Author Maurice Dorsey

Name: Maurice W. Dorsey, Ph.D.

Birth Place: Baltimore, Maryland

Occupation: Author

What kinds of books do you write and why?
To date, I have written two books: the first is a historical biography about the first African American man to issue stock publically on the NYS Exchange. His name was Henry G. Parks, Jr., he was one of my mentors who was 30 years my senior. Before he died I promised to write his life story and I kept this promise.

My second book is autobiographical fiction based on my true story. It is the story of a black, gay man who struggles with his identity during the height of the Civil Rights and LGBT Movements of the 1960s.
Although my two books are written in two different genres they both brought me to a happier place in my life today. I am currently writing the third book about my dad’s life.

Who has been your biggest influence in writing?
Augusten Burroughs is my favorite author. His books: Running With Scissors, Dry, Magical Thinking, A Wolf at the Table, Possible Side Effects, and Lust and Wonder have helped me to define and create my style of writing. Mr. Burrough’s books were among the first gay-themed books that were not lewd and pornographic. His books are liberating, illuminating, humorous and inspire me to write more.

Tell us about your recent work?
My most recent book From Whence We Come is a book written about me. It is a fictitious story that attempted to help me overcome my emotional insecurities around the issues of homosexuality, being: colored, then Negro, then Black, then Afro American, and now African American in America, but most importantly trying to understand my mother who repeatedly told me she never wanted to have me. I was confused in my developmental years attempting to work through my dysfunctions, they affected me. I cried as I wrote every page 70 years later.

Words that best describe you?

I was put down so often throughout my life that I was never sure who I was as a person. There were a large number of words that others used to describe me that I somehow internalized and accepted as truth.
Today at the age of 72, if I were to use words to describe myself I would say that I am spiritual, friendly, organized, sensitive, social, practical, thinking, persevering, charitable, lean, formally educated, smart working, well-traveled, secure, and accomplished.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?
I have had help all along the way in my life but the biggest influence by far was my mother (Zelma Virginia Dorsey) who live 95 years and I had her for 67 years. We differed on many issues but she was wise and I attribute most of my common sense teachings to her. She was married to my father for 62 years, a man I dearly loved and who loved me in return but the reality is that I was with my mother for more years than he.
Others who influenced the direction of my life include my high school history teacher, Robert E. Lee Ross; college professor, Pedro Ribalta and Dean Marjory Brooks; my first partner, Silas Roscoe Young; a complete stranger then friend, veteran educator, Dr. Evelyn Pasture Valentine; education administrators, Dr. Virginia Roeder Cobb and Dr. Benjamin Whitten; higher education administrators, Dr. Daniel Huden, Dr. George Johnson, Dr. Archie Buffkins; my second partner, Dr. Robert James Battjes; and federal administrators, Curtland Deville, Dr. