Countee Cullen and Queer Theory

Countee Cullen
and Queer Theory

“the oxymoron of
a closeted openness”
—Alden Reimonenq, “Countee
Cullen’s Uranian ‘Soul Windows’,
Critical Essays: Gay and Lesbian
Writers of Color

What does queer theory—
Tell us about Countee Cullen
And his poetry?

Discrimination—
By the white community
Outside gay Harlem?

And black machismo—
Backed up by religious
Fundamentalists?

Strange Brother (1931)

“Pettit who was white
and from Milwaukee,
fell in love with a
Black youth in Harlem”
—Alden Reimonenq, “Countee
Cullen’s Uranian ‘Soul Windows’,
Critical Essays: Gay and Lesbian
Writers of Color

The Black youth was cute—
Leland Pettit fell in love
With the handsome boy.

Cullen dedicated—
“Color” a poem to them
in his Copper Sun.

Red & Black & Death—
Twisting on a tree with some
Squealing little pigs.

“Color” (1927)

“This bit of Harlem
gay history was later
fictionalized in Blair
Niles’ novel, Strange
Brother (1931)”
—Alden Reimonenq, “Countee
Cullen’s Uranian ‘Soul Windows’,
Critical Essays: Gay and Lesbian
Writers of Color

Pettit in real life—
Blair Niles’ young gay confidant
Knew gay Harlem well.

He was organist—
At the Harlem Grace Church
There on Broadway Ave.

And felt at home there—
Within the Harlem black gay
Community back then.

Infants of the Spring

“Leland Pettit looms
transparently behind
the character of Mark
Thornton”
—Alden Reimonenq, “Countee
Cullen’s Uranian ‘Soul Windows’,
Critical Essays: Gay and Lesbian
Writers of Color

But also, Leyland—
Petit plays Samuel Carte
Barely fictional

Petit introduced—
Thurman to Canadian
Harald Slefansson

Stephen in Infants—
Thurman's Niggeratti lover
During Manor years
________________________

Pettit, Leland "Sonny" Age 65, of Brooklyn Center. Funeral Service 11 am Monday at Discover Church, 1400 81st Ave. N, Brooklyn Park. Visit 4-8 pm Today in the Miller Funeral Home, 6210 Hwy 65
Published in Star Tribune on May 23, 2010