A powerful conversation about Black men, relationships, identity, vulnerability—and the stories we sometimes refuse to tell

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Lana Reid, host of The Male Perspective, for a conversation about my newest novel, Nothing Can Tear Us Apart: RUTHLESS! It turned out to be more than a conversation about a book; it was a meaningful, poignant, powerful conversation about Black Gay/SGL (same-gender loving) men, relationships, identity, vulnerability—and the stories we sometimes refuse to tell.

A Platform for the Full Black Male Experience

Hosted by Lana Reid, The Male Perspective creates space for Black men to share their lived experiences, accomplishments, challenges, relationships, identity, mental health, family, leadership, and community experiences.

The series intentionally moves beyond stereotypes to explore the complexity and humanity of Black men’s lives. Reid’s approach is rooted in thoughtful, open conversation and in creating an environment where guests can speak honestly about the experiences that have shaped them.

That mission resonates deeply with me.

Throughout my writing—and particularly in Nothing Can Tear Us Apart: RUTHLESS!—I have been interested in the lives that exist beneath the surface.

Because sometimes the most complicated stories aren’t about people who are struggling to survive.

Sometimes they’re about people who appear to have everything.

Success. Wealth. Influence. Power. Relationships. Prestige.

And yet, behind closed doors, they may be confronting fear, control, emotional turmoil, betrayal, abuse–or wounds they have never learned how to acknowledge.

Talking About RUTHLESS!

During my conversation with Lana, we talked about Nothing Can Tear Us Apart: RUTHLESS! and the issues that inspired its story. And at its heart, RUTHLESS! asks difficult questions about love and fear.

For example: What happens when the person you love becomes the person you fear?

And perhaps even more importantly: Why do people sometimes remain silent when something is terribly wrong?

Those questions are central to the novel’s exploration of Intimate Partner Violence and Abuse (IPV/A), which is domestic violence and abuse within the LGBTQ+ community.

For Black Gay/SGL men, conversations about abuse can become even more complicated because of stigma, stereotypes surrounding masculinity, and the pressure to appear strong even when someone is hurting.

These are not easy conversations.

But they are necessary ones.

Beyond the Stereotype

One thing I appreciate about The Male Perspective is its willingness to let Black men be complicated.

You see, we are not simply one thing.

We can be strong and vulnerable.

Successful and wounded.

Confident and afraid.

Providers and people who sometimes need care.

Leaders and men still trying to understand our own lives.

That complexity is something I wanted to explore in Nothing Can Tear Us Apart: RUTHLESS!

My characters are NOT stereotypes. They are fully realized human beings whose choices, relationships, ambitions, fears, desires, and secrets shape the stories they inhabit.

That’s one reason this conversation with Lana Reid felt so natural.

Why These Conversations Matter

Stories can start conversations people might not otherwise have.

A novel can take a difficult subject and give readers a way to approach it.

A podcast can give someone permission to say, “I’ve experienced something like that.”

And an honest conversation can remind someone that they are not alone.

That’s what made appearing on The Male Perspective particularly meaningful to me.

Lana Reid has built a platform that doesn’t simply ask Black men questions—it creates space for them to be heard. Her broader work through Conversations in Color centers storytelling, dialogue, and preserving Black voices and lived experiences.

My appearance allowed me to talk about RUTHLESS! not simply as a novel, but as part of a larger conversation about the realities that Black men and LGBTQ+ people can experience behind the scenes of their lives.

I am grateful to Lana for inviting me onto The Male Perspective and for creating the kind of space where conversations like this can happen.

Because the more honestly we talk about these issues, the harder it becomes for stigma and silence to keep them hidden.

And sometimes, telling the story is the first step toward changing the conversation.

Watch my conversation with Lana Reid on The Male Perspective and join the conversation about Nothing Can Tear Us Apart: RUTHLESS! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxEH4uFBQIU