Black Beans 'N Rice by Dena Tyson Reviewed by Push Nevahda and The Pathfinder October 2009 Synopsis: Spooney was old enough to be her father but he didn‘t care. It made him feel like he still had it and that made him feel good. It‘s not all about how you do what you do because Binx was young and didn‘t know any better. She had fallen head over heels for him because he was different. As Binx applied the finishing touches to her face, her mother walked in and stood next to her, a questioning look in her eyes. She glared from the mirror and said something Binx would never forget. “You too pretty of a girl to be with such a old man. You‘re young and smart . . . he‘s just taking away all of your youth.” She was quite solemn in the way she spoke.What her mother didn‘t understand at that time was the damage had already been done, and she stayed not because she wanted to, but because she had to. She suffered Spooney‘s abuse both physically and mentally, and walking away wasn‘t easy because she was afraid.

Reviewed by: Push Nevahda

Many hot summers ago, while working as a waiter in a Metro Detroit suburb, a co-worker and I stood in the distance of the customer-less restaurant, watching another openly gay waitress talking to her lover who’d sat at the bar to wait for the shift to end. Angela turned to me and said, “It’s like a dysfunction with them. It’s always about sex.” That 20 year old memory resurfaced for me while reading Dena Tyson’s new book, Black Beans N’ Rice.

Before I go into my rant on the thing about this book that irked me the most, let me quickly explain the book. Bianca is classy, independent, sophisticated, and her friends call her Binx. In the beginning of the book she flees an abuse relationship with an older cat named Spooney. She then gets involved with beauty-shop owner, Eason, who is so silky smooth he’ll remind you of the velvet-smooth, Five Heartbeats actor, Leon. Eason introduces Binx to Marijuana, they fall in love with each other, and he caters to her every whim. All the while, Spooney still has feelings for Binx and is on to her and Eason’s Oak Park love affair. Eason eventually plays out – he chooses cocaine over Binx, and she gets raped by Sweet, Eason’s partner in crime – and Spooney avenges her honor by cutting off Sweet’s dick. This makes Binx rethink her relationship with Spooney, rewarding his barbarian bravery by allowing him to take her out for a movie then back to her place for a lil gratuitous sex. But Binx doesn’t want Spooney. She meets Ellis, goes out with him, and screws him on her living room floor later that night. Tyson’s erotica is tender and passionate, and she turns up the heat in her gently constructed love scenes with…well…all 3 men. Anywho, while Ellis is boning Binx on the cold floor, Hershey, Binx’s best friend, who happens to be gay, is asleep in her bed.

This brings me to the issue that really bothered me about this otherwise wonderfully written book. Tyson’s characterization of Hershey disappointed me on many levels. Hershey is supposed to be Binx’s best friend, yet, she rarely spends any real, substantive moments with him. He should’ve had a more serious role. He is Binx’s guardian angel, but Tyson downplayed him, unwilling to explore the possibilities of his character, possibly because he is gay. This is where Tyson’s personal homophobia emerges - this textual inability to cope with the humanity of a gay man. Her gay scenarios are poorly constructed and written with the sensitivity of a Black Christian preacher…on a Sunday.

The reader is left to wonder, is this Tyson being covertly critical of gays and lesbians by refusing to execute a more humanistic gay character? Why is Hershey always in a sexual predicament? Is this what Tyson thinks about gay men and lesbian women, that they always have sex on their minds, a “dysfunction” as my co-worker once noted?

Aside from Hershey’s constant reference to sex and men, Tyson never reveals to us the possibility that gay men can experience the same kind of meaningful love, tenderness, and compassion that heterosexuals experience. In this sense, Hershey – a gay man – is left to defend his own dignity – against the more selfish and self centered intentions of his so-called best friend, Binx, who, although claiming to be Hershey’s best friend, only acknowledges this invisible friendship when she needs him to bring her back from the edge of self-destruction. Even when Binx insults his masculinity, and Tyson stereotypes him as an effeminately typical, loud-mouth, lip-smacking, sex-starved, faggot (who always seems to be sexually situated and/or lying in a bed), Hershey is left to defend himself and his humanity. In the end, it is Hershey (rather than Binx or Tyson) who teaches us the fundamentals of love and relationships (which none of the heterosexuals in her life could ever imagine or realize). In other words, Hershey saves Binx, but he saves Tyson and her story as well.

What did you like about the book?
Dena Tyson is a great storyteller, and her writing is delicate, sensual, and mature.

What did you dislike about the book?
At times, Tyson delves into scenarios which have nothing to do with the overall plot and structure of the book.

What could the author do to improve the book?
When dealing with social taboos and controversial issues, step outside of her personal beliefs to render a more human reality. And I understand that that’s hard for a conservative, Christian person to do.

Reviewed by: The Pathfinder

Author Dena Tyson has written a wonderful yet, abusive story about love, pain, friendship, and finding one’s self despite the suffering, heartaches and other emotions that are sparked and triggered when one is involved in an abusive relationship. The only way out is to escape by any means necessary. You feel the pain and loneliness that will sometimes feed doubts into the mind of someone trying to escape from such a situation. Dena touches upon the tenderness, warmth, love, pain and horrors of what it takes to get through an abusive relationship.

Bianca also called Binx is the protagonist. The story revolves around her naivety, impressionable choices and decisions that she made at a rather young age. Unsure of her faith and what awaited her in life, a young Binx encounters Spooney an older man. Captivated by his maturity, and the manner in which he dealt with her, Binx fell head over heels in love with him. Soon thereafter, the control factor began along with the abuse. Unsure and afraid Binx confides in her gay friend, Hershey. Hershey was a constant in her life as she contemplated her next move. Hershey listened and advised her on what to do and what not to do concerning Spooney. After getting up the nerves and courage to walk away from Spooney, Binx encounters Eason. They immediately fall in love. Unbeknownst to Binx, Spooney finds out. Not one to give in rather easily Spooney made his rounds. Binx eventually tells Eason about Spooney but instead of being there for her, he chose his cocaine and his friend Sweets instead. Sweets would end up raping Binx, but love is bliss and despite the turmoil that he had put her through Binx reached out to Spooney who came to her rescue. Sweets was quickly taken care of.

Believing he now had a chance; Spooney was back in his comfort zone once again. Binx needed to let go and for an instant she fell into that old trap. She made love to Spooney with a lot of reservation and doubts. She knew what she did wasn’t the best thing to do. She questions not only her own motives but Spooney’s as well. Would he want her back? What if she told him she didn’t? Would he walk away and leave her alone? Would she ever find true love? Was there someone out there much closer to her age awaiting her? These were some of the questions Binx contemplated.

I loved how Dena intertwined her naivety and impressionable behavior throughout the story to display Binx’s remarkable maturity despite her young age as the story progressed. I loved how she used Binx, to dictate each characters role and how they were defined in the story. She didn’t allow any of the other characters to upstage Binx and vice versa. Binx was the initiator and in spite of her friendship with Hershey whom I thought was funny as hell (no pun intended) and Spooney’s stalking mentality she didn’t allow them to take away her hurt, pain, love and redemption when she needed it. This story is about walking away from an abusive situation and having the courage to do so. Kudos to you Dena Tyson, one of the better books I have read so far.

What did you like about the book?
I loved her writing style and the manner in which she maneuvered each character. The storyline was believable.

What did you dislike about the book?
Nothing!

How can the author improve this book?
It’s good as it is! She doesn’t need to do anything. 

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LWhitney :

Posted 325 days ago

continued: I truely believe he loved Binx with all his heart I just think he really didn't know how to show her in the right way. If a man doesn't have a good relationship with his mother, I think it's hard for him to have a good relationship with a woman. Spooney didn't have a good relationship with his mom. Now when she finally met the love of her life I was really elated for her. The two of them hit it off perfectly. I believe he was sent straight from God. God will allow you to go through certain things in life in order to bring you closer to him. He will not put more on you than what you can bear. He sent that man to Binx to show her that love wasn't dead in her life. And to show her that a man really can love and respect you for who you are. Although Binx had a past that she probably didn't want to share with him, however he made her feel there was nothing she had to keep from him. I could go on and on about this book. It was so good.
I saw the interview she did on t.v. on WGN Friday it was good. She is so beautiful and looks so young!
YOU GO GIRL God is really blessing you!

LWhitney :

Posted 325 days ago

I really enjoyed this book. I just finished reading it on Monday. I was really impressed with Binx. Out of all she went through she never gave up on love. I know people always say they don't believe in love at first sight. I was glad when she left Spooney when she did. Although he was good to her in the beginning that relationship wouldn't work out in the future. When you date someone that much older than you, eventually they become possessive and controlling. I use to date an older man. They are so set in their ways and do not like change. When she met Eason I knew it was too good to be true. He came on too strong when they first met. That's how I knew he wasn't the one for her. Binx had sense enough to move past that relationship and not look back. I was glad Spooney was there for her when she called about Sweet. If I were Spooney I would have stuck his penis in his mouth and then put a bullet in his head. I know that may sound cruel but he deserved every bit of what Spooney gave to him. It impressed me that he was there for her even though they were no longer in a relationship.

Push Nevahda :

Posted 345 days ago

lol. That wasn't my point in reading the book, Ms. Elaina. My job was to REVIEW it. But, for the recored...and for the upteenth time, I DID enjoy the book. I really did. It's interesting how people have reacted to my review. Yet, truth be told, if I were really being CRITICAL of the book, this review could've easily become a small thesis.

Elaina :

Posted 345 days ago

I think that Push should relax and enjoy the book for what it is - fiction. This is not a instructional book on homosexual life.

The Educator :

Posted 346 days ago

It took me a good hour to get back-and-forth through all the comments and controversies on Black Beans and Rice. I have not as yet purchased this book but perhaps before I make any real comments I had better read it for myself. But for now, Push Nevahda, it seems to me that what many people do is read on the surface—just for the obvious word-to-word meaning, and that’s what they get. They are not reading with a critical eye as you (and many real reading scholars) do. However, I am sure (or I would like to think) that the author will take your criticism under close consideration when she writes again, rather than all those pat-on-the-back comments. I do hope to get the book soon, and see for myself exactly what’s going on here, and then I will post my comment.

Brooklen Borne :

Posted 348 days ago

I had the honor of reading Mrs. Tyson's book before the official release date and I thought she did a wonderful job depicting each character's role. The main Character is Binx in which the story is based on, not her best friend. Each character was well introduce in the story line to bring us, the reader's into their world. A job Mrs. Tyson had done so well.
I'm not going to get into depth about each character because it's no need to, by looking at the previous statements. What I would like to say is that, I've read three of Mr's Tyson's books and all was excellent; she is consistant in her story telling. I'm a true fan an advid reader of this author's work. I will buy and read anything she writes because I know it's going to be a page turner.
No matter how good of product you put out Mr's Tyson, there will be those trying to take you down; because of their misunderstanding of what's in front of them. Keep doing what you are doing because your product will sell itself; it's that good!!!!!!

Push Nevahda :

Posted 348 days ago

So whites couldnt see the underlined racist agenda, and join Kings crusade for black justice? So, when that white broad stopped Malcolm on that college campus and asked what she could do to help the black struggle, she had to be black in order to really see white injustice? lol
All the respected book reviewers who'd taken issue with Baldwin's (gay book) Giovanni's Room had to be gay in order to critique it?
See why your remarks about my sexuality are ridiculous, Ms. Dimples?
I am only passionate about critical reading, not the homophobia, of which I've EVIDENCED, in Tysons otherwise wonderfully written book. Perhaps, Ms. Dimples, this is just a matter of interpretation. Futhermore, I've provided EVIDENCE of my assertions. We need to stay within the CONTEXT of the book. This is not about my personal feelings about Ms. Tyson - I don't know her! She only matters, for me, as the AUTHOR of the book, in regards to her CHARACTERIZATION of Hershey whom SYMBOLIZES what I consider to be TYSON'S homophobic treatment of homosexuality. That's the issue for me. Not Tyson, and not my sexuality. Besides, I'm too old to be in anybody's closet, so if I were reviewing the book from the perspective of a homosexual book reviewer, then I'd state that.

Reader A :

Posted 348 days ago

Will the author please stand up? Can someone get her over here?

Dimples :

Posted 348 days ago

It didnt seem like this was business it seems as if it was personal. You are too passionate about this gay thing. Writers are passionate about what they write as well as readers are passionate about what they read and their feelings towards the novel. I find it hard to understand how you a heterosexual can be so passionate about a "gay" issue. Actually you are making it out to be a gay issue.
The book was discussed fully by my gay co-workers. They discussed everything about the book, they were not hiding any dislikes about the book. they expressed their dislikes which was the part where Binx felt sorry for spooney and gave him some ass. They hated spooney for what he did to her and felt he didnt deserve it. they felt that it was the least he could do to make up for all the pain he caused her. He was trying to redeem himself, and he didnt deserve no more ass. They enjoyed Hershey and they loved Binx.
You talked about Mrs. Tysons touching on taboo topics and placing her own personal viewls and you talked about her being a conservative Christian etc. You have passed judgement on this Author as if you know her personally and know what her views are on gays. You dont know what her stand is on gays. She never stated in any article any where in her writing career anything about gays, so what would make you think that she has issues with gay. if that was the case she wouldnt have made a gay man one of her characters. she could have made hershey a straight male, it didnt really matter whether he was straight or gay, either way HE WAS NOT THE MAIN CHARACTER and he didnt need any more time than the time he received in the book.
I am very glad to know that you did enjoy the book otherwise but what the heck made you pick out this Hershey character. what is so special about Hershey that you felt the need to pick his character out the way you did. If the gay people that read the book didnt have a problem (and they are part of the gay community) why the heck would you a so-called heterosexual male make an issue out of the character. If the gay people didnt see what you saw and they are gay how the heck can you see the "gay" underlining and youre suposed to be straight. That's a new one. Usually gays can see the gay underlining in things especially when they think they are being hated on. Now you want me to think that gays cant see it and you being straight can.. Lmao.. Cooooome oooon.. I think you you're really fishing.. lol lol lol stop it.
There were no underline things about Hershey, there were no down playing his character, there were no underlined issues surround hershey, his gayness or anything else. Hersheys a great guy and a great friend to Binx and Mrs. Tyson did a great job. Again Cooooome Ooooon...

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