afraid to love, afraid of being hurt.

“So I played it cool—and there it is.

“That’s the personal part of the story. Now to dig
into what you’re looking for. How does the Negro
get along with white homosexuals?”

I interrupted, “Not quite, Franklyn. My chapter
title is, ““ The Negro in Homosexual Society.”

“You’ve picked it right. There is no Negro and
white homosexual society—except for the Negroes
who never step out of Harlem. That’s their fault.

“They’re welcome downtown any time they want
to come, at the bars, at parties, at dances. Negroes
are popular and well liked. They don’t have to stay
in their places. That’s an old wheeze. They have to
 behave themselves—and just a little bit better than
the white boys to keep their respect.

“Face it, it’s not just a metter of tolerance and
equal rights. Old Demon sex has a lot to do with it.
The Negro is attractive to homosexuals because
~ they’ve got a reputation for being great lovers. Their
passion’s supposed to be primitive. And they’re also
owners of the kind of equipment that goes with
primitive passions.

“The queens who tell you they don’t give a damn
about a man’s masculinity are lying. So when they
pick up a white boy they’re never sure until they get