at [email protected] or visit www. NOW AVAILABLE AT back inside, especially now that my dmitchii.wix.com/authorgregwilson.

12 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Carl Boi Revolution Highshaw, MSW AMAAD Institute Founder, heads The Bridge, the Resource Linkage and Referral Staff Services division of BoiRevolution2017. He assists young Black gay men with life at the intersection of race, culture, sexual Leading the Way identity and manhood.

Greg Louis J. Smith III Wilson a BoiRevolution leader, facilitates In The Senior Meantime’s MyLife MyStyle, the nation’s Manager, leads first of its kind intervention for young BoiRevolution2017, Black gay men. He also facilitates Throw one of LA’s most It In The Bag, a drop-in social discussion profound multi- kickback. layered projects designed for young Black gay men in Christopher West Coast history. BoiRevolution2017 Webb is a 100% FUBU a BoiRevolution leader, facilitates In The designed project Meantime’s MyLife MyStyle, the nation’s developed by ITMT first of its kind intervention for young founder Jeffrey Black gay men. He also facilitates Throw King. It In The Bag, a drop-in social discussion kickback.

Javontae Tamar Sibley Wilson Senior Outreach and Recruitment Senior HIV Tester Specialist, leads a team of and Linkage to BoiRevolution2017 youth advocates, Care Specialist, outreach and recruitment staff working oversees the to build a strong and more empowered HIV Testing, STI community of young Black gay men. Screening and Linkage-to-Care Division for the Eddie BoiRevolution2017 Project. His work is Bieniemy targeted to young is a part-time staff member and consultant Black gay men. for BoiRevolution2017. This youth advocate will work with BoiRevolution2017 while also holding a full-time job. He is committed to building a house of powerful young Black gay men.

14 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 15 Ain’t Nothin’ Down About It a Burning Drama of Love Current All About Me: The Story of and Hate Your Life Black Man Emerging: Facing Always in Pursuit: Fresh the Past and Seizing a Titles in American Perspective, Future in America Reading 1995-1997 Black Pain: It Just Looks the ITMT Amazing Peace Like We’re Not Hurting An About Face Black Wealth through Black Is Fundamental Library An Easy Burden: The Civil Entrepreneurship Rights Movement and Bloodbeats, Vol. 1: Demos, So Read This 10 Secrets for Success and the Transformation of Remixes and Extended Inner Peace America Versions Over the years, In The Meantime has assembled one of the most extensive 10 Tongues Anatomy of an Illness as Blue People: The Negro LGBTQ libraries in Los Angeles County. With a focus on Black LGBTQ authors 12:34: A Slice Novel Perceived by the Patient: Experience in White and subject matter, the library includes fiction, non-fiction, poetry, periodicals 1984: Selected Letters How One Man Proved America and the Music and self-help and technical books. The list continues to grow as individuals 250 Tasty Snacks: Ideas for Your Mind Can Cure Your That Developed From It and publishers contribute more books and magazines. Entertaining Body Body Language Members of the community are welcome to browse the collection anytime ITMT 32 Candles Any Way the Wind Blows Boxing Greats: An Illustrated is open. To check out a book, a valid ID and contact information are required. 32 Ways To Be a Champion Are You My Boyfriend? History of the Legends of Speak to a staff member for more information. in Business: Earvin Art: African American the Ring “Magic” Johnson Astrology: Your Personal Sun 40 More Years: How the Sign Guide C Democrats Will Rule the At Her Feet California Screaming Next Generation At This Moment Callaloo and Other Lesbian Love Tales A B Candid: Voltaire, 2nd Edition A Boy’s Own Story Bad As I Wanna Be Cash in a Flash A Deeper Love Balancing Act Change Lobsters and Dance: A Nation of Salesmen: The Bare: Notes from a Porch An Autobiography Tyranny of the Market and Dweller Cheaters the Subversion of Culture Basics Chemistry of Matter A New Normal Basketball Jones Chess: Tactics for Beginners A Reliable Wife Be Careful What You Wish Chicago Poems Abide With Me For…You Just Might Chicken Soup for the College Absolutely Get It Soul Me Behind His Mask Clik Magazine, Holiday Issue Acceptance: Best Black Women’s Erotica 2007 The Second Best Black Women’s Erotica Colorful Matters Chapter 2 Coming Up From the Down Adinkra Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual Low Symbols People Speak Out Concepts in Science Africa on a Bill Clinton and Black Confessions of a Teenage Shoestring America Drama Queen African Americans Voices of Black Africa Cook Book Conjuring Black Funk: Notes Triumph Black Feeling Black Talk on Culture, Sexuality and African Arts: Volume XXXV, Black Judgement Spirituality Number 1 Black Folks’ Guide to Convert-Sations Ageless Body Timeless Mind: Business Success Corel Draw 7 For Dummies The Quantum Alternative Black Gay and Christian: An Creating Wealth to Growing Old Inspirational Guidebook to AIDS: 30 Years Is ENUF! Daily Living D History of the AIDS Black Hollywood Tragedies: Dark Passion: The Novel Epidemic in Black America All-Star Colored Cast in Deep Cover

Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 17 Desire at Dawn For What I Hate I Do Here to Dare L Organization: Principles My Life: Earvin Magic Dirty Bird Blues Forty Acres: A Thriller Hiding in Hip Hop: On and Practices Johnson Discovering Computers Frederick Douglas: An the Down Low in the Lakers Glory: For the Love of Manhood: the Longest Moan My Man, My Boyz 2004: a Gateway to American Slave Entertainment Industry Kobe, Magic and Mikan Mass Deception: a Story of Information From Top to Holes Last Rights Love, Lust and … N Does Your Mama Know: Bottom Home Lazarus Memoir: Delaware County Naked Under My Clothes: An Anthology of Black From Where How Obama Won Learning about Prison Poems of Sage Lesbian Coming Out We Sit: Black How to Act Like a CEO: 10 Measurement Men of Courage II Narcissistic Ghetto Prince Stories Writers Write Rules for Getting to the Legends: America I Am Rare Message: Fall 2008 Poet Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell: The Black You Top and Staying There Moments and Inspiring Message: Summer 2009 New Dr. Atkins Diet Untold Story of a Mad Funny How to Make Money in Words Message: Winter 2009 Revolution Black Man Stocks: a Winning System Lena: A Personal and Message: Spring/Summer No More Tomorrows: Two Don’t Explain G in Good Times or Bad Professional Biography of 2010 Lives, Two Stories, One Don’t Shoot! I’m Coming Out: Gal: A True Life How to Sell Anything to Lena Horne Message: Spring 2011 Love How to Man-Up and Set GANGS: A Community Anybody Let the Lover Be Message: Summer 2011 Not a Day Heterosexuals “Straight” Response Let’s Get You Happy First: 4 Message: Spring 2012 Goes By Down for Whatever Gay Pages, Inc. I Steps to Your Happy Message: Summer 2012 Not in My Dreamboy: My Life as a QVC Gay Sex: A Manual for Men I am Empowered: Igniting Letters to a Young Brother: Message: Winter 2012 Family Host and Other Greatest Who Love Men Freedom, Courage and Manifest Your Destiny Message: Spring 2013, The Nothin’ Ugly Hits Get Shorty: Hilarious Healing! A Personal Life After the Down Low: A LA Party Scene Fly: Poems Dreams from My Father: Getting Organized Development Program Lily Among Thorns Message: Winter 2013 Nyansapo: A Story of Race and Getting to Happy I Have a Dream: Writings and Life on the Wicked Stage Message: Spring 2014 Winter 2005 Inheritance Giovanni’s Room Speeches That Changed Lift Every Voice: Expecting Message: Fall 2014 Nyansapo: Spring 2006 Go Gater and Muddy the the World the Most and Getting the Message: Spring 2015, Nyansapo: Summer 2006 E Water I Wrote This Song Best From All of God’s Fashion Issue Nyansapo: Fall 2006 Empty Promises Private Go To Hell If Only For One Nite Children Message: Fall 2015 Pain: A Light Out of Going to the Territory If the World Were Mine Linger: Lust is Surface Message: Winter 2015 O Darkness Good News on Grape Street: If You Don’t Dance They Living History Message: Spring 2016 On the Down Low Essence: 40 of the Most The Transformation of a Beat You Living in the Shadows: Message: Summer 2016 One Day My Inspiring African- Ghetto School I’m on My Way Adversity Creates Message: Fall 2016 Soul Just Americans Good Times Bad Times: In Search of Pretty Young Purpose: A Memoir Message: Winter 2017 Opened Up: Essentials of Contemporary The Classic Novel of a Black Men Living Out Loud Message: Spring 2017 40 Days And Management Friendship the World In the Meantime: Finding Living the Life: Prequel Message: Summer 2017 40 Nights Euripides: Medea and Other Could Not Destroy Yourself and the Love You Living Well With HIV and Message: Fall 2017 Toward Plays Grace After Midnight: A Want AIDS Michelle Obama: Female Spiritual Memoir In the Midst of My Blackness Long Journey Towards the Force Strength And F Great American Short Stories Inside the Fall Light Microsoft Office for Windows Personal Growth Only Facebook for Dummies Greek and Roman Historians Inspirational Moments: Looker Microsoft PowerPoint 4 for Son: a Memoir Faith the Size of a Mustard Group Processes: An Affirmations for Daily Lost Prophet: The Life and Windows Our Name Be Witness Seed Introduction to Group Living Times of Bayard Rustin Milking Black Bull: 11 Gay Outside the Magic Circle: Filling in the Empty Spaces: Dynamics Internal Chaos Love Conjure/Blues Black Poems The Autobiography of My Story of Faith and Guide to Surviving Prostate Love Like Gumbo Mogul Virginia Foster Durr Spiritual Self-Discovery Cancer, Second Edition J Love Notes: A Mimi More Like Wrestling Fire and Brimstone James Baldwin: The Legacy Patterson (Gianna Mother Love: Forgive P Flash 5: Visual Jumpstart H Juneteenth Maglione Mystery) or Forget: Never Parted Lips: Lesbian Love Flesh To Flesh: Zane Hairapy: Deeper Than the Justice for All: Accessing the Love the One You’re With Underestimate the Power Quotes Through the Ages Presents Roots Promise (DVD) Love Won’t Let Me Be Silent of Forgiveness Personal Bankruptcy for Flirting Hard Left: Straight Talk Low Hanging Fruit My Eyes Are Green Dummies K Focus about the Wrongs of the M My Father’s Daughter: Plato Erotic Dialogues: For Colored Boys Who Have Right Kindred Continuing the Dream Symposium and Phaedrus Considered Suicide When Healing Rage: Women KJLH Women’s Health Man of the Cloth My Life Plato: Five Dialogues the Rainbow is Still Not Making Inner Peace Forum: Celebrating Man, Volume 1 My Life in Porn: The Bobby Euthyphro Apology Crito Enough Possible Women’s Health 2007 Managing the Nonprofit Blake Story Meno Phaedo

