I love “The And Show” Its nice to listen to see other black gay men

         Its Friday night in the city of Toronto and  I’m bored. I decided not to go out tonight its a bit cold and I’m feeling kind of down right now. I decided to search for “The And Show” on youtube. On you tube a few months ago I discovered a wonderful talk show called “The And Show”.   If you would like too watch episodes of “The And Show” simply type the word in the search engine of youtube and you should be able to locate episodes of the program.

             “The And Show” is one of the “good” things about youtube it provides the public with a voice in a different medium then just a blog.  “The And Show” is the only program I can think of at the moment that relates specifically to the young black gay male experience. It was such a smart idea that these guys thought of this show because it does provide a voice for the voiceless.

     “The And Show” is a youtube program hosted by three young black gay men.  The program is really cool because every single week there is a new episode that can be found on youtube.  The hosts of  the program are Nathan Seven Scott, Nkosi Brown, and Will McNair in New York City. 

     The hosts of the program have an excellent ability to mix up serious talk with humor. Will, Nkosi, and Nathan are so funny! I just love this program! I definitely believe these guys should have a larger medium for this wonderful program they shouldn’t just be on youtube they should be on television because the show is fierce! I think “The And Show” should be on television. I mean why not?

       I love “The And Show” because the episodes discuss many topics that that deal with life in general but also the black community and the black gay community. I feel there is such a void in society for quality programming for for black gay people. Sometimes I don’t even want to turn on the television set or put a DVD into the DVD player. I mean why should I? All there is heterosexual people everywhere talking about their love lives on TV or in the movies. Where is the cultural representation for black gay men? And gay programming, forget about it. I’m not going to watch Queer As Folk, or Six Feet Under where black gay men are once again treated as sex objects or invisible.

         I just wish I could do more? I already had one book published “You Don’t Know Me” but that was two years ago and now its time to move on to something else something bigger. Of course, I’ve had a plethora of articles published on a variety of topics but I would like to do something in a different medium. I am doing my part my play is completed and I have sent it off to a few competitions but I sense at the end of the day I am simply going to have to produce my play myself. I just resent the fact that the lives of young black gay men are so invisible. And I want to “contribute” and have “my say.” I don’t care for the so called ” gay programming” because its got nothing to do with me or my experiences as a black gay man.

                I miss Jared he was a former host of “The And Show”. I want to know where is Jared? Does anybody know? Anyway, the episode of “The And Show” that I have posted deals with religion and homosexuality in the black community. I was raised in a religious household although I no longer consider myself to be a religious person.

      I enjoy the program because I can relate to about being black, gay, and male. I rediscovered the show. Even though “The And Show is in America based in New York City I like the program. The chemistry the three hosts have is wonderful. Its just nice to see young black gay men such as myself that are comfortable with their sexuality just talking about life and not feeling any sense of guilt or shame at all. Its encouraging and even liberating just to see other young black gay men talking about issues that relate to our lives.

        Sometimes in Toronto I do feel lonely and a sense of  emptiness.  The black gay community in the greater Toronto area is very much “underground.” So many black gays in Toronto are deep in the closet or have their own “private” social networks I don’t know about. In America it seems to me black gays are a bit more organized. And I desire and want to connect with other black gay men. I lived in the greater Toronto area all my life and the gay epicenter in Toronto on Church and Wellesley I feel a disconnected from it. Although Toronto is considered a “progressive” Canadian city there are times when I feel like a stranger in the city. There is such a coldness to Toronto that I definitely will most likely leave the city. There has to be more to the world then Toronto?  Given the fact I want to become a writer or at least have a career as a writer can I really have one in the city of Toronto? There simply isn’t a lot to do here. I think I was born in the wrong country.

          Whenever I am feeling down like right now I click on youtube and watch “The And Show.” Its just a lot of fun listening to these three intelligent young black gay men talk about their lives  what it means to be black, gay, and male in America.

  Check out  “The And Show” on youtube tell your friends about it. I definitely believe there should be more programming or simply more art out there about the young black gay male experience. There simply isn’t enough out there right now. Its depressing to be honest this sense of feeling so invisible as though our lives don’t really matter?

           Its times like this that I enjoy watching “The And Show” because its so empowering to actually “see” young black gay men that are not being “mocked” or treated as a “science experiment” on  mainstream heterosexual talk shows or news programs. I love the fact that the three guys are so comfortable with themselves. Its also nice to see that they “sense” the need for “The And Show”. So cheers to Nathan, Will, and Nkosi! I love “The And Show”!