Ceremonies: Prose and Poetry

Essex Hemphill

New York

:

Plume

,

1992

.
First Edition.

20cm x 13cm. ix, 177 pages. Pictorial wrappers.

Collection of poems and essays by American poet and activist Essex Hemphill (1957-1995). “Here he attacks Robert Mapplethorpe’s portrayl of Black and takes the heat. He doesn’t pretend the gay community is united or equal. He vehemently rejects popular notions of the Black gay man and works ot integrate all his identities into a functioning self. This .. collection lets us experience in one volume the dancing beat of his poetry, the pounding truth of his essays, and the pure sexual force of his autobiographical writing. The result is a ceremony of life–Black, gay, and totally authentic.” (rear cover)

Minor shelf wear and marks to wrappers. Very minor bump to crown. Minor toning to page extremities. Very Good Condition.