J.L. King Launches Just Living Atlanta
The latest example of us doing usby j. brotherlove
On the heals of increased sidebar conversations around the need for a credible, stylish and intelligent lifestyle magazine to serve the black lesbian and gay community, J. L. King and associates are launching the debut issue of Just Living Atlanta-The Magazine.
Yes, this is the same J. L. King who whipped up a hornet’s nest of publicity with his book On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of ‘Straight’ Black Men Who Sleep with Men. Upon publication in 2004, the book immediately ruffled feathers. Suddenly, as the sensationalized topic appeared to show signs of waning, media giant Oprah’s obsessive cluelessness around the “down low phenomenon” lead her to book King and carelessly promote his viewpoint as the touchstone on black male sexuality. Result: Mega-success.
Since his success, J. L. King has become more comfortable with his sexuality (“I’m no longer on the down low”), seized his fifteen minutes of fame, and traded Chicago for Atlanta (as many black closeted men do).
Securely ensconced in the nation’s “black gay mecca” (see here and here), King is ready to take over. “The city (Atlanta) is ripe with opportunities and that’s why I wanted to start a magazine with the city as its backdrop targeted toward the same-gender-loving community.”
What says the brotherlove?
So far, I like what I see in Just Living Atlanta-The Magazine.
The premiere issue is a quality publication and includes interviews with publisher J.L. King (naturally), BET Style’s Melyssa Ford, and recording artist Yewande. There are also book, music and restaurant reviews; a fashion spread; lifestyle articles; and profiles of local, Atlanta movers, shakers, activists and the like.
The 80-page glossy, bi-monthly officially launches in March with its Spring 2006 issue and retails for $4.95. Plans for Chicago and DC versions are underway. No official word on places of distribution but, Outwrite would be a safe bet.
As an arm-chair activist, I don’t agree with all of King’s views on male sexuality or what it really means to be “on the downlow”. However, I am excited to see brothers and sisters leveraging their talents and financial power for a positive goal, outside of clubs and sex. Just Living Magazine - Atlanta is just the latest in announcements of us doing us. This year promises to be a media-rich era for SGL POC (figure it out).
But why does this all leave a bad taste in my mouth? His “success” was all built on a pile of bullshit. It has no moral center. Exploitation of a volatile subject and blatant commercialism to make himself rich, so he can then turn around and “invest” it supposedly in something positive, but which is really about making more money. And we’re supposed be happy?
No Bernie, you are not supposed to be happy. You are entitled to whatever reaction you choose to have. I am simply in a space where I choose to look for the positive even when I call folks to task when their actions differ from their words.
True, the whole downlow book thing left a bad taste in my mouth. I had my reasons for disliking it; King has his reasons for writing it. Neither opinion is likely to change.
But that was then. This is a new project and a new opportunity to do something positive. I am open to giving him that chance.
I think it is amazing how a community can be pimped for profit in more ways than one, and then be pimped off to the lowest bidder. First, it was the hysteria and blame for skyrocketing HIV rates among black females from what was falsely characterized as black men who do not have the priveledge of “coming out” and now it is in this guise of embracing Black gay and bisexual male communities. You have to admit, it is a profitable marketing scheme.
I would love to see some of the profits from JL King’s hustle and flow directly benefit our communities in the form of institution and community building, etc. Of course, this would have to be done in a non-segmented way. Perhaps Oprah would have him back to speak credibly on ways to unite the entire black community—not just Black women through blaming black closeted men and not just the black gay and bisexual male communities through an Oprah-esque magazine.
At the end of the day, I focus on the great words of one half of the American Idol twins recently kicked off. My spirit is troubled…yet I will try my best to rest comfortably awaiting my two acres and a mule from all of America’s pimps.
intellifreak, I can’t relate to Americal Idol references (hehe) however, you bring up an interesting idea regarding your desire to see King’s efforts “directly benefit our communities in the form of institution and community building”. Can you give an example?