18 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 19 Playing Winning Chess Shade: An Swerv: Culture & Examines Relationship The Power W Possessing the Secret of Joy Anthology of Community: December between Republican Party That Shapes Power and Speed in Reading Fiction by 2008 and African Americans My Way Waiting to Exhale Promoting Wellness for Gay Men of Swerv: Culture & The Emperor of Ocean Park The Reed War in the Air Prostate Cancer Patients African Community: Fall 2011 The Emperor’s New Music Reader Water in the Wilderness Proposition 8: The California Descent Swerv: Culture & The End of the Rainbow Their Eyes Web Publishing with Divide Shadow and Community: Winter 2011 The Fabulous Sylvester: Were HTML: Teach Yourself in Protecting your Money Act The Legend, the Music, Watching a Week PUSH Shame on It All T the Seventies in San God Web Sites with the Right Shaming the Devil Tapestries of Faith: Black Francisco They Say That I Am Broken: Tools Q Sharing the Same Sky SGLBT Stories of Triumph, The Force Book on DVD Webster’s Encyclopedic Queer Code X Showing My Color: Impolite Family, Love and Healing The Gilda Stories Thing of Beauty: The Unabridged Dictionary of Quicksand and Passing: Essays on Race and Taste the Night…..Every The Goal: A Process of Tragedy of Supermodel the English Language Nella Larsen Identity Dark Desire Ongoing Improvement Gia What Become of the Showtime: Inside the Lakers The 21st Century Chronicles The Good House Think Again Brokenhearted: A Memoir R Breakthrough Season of Thugg: The Barbarian The Handmaid’s Tale This Time Around What Did Jesus Say? Why Radiant Truths: Spiritual Singing in the Comeback King The Help Thomas Jefferson and Sally the Bible Does Not Journey of an African Choir The All American Skin The Hidden Dimension: An Hemings: An American Condemn Homosexuality American Descendant of Sister Sister Games Inside View on the Reality Controversy What Looks Like Crazy Cameroon DNA Test Smart Spending: Gay and The Black and White of It of Inner City African Tiger Woods: Golf’s Young What Would Jackie Do? Rainbow Resource Directory: Lesbian Guide to Socially The Black Arts America Master An Inspired Guide to California Most Trusted Responsible Shopping and The Breaks: Stylin’ and The Hidden Truth of Your To Be Left With the Body Distinctive Living and Comprehensive Social Investing Profilin’ 1982-1990 Name Tomorrow Begins Today: Where the Apple Falls: Service Referral Guide Smokey Robinson and The Bull-Jean Stories The Immortal Life of African American Women Poems Ready to Male: a Collection the Miracles: The 35h The Choice: A Surprising Henriette Lacks As We Age Whose Song? and Other of Letters Anniversary Collection New Message of Hope for The Inward Journey Touch Poems and Other Stories Reclaiming Your Life: The Song of Solomon his Millions of Readers The Kid Writings of Love, Erotica, Why I Hate Abercrombie & Gay Man’s Guide to Love Sons Like Me The Climate: A Perspective The Late Great Planet Earth and Sensuality Fitch Self-Acceptance and Trust Sons Unvisited The Lighted Path: a Journey Touch Typewriting: Complete Will I Go to Heaven? The Red Dirt Revival: A Poetic Stations The Clinton Years of Transformation and Course for Self-Instruction Black Gay Spiritual Memoir in 6 Breaths Staying Power! Unofficial The Collected Essays of Transcendence Trump: The Art of the Deal Dilemma Redefining Diva: Life Guide to Maintaining Ralph Ellison The Little Book of Light: 100 Twitter: Tips, Tricks and Willful Intent Lessons from the Original Positive African American The Cuisine Queen’s Ways to Bring Light Into Tweets Women of Dreamgirl Male Relationships Gourmet: Vegetarian Your Life Two on the Crossses: The Courage Revelation: Unveiling the Street Child: An Unpaved Meals You’ll Love to Eat! The Collected Writings of Woodholme: Mask Passage The Day Eazy-E Died Metamor Bayard Rustin A Black Robert’s Rules of Order Strengths Finder 2.0 The Emerging Black phosis of a Man’s Story Roman Stride Toward GOP Majority: Heart: The U of Growing Rumic World Trilogy: Freedom Political Affairs Butterfly Under Peace Rising: Poems Up Alone Collection of Classic SULA Book Effect The in English, Spanish and Words of Wisdom Rumiko Takahashi Short Night Before French Y Stories The Obama Nation: Leftist Unfavorable Odds Politics and the Cult of Unseen Academicals Yesterday Clarified S Personality You Had Me at Hello Sacred Sensual Secrets: The Odyssey Homer V Your Best Life Now: 7 Steps Poems of Love, Erotica The Orphan Vanishing Rooms to Living at Your Full and Sensuality The Perfect Child Vengeance Potential SAT 2006 Edition The Personal Touch: What Virgins, Guerrillas and Locas: Your Interview: 101 Smart Second Time Around You Really Need To Gay Latinos Writing About Questions to Ask Self Portrait Succeed in Today’s Fast- Love Z Senegal Paced Business World Visible Lives: Three Stories Sex and Surrender: An The Pill Book Guide to in Tribute to E. Lynn Harris Zora Neal Hurston: A Life in Addict’s Journey Natural Medicines Letters

