Writers Darnell Moore, George M. Johnson, Sesali Bowen, and Michael Arceneaux recently came together for a virtual panel titled "LGBTQ+ Storytelling and the Renaissance of Black Queer Literature." Presented by Hearst Black Culture and moderated by Tommy J. Atkins, the authors discussed their work in the context of the greater Black queer narrative, the authors who inspired and shaped their voices, and how their writing dovetails with the Black Lives Matter movement.

Moore, whose memoir No Ashes in the Fire: Coming of Age Black and Free in America was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year, spoke first, explaining that with his work, he wanted to capture a period of his life when the Black queer experience received far less recognition than it does now. The book is centered in Camden, NJ, a city that has recently been in the news for making changes to its policing approach. In the book, he uses his own adolescent struggles with racism and homophobia as a lens for the broader fight for equality.

"These are the types of stories that get left out of mainstream, white-stream gay cisgender male-stream narratives," he said. "I wanted to make sure this narrative could find its way into the conversation."

Citing authors like Ruthie Wilson Gilmore and Angela Y. Davis, Moore also spoke about the importance of a movement for progress that incorporates all Black lives. "Some people’s freedom dreams can be other people’s nightmares," he said, explaining that there is a tendency in Black American writing to focus on straight, cis men while marginalizing people with other identities. "When we talk about Black queer narratives we are also talking about Black resistance, and what it means to be part of a larger Black narrative of resistance."

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Meanwhile, George M. Johnson's All Boys Aren't Blue depicts his life growing up Black and queer in a police household, but also one with many queer and trans family members. His book is aimed specifically at young adults, and focuses on his experiences from age 5 to 21, and though it talks about trauma it also reflects on the role his family played in uplifting him.

"I wanted to make sure I got the message out there that I know there are a lot of Black families that struggle when their children start to express themselves in a way not accepted by society—but your child should always have home," he said.

Johnson, 35, referred to his age group as "a blueprint generation," explaining that the actions they take and activism they pursue will inform future generations for years to come, another reason why his book targets younger readers. He also spoke about the importance of publications not just defaulting to having Black queer writers tell Black trans stories, but specifically seeking out trans writers for those opportunities.