The Day Eazy-E Died

There is no doubt that when it comes to realistically chronicling the experiences of contemporary black gay life and love, no one comes close to James Earl Hardy. His deft exploration of the cross-cultural differences among African-Americans, clear-eyed examinations of racism and homophobia, and passionate pleas for peace have made the best-selling B-Boy Blues series a modern classic.

At the end of If Only for One Nite, Raheim Rivers and Mitchell Crawford's love had been tested by ghosts of the past; now it will be tested by the haunting specter of AIDS. As Raheim juggles his increasingly hectic schedule as a supermodel, he is rocked by the news that one of his idols, N.W.A. founder Eazy-E, has AIDS. His complacency shattered, Raheim gets tested but keeps it a secret. Meanwhile, life goes on around him, as his son struggles in a new school, his ex-girlfriend falls in love with a new man, and Mitchell becomes increasingly concerned by Raheim's withdrawal. As he has so succesfully done in the past, Hardy masterfully draws his fascinating and very real characters into the ferment of urgent societal issues. He has created a powerfully real look at the issues facing young people of all sexual persuasions, young Black men, who are disproportionately infected and affected by AIDS. The book confronts the issues of sexuality, responsibility, and youthful perceptions of immortality. As the date for disclosure of his test results draws near, Raheim's fear and the ongoing stigma of the disease push him toward conflicting decisions.


Genre: General Fiction