Product Description

A bold expos? of the controversial secret that has potentially dire consequences in many African American communities
Delivering the first frank and thorough investigation of life ??on the down low?? (the DL)?? J. L. King exposes a closeted culture of sex between black men who lead ??straight?? lives. King explores his own past as a DL man?? and the path that led him to let go of the lies and bring forth a message that can promote emotional healing and open discussions about relationships?? sex?? sexuality?? and health in the black community.
Providing a long-overdue wake-up call?? J. L. King bravely puts the spotlight on a topic that has until now remained dang"oo. Drawn from hundreds of interviews?? statistics?? and the author??s firsthand knowledge of DL behavior?? On the Down Low reveals the warning signs African American women need to know. King also discusses the potential health consequences of having unprotected sex?? as African American women represent an alarming 64 percent of new HIV infections. Volatile yet vital?? On the Down Low is sure to be one of the most talked-about books of the year.
??A survey by the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta found that nearly a quarter of black HIV-positive men who had sex with men consider themselves heterosexual.??
?Essence

Amazon.com Review

The closer a secret is kept?? the more powerful the impact once it is finally revealed. Such is the case with author and activist J.L. King's intriguing look at the lives and lifestyles of black men who sleep with other men but do not consider themselves to be gay. These men live "wn low??"the "DL" for short?? and their sexual activities have gained significant notice as the rate of HIV/AIDS infection in black women has skyrocketed?? with the vast majority of cases coming from heterosexual sex. King is a veteran of the DL himself and his book serves partly as a social and psychological survey of the other men he has surveyed and partly as highly candid memoir. King was well regarded in his community?? popular at his church?? successful in his career?? and married to a woman who had no idea that his secret life existed. But when she caught him in a lie and with another man?? the marriage collapsed and King's long and painful path to self-awareness began. King cites the negative image many socially conservative black men have of homosexuality as a