WRITING BY

B.Michael Hunter considered himself a poet long before he came out as a writer. In 1970, he wrote his first poem, “My Problem,” at age 12. At 17, he wrote what may be his first poem inspired by his mother, who would be his muse at different points over the next two decades. “Writing poetry” appears among his hobbies on college applications and, later, on résumés as part of his Personal Profile.

As he explained to a publisher in 1991, he would claim the stylizing of his writer’s name with intention:

Please note I deliberately do not put a space between the period and M when I write B.Michael Hunter. Michael is the name which my family uses when they refer to me. I am trying to ‘Be’ Michael when I write. Namely to be more natural / true / childlike / innocent / real.

Brothers of Other Countries: (L-R) Cary Alan Johnson, Colin Robinson, Olubode Shawn Brown, B.Michael Hunter, Donald Woods

B.Michael wrestled with “being Michael” in his life, aware of the pressures and limitations he perceived early on, particularly as a Black Gay man … Continue Reading


WRITING BY B.MICHAEL HUNTER


B.MICHAEL HUNTER - WRITING BY YEAR

Leave a Reply