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Thomas Beckwith

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Book Review: "It Seems to Hang on"

 

By Thomas Beckwith

 

 
 
 
Characterization and continuity is imperative in John Frazier's "It Seems to Hang On." The main characters in this novella, Jared Walker and Malcolm Black were presented through the immediate establishment of their parents. Jared lived a pleasant life compared to Malcolm; despite his parents being killed in an airplane crash as a teenager.
On the other hand, Malcolm struggles with his mother's erratic behavior toward him because of the absence of his father. The emergence of identity in the lives of both Jared and Malcolm, as teenagers becomes a factor in their personal development.

Moreover, Jared and Malcolm reacts differently to the opportunity of exploring their sexual identity. Jared's aunt, Catherine who adopted him after his parents were killed, encourages him to explore in life. Malcolm's mother adamantly expresses her unwillingness to accept to her son; due to fact that she thought he was gay. Malcolm lived in fear because of these circumstances.

Jared's personal development flourishes with the help of Bruce and Scott, his neighbors; helping him immerse into the gay lifestyle. Meanwhile, Malcolm still was struggling with his own identity especially after being take advantage of sexually, by Mr. Williams and his son Norman; the father and brother of his ex-girlfriend, Nora.

Going to parties, making new friends, having wild spontaneous sex, and going out to dance clubs help for both Jared and Malcolm to grow into the gay culture. All of these different things were entertaining and only lasted for short period of time.

 

John Frazier
 
 

By fate, Jared and Malcolm ended up meeting each other and becoming close friends. Their friendship would developed into a relationship that evolved around drama, which begin like a perfect dream. However, their relationship would ultimately end up crumbling because of lies, betrayal, and deceit.  

Furthermore, the reality of the HIV/AIDS epidemic starts to settle within the minds of Jared and Malcolm, and many of the other characters within "It Seems to Hang On" slowing down and changing the pace of their lives. Yet some of the characters in this novella wanted to still hang on to the memories of the past spontaneous sex, love, friendships, and dance clubs.

This novella consists of how the HIV/AIDS epidemic changed life in society in the 1980's, and he does this by presenting what life was like in the 1970's disco days with Jared Walker and Malcolm Black. John Frazier gives readers the opportunity to take a path down "memory lane" of life before an epidemic that destroyed the lives of many people. There are a few constant themes embedded within "It Seems to Hang on" identity, commitment, acceptance, and love; the characters displays this through their actions.
 
 
 

Poetry: BlackWoman Affair; An Unframed Photograph

 

By Thomas Beckwith

 

 
 
 
Black Woman Affair

Labeling her like she a file folder
because she won't let you degrade
her body and insult her integrity,
telling everyone she got attitude,
she already peeped your game.
She refuse to be placed in a cabinet
or up on a shelf like other women
you have dated and trashed like you were
slam dunking a basketball. She's strong,
black, educated, won't be barricaded
in misery or have spells cast on her.
You a pretentious brother
arrogant, conniving and controlling.

All your homeboys know, the only thing
you trying to do is smash and play with her
like you spinning the bottle. Too bad.
She confident, sophisticated, and dedicated.
If she get to know you, she might as well
audition for Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself.

You shadowing her move, saying that black woman
have an attitude.
Did you forget your momma black?
Knot your tongue, tape your mouth,
freeze your brain, she don't wanna
talk to you and your attitude.
An Unframed Photograph
 
Her beauty froze my mind,
but her lies shattered the background
of the waterfalls in the framed picture
we took together at homecoming.

She rode the waves of the sea
by luring me into buying her clothes,
paying her phone bills, I even bought
her lunch every day.

Lavish gifts came from the heart,
as she began to leave me at sea. Drowned by sorrow, I tried to grip the side
of the boat, fighting not to let go.

Submerged by the questions
of what was happening, I gasped for breath. I realized there was another guy in her picture. We were no longer the captain and co-captain.

Our ship sank because I failed to steer
from the beginning. I was framed
by beauty. I was no longer able to touch
the waves. They swept over me.

Avoiding death I managed to swim
back to shore. Bitterness circulated through
my body. I stared down at the ground,
and I noticed the wetness

of a picture that was folded into
two halves displaying her on one side
and me on the other side with my arms
cut off. I walked away trembling,

and I tripped on the broken picture
frame. It was surrounded by the glass;
then I realized: I had been placed in
a picture where I was not supposed to be.

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