Meet the Hendersons

MEET THE HENDERSONS

By Kevin E. Taylor

The holiday season is here, and it is considered a time of giving, of sharing, of remembrance, and of love. In the world of fiction, when it comes to long-term loving relationships (and I mean the kind lasting decades), Black same-sex couples have often been missing from the picture, at least until recent years. In real life, such couples have always been around—they simply haven’t been given the energy they deserve.

But back to fiction. I love a good love story, and Kevin E. Taylor brings it. From the author of Jaded and Envy, I bring to you Meet the Hendersons.

Seymour “Mour” Linwood Henderson is from Greensboro, North Carolina. His is a gift of song and music, but he was shy about singing until his father encouraged him. His self-worth took a hit when a high school classmate named Avery used him and then broke his heart, and this, plus knowing he was gay, left wounds of fear and “not good enough.”

Thurston “Thirst” Barron Henderson, Jr. is from Toledo, Ohio. His father’s own frustrations with his life were taken out on Thurston Jr. in the form of constant criticism and belittling growing up as the eldest son of four children, despite the positive input of others who saw his potential and talent. His father’s treatment of him, in contrast with his younger siblings, resulted in his leaving home to enlist in the Army immediately after his high school graduation.

Seymour and Thurston first meet in basic training in 1967, at the height of Viet Nam. Recognizing a kindred spirit, Thurston reaches out to Seymour, but Seymour runs away in fear and shame about who he is. At one point, Thurston calls Seymour out, and they become a couple. Though Seymour leaves the Army after his tour of duty and moves to New York, Thurston stays in for an additional two years. When Thurston’s father is at his lowest point mentally and physically, Thurston moves back to Ohio to help take care of him, which puts a strain on his relationship with Seymour. Finally, in 1973, Thurston leaves Ohio for Harlem, where he and Seymour begin their life together.

Taylor takes us through their life over the next 40 years, from Seymour opening his music store, Thurston’s community action, the Harlem riot of 1977, the unspoken acceptance by the community of their relationship, the AIDS crisis, chosen family, found family. Through it all, their love is rock-solid, withstanding many tests, including one they didn’t expect…

I give a hat-tip to Taylor for writing such a thoughtful, beautiful love story. Having read Jaded, these characters were first introduced in that novel (Joshua and Elijah first meet in the music store), and I appreciate the continuity where Joshua and Elijah are interwoven in it. I loved the musical references and the vocalists mentioned that brought back memories.

Meet the Hendersons is available through Amazon and Taylor’s website, www.kevinetaylor.com.

Thank you, Kevin, for another amazing representation of Black Love, its resilience, and its power.