"This title opens new doors, as the author insists that we don't have to anchor stories such as his to tragic ends: 'Many of us are still here. Still living and waiting for our stories to be told—to tell them ourselves.' A critical, captivating, merciful mirror for growing up black and queer today." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

From New York Times-bestselling author of All Boys Aren't Blue comes an illuminating set of profiles of Black and Queer icons from the Harlem Renaissance, interspersed with personal essays and spot illustrations by a Steptoe Award-winning illustrator.

While many iconic figures of 1920s Black America may not have been public about their sexuality at the time, they still found ways to express their identities in essays, songs, poetry, and other art forms. And it wasn’t always pretty or polite! From high-society weddings to raunchy music and friendship feuds, George M. Johnson delivers all the juicy details in twelve short biographies of these iconic flamboyants—like Langston Hughes, Ma Rainey, Zora Neale Hurston, or Josephine Baker—whose sexualities have been obscured throughout history.

Interspersed with Johnson’s personal narrative and their own poetry, Flamboyants illuminates how American culture has always been shaped by people who are both Black and Queer. Award-winning author and illustrator Charly Palmer brings these flamboyant writers, artists, and activists to life on the page through gorgeous full-color portraits.

In their contributions to American thought and culture, these figures left a roadmap for the future. A future where people like George M. Johnson and others can not only live publicly as a queer person, but can create art fully immersed in a queer experience. And lead a flamboyant life!