20 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 21 ITMT IN PICTURES

Annual MENtorship Dinner November 2017 BRBBrothers Reaching Brothers Social/Discussion Group

IN THE MEANTIME WELLNESS 2146 W. Adams, Los Angeles 90018

Every Tuesday for the Past 20 Years 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Chill on the patio. Relax in the parlor. Enjoy great music and have a healthy meal in the main hall.

Dialogue and Fellowship with Brothers of All Ages from All Around LA Free and Open to the General Public

www.inthemeantimemen.org • 323-733-4868

Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 23 Staff Training Day December 2017

ITMT Kwanzaa Celebration December 2017

24 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 25 Life of Baldwin Book Signing November 2017

Annual Thanksgiving Dinner November 2017

26 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Annual Black Party October 2017

Annual Black Party October 2017

28 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 Winter 2018 | MESSAGE | 29 Christmas at ITMT December 2017 MENTORSHIP MENtorship is a grassroots community movement designed to provide fundamental support to younger Black gay men and to bridge the intergenerational gap between Black gay men of all ages in Los Angeles County.

THREE OVERARCHING GOALS: ■■ Facilitate the linkage of men in search of mentorship with men who are willing to be mentors ■■ Create social and educational events and activities that bring men of all ages together ■■ Offer service referrals for all men upon request

In The Meantime Men’s Group | 323-733-4868

30 | MESSAGE | Winter 2018 In The Meantime Men’s Group The Premiere Organization for Black Gay Men in Los Angeles PROGRAMS & SERVICES: Yoga and Meditation • Holistic Wellness Clinics • 12 Step Recovery Meeting • A Visit from The Doctor/General Health Education/ Medical Updates • Mylife Mystyle Health Education (Three Empowerment Sessions) • The NIA (Purpose) Health Education (Three Empowerment Sessions) • Brothers Reaching Brothers Weekly Social Discussion Group • MENtorship: Mentorship Initiative • BoiRevolution Youth Initiative • The 50+ Social Support • HIV Testing/STD Screening Linkage • Case Management • Community Outreach/Condom Distribution • Game Night/Social Hour • Project Elevate (Social Justice Advocacy) ANNUAL EVENTS: Kwanzaa Celebration • Anniversary Fundraiser • Black Gay Men’s Wellness Month • The Black Party • Umoja Three-Day Empowerment Retreat • National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day • Pre-Pride Celebration

inthemeantimemen.org [email protected] 323-733-4868 818-441-1216 Testing Hotline 2146 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018