About this episode

Doug Jones discusses his debut novel set against the backdrop of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, exploring themes of identity and community displacement among Black gay men.

American writer and novelist Doug Jones , Morehouse College alumnus, Columbia University MFA graduate, and Lambda Literary Fellow, discusses his powerful 2025 debut novel, The Fantasies of Future Things . Set against the backdrop of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and gentrification, the novel centers on two young Black gay men as they navigate identity, purpose, and community displacement. In this candid conversation, Doug explores the intersection of Black same-gender-loving identity, intimacy, and social justice. He also reflects on his journey as a Black gay writer, his real estate career, his deeply personal essay “Dear Dad” from the anthology Black Love Letters , and the healing power of Black LGBTQ storytelling. Rate, comment, and subscribe on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Acast , and YouTube . For more information, go to Our Black Gay Diaspora . Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People in this episode

Host: Erick Taylor Woodby

Guest: Doug Jones

Topics covered

• identity
• belonging
• Black gay men
• gentrification
• social justice
• storytelling

Keywords

• Black LGBTQ
• identity
• gentrification
• social justice
• storytelling
• novel
• Atlanta Olympics

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Morehouse College, Columbia University, Lambda Literary

Books & works: The Fantasies of Future Things, Dear Dad, Black Love Letters

More episodes of Our Black Gay Diaspora Podcast™

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• Black Gay Mental Health: A Therapist's Perspective | Ep. 138 · July 1, 2026 · 38 min

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