To say I loved George M. Johnson’s recent book is an understatement. All Boys Aren’t Blue is one of the best books I’ve read in a very, very longtime. I couldn’t stop thinking about it for days. Not just because the story was powerful, but because I felt like I had just read my best friend spill their guts out on the page. George has that quality to them. As a Black queer non-binary person living in America, they offered up so much of their soul to their readers through All Boys Aren’t Blue. George M. Johnson is going to change the world, you can quote me. I am beyond honored and thrilled to have them on Glitter Guide today. I got a chance to interview George on all things creativity, writing and what’s next for them.

photo by Sean Howard

We are so thrilled to interview you and share more about you with our audience. For those that aren’t familiar, can you tell us a bit about what you currently do?

My name is George M. Johnson, and I am a Black queer non-binary author and writer. I currently write YA fiction and non-fiction books, including my debut bestselling memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue. My book is being adapted into a television series after being optioned by Gabrielle Union. I am also very involved with activism around Black lives, specifically those who are Black queer. I also do a lot of work around the HIV epidemic as someone who is publicly living with HIV.

Prior to becoming an author, I was a freelance journalist for several years. I covered many topics ranging from healthcare, education, race, sex, gender, politics and opinion. I wrote for more than 50 national publications including Buzzfeed, Essence and Teen Vogue, to name a few. I’ve been featured on MSNBC, Good Morning America, and several other new programs for my work.

Photo by Sean Howard

Your book, All Boys Aren’t Blue was one of my favorite books I’ve read this year and we also included it in our Summer Reading challenge. When did you decide this was the book you were going to write?

I’ve known for many years I wanted to write a book that focused on my family but I wasn’t sure what it would be. In 2017, I finally decided that the book I wanted to write was about me. I wanted to make sure that I put a story in the world that could go directly into the hands of queer youth, specifically Black queer youth who have wanted to be seen and read about in the pages of a book.

There are so many memoirs out there right now. How did you set about making yours different?

My memoir was written for young adults. That market isn’t typically where memoirs are aimed at. So I knew writing it specifically for them would make it very different than other memoirs. My memoir is also a Black queer story. We have had a good amount of Black queer memoirs but that intersection alone sets it apart from most of the market of memoirs. I also wanted to make sure my memoir was conversational but gave you insight not only into the experience but what was also going on in my mind at the time of the experience.

photo by Sean Howard

Can you tell us about the title? What did you want it to convey to your readers?

The title was referencing several things. The first is obviously a push back against the idea of boys being blue and girls being pink. So when I say that “All Boys Aren’t Blue” I am saying that the set of standards and heteronorms that are placed on those who are deemed boys don’t work for all of us. I was assigned boy at birth, however, I didn’t gravitate to “boy” things. I think colors shouldn’t have a gender, and we shouldn’t live in a binary.

The title also pays homage to the movie “Moonlight,” the character Blue from the show “Queen Sugar” who in many ways wasn’t gravitating to “boy” things.

Congrats on the success of your book. What projects do you have in the works next?

I’m currently working on my next book, We Are Not Broken, which will be more stories about my family primarily centering around the relationship my grandmother, Nanny, had with her grandsons. It will reflect on masculinity, Black boyhood and Black boy joy as well as covering a range of other topics. I’m also developing a television series based on my memoir All Boys Aren’t Blue with Gabrielle Union and Sony.

photo by EYEOFSCOTTIE

I really loved reading about your relationship with your grandma, Nanny, in your book. What are some of the lessons and values she taught you that you’ve carried on in your adult life?

I’ve learned many lessons from her. I learned about hustling, making money and having multiple streams of income. I learned about how when you are blessed, you bless others. That charity starts at home and that helping your community is one of the greatest gifts you can give to others. Nanny had a lot of sayings, which I’m going to talk about more in the next book, but many of her sayings stick in our minds.

The main thing I learned is that you do your best to live life without regrets and you never hold grudges. When something is done, you let it be done and learn and grow from that.

We write and share a lot of creativity-based content here at GG. What does creative energy mean to you?

I’m a creative. I wake up with thoughts on my mind about what I can write next or what I can record next or make next. Creative energy to me can come from anywhere though. A lot of times, I channel negative energy into something creative. I try to take emotions like rage and anger and even jealousy and envy and turn them into something magical and Black. I get inspiration from the good and bad and in-between and I let my creative energy drive where that goes.

Photo by Sean Howard

How does creativity play a role in your day-to-day?

I write for a living. I write non-fiction and fiction so I’m always using my mind to create worlds and inform. My creativity is now expanding more into photo and video so that also plays a role in the day-to-day creations I am wanting to do.

A lot of times I channel negative energy into something creative. I try to take emotions like rage and anger and even jealousy and envy and turn them into something magical and Black.

If you weren’t a writer, what career would you want to have?

Beautician. I used to like doing hair and I could easily see that as something I would have done as a career.

Photo by Sean Howard

If you had to choose, what are your top five all-time favorite, must-read books?

Are there any movements or causes you’re particularly passionate about?

I’m very passionate about HIV. I’ve been HIV positive for nearly 10 years. It’s a virus that affects Black queer people at epidemic level rates and has done so for decades now. Part of my mission is to show what life can be for those of us living with the virus while also fighting for our next generation to not have to do so. I’m also very passionate about Black LGBTQ causes. We are often lost in the fray when discussing any movements around Black lives so I’m very passionate about making sure our stories and needs are heard and met.