Nick's Place: Path to Enlightened Insanity via Defacted Musings: Phyllis Allen

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July 26, 2005

Phyllis Allen

Re: Leaving Identity Issues to Other Folks

What does a 24 year old white gay man have with in common with a 50 year old black woman?

Every time I listen to this essay I'm brought to tears. Not bawling morning tears, but tears of camaraderie and recognition.

Phyllis moves through the history of African-American (or Black, or Negro, or brown) identity politics. Then comes to the conclusion "I believe that I'm free to be whoever I choose to be."

I'm at a loss for why this is dramatic for me, but I've come to despise the identity politics of being gay, but at the same time I practice them.

I want to be 15 years down the road (or in Canada now) where no one thinks too much about my identity beyond "Nick" (or "Mr. Barnard" or "Dad").

Posted by nickb at 12:50 AM

Nick's Place