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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 15, 2015)
Arts & Entertainment Author’s Novel Tells Story of Growing Up Gay and Black in Jamaica, the U.S. Max Mantle read from his book this week at the North Portland library Christen McCurdy Of Th e Skanner News M ax Mantle wants to take back a term he says is a “sting” for gay Jamaican men like himself. He also wants to tell a story. Mantle read Tuesday at the North Portland Library from his book Batty Bwoy, a coming-of-age story about a Jamaican man com- ing to terms with his sexuality, and also grappling with his identity as an immigrant and Black man in the United States. Mantle, who grew up in Jamai- ca, emigrated to Connecticut and later studied journalism and pho- tography at Howard University, told The Skanner News the book’s title is an anti-gay slur in Jamaica. He wants to reclaim it, and im- prove the status of LGBT people in his home country, which TIME called “the most homophobic place on Earth” in 2006. (More re- cently, the magazine reported that cultural attitudes in the country are changing, though discriminatory laws – including a harsh anti-sod- omy law – are still on the books there.) The book is self-published and Max Arthur Mantle available through his website and on Amazon. Batty Bwoy tells the story of Mark Palmer, who starts his jour- ney in Jamaica, emigrates to the U.S. and attends Howard. While the book is fi ction, Mantle says “it runs true to my experi- ence” but is not solely autobi- ographical. The book’s character feels like a misfi t in his own coun- try and later, at Howard. He discovers a gay club scene and starts to gain self-understand- ing, but also makes some bad choices along the way, as well as encountering prejudice and dis- The book’s title is an anti-gay slur in Jamaica. He wants to reclaim it, and improve the status of LGBT people in his home country crminiation. While the details of the story are particular, Mantle says the real We honor the many accomplishments of African Americans. It is our primary goal as a labor union to better the lives of all people working in the building trades through advocacy, civil demonstration, and the long-held belief that work- ers deserve a "family wage" - fair pay for an honest day's work. A family wage, and the benefits that go with it, not only strength- ens families, but also allows our communities to become stronger, more cohesive, and more responsive to their citizens' needs. Our family wage agenda reflects our commitment to people work- ing in the building trades, and to workers everywhere. In this small way, we are doing our part to help people achieve the American Dream. This dream that workers can hold dear regard- less of race, color, national origin, gender, creed, or religious be- liefs. The Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters Representing more than 5.000 construction workers in Oregon State. Do you want to know more about becoming a Union carpenter? Page 8 July 15, 2015 The Portland and Seattle Skanner theme is the struggle for self-un- derstanding, and the struggle to belong and to be loved – feelings that are universal. Mantle says he wanted to bring something different than what he’s seen from other writers of gay fi c- tion, including other gay Jamaican and immigrant writers. A great deal of recent gay fi ction, he says, either focused on the “coming-out” narrative, or tells sadder stories about the AIDS epidemic. “I’m bringing something else,” he says. The book took Mantle four years to write. He started working on it after his photography equipment was stolen from him, limiting his ability to work as a fashion pho- tographer. “Some stranger just took my camera and changed my life like that, in about half an hour,” he Wage/Working Jukebox Begins Tour at Portland Mercado July 23 A jukebox featuring the stories and sounds of working Portlanders will be- gin a tour of the city at Portland Mercado (Portland’s fi rst and only Latino public market) July 23. Artists Laura Hadden and Tennessee Watson, in partnership with local organization Know Your City, are presenting this project to offer com- munity members a unique encounter with the issue of income inequality in Portland. The stories and sounds – collected by Hadden and Watson and participants in the Wage/Working oral history work- shop – are edited to the length of time it takes each worker to earn $1 (resulting says. He intends it to be part of a trilo- gy, and has already drafted the sec- ond installment. He also envisions a movie, which he hopes would be fi lmed on location in Jamaica, a country he hasn’t visited in 25 years. That in turn would give him the opportunity to raise awareness and advocate for the rights of LGBT people in Jamaica. “I think I want to make a politi- cal impact,” he says. Mantle currently lives in Miami, but has been touring with his book since the beginning of May. He’s visited Atlanta, Houston, Wash- ington, D.C., Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles and San Fran- cisco – and heads to Seattle next. He’ll be reading at 6 p.m. July 30 at the Capitol Hill branch of the Seattle Public Library. After Seat- tle, he says, he plans to tour the Midwest. He likes Portland, he says, and hopes to come back for another visit. He’s read at libraries and has also scheduled readings in con- junction with Black Gay Pride events as well as at book clubs. He’s hoping to reach out to queer studies departments at universities as well. in longer stories by those who earn the least). Throughout its month-long stay at Portland Mercado, visitors will be invit- ed to interact with the jukebox, and listen to the stories. The opening event July 23, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., includes a Q&A with the artists and workshop participants along with a discussion about income in- equality. There is no cost for the event. Food will be available for purchase. The jukebox will be on display at Port- land Mercado through August 20 when it will move to another venue in Portland. The project was awarded a small grant from SE Uplift’s Neighborhood Small Grant Program and additional funding through the SEIU Local 503. For more information, visit: wage- working.com. DVD continued from page 7 ing engagement ceremony, also known as a Sagai. In the grDVbe’s conspicuous absence, she’s asked Kush (Shazad Latif), a friend of the family, to fi ll in as a dance partner, so she can practice the elaborate- ly-choreographed routine she plans to perform at the party with Sonny. It is subtly hinted that this handsome hunk might pose a threat, given Sonny’s continued preoccupation with business matters upon his return to the Subcontinent. That is only one of sev- eral storylines in a ro- mance-driven sequel which unfolds more like a day- time soap opera than a ful- ly fl eshed-out feature fi lm. Scene after scene is simply a setup for another transpar- ent love triangle. As she checks into the ho- tel, Lavinia Beach (Tamsin Grieg) has her head turned by a fellow new guest (Rich- ard Gere), but Guy only has eyes for Sonny’s widowed mom. Madge Hardcastle (Celia Imrie), a pretty Brit- ish pensioner, can’t decide between the two, fi lthy-rich Indian suitors she’s dating simultaneously. And Doug (Bill Nighy) has grown fond enough of Evelyn (Judi Dench) to commit, though he hasn’t yet divorced his estranged wife (Penelo- pe Wilton) waiting in the wings. And so forth. The irrepressible Sonny serves as a master of cere- monies of sorts supposedly tying all these loose strands together. Unfortunately, be- cause he’s more of a clown this go-round, the fi lm feels like a joke-to-joke farce not intended to be taken serious- ly. A pleasant, if predictable, romantic romp laced with far more mirth than sophis- tication or substance. Very Good HHH Rated PG for mild epithets and suggestive material In English and Hindi with subtitles Running time: 123 minutes Distributor: Fox Home Entertainment DVD Extras: Story; Cast; Returning to the Marigold Hotel; Blossoming Rela- tionships; The Marigold Wedding; Filming in India; and a stills gallery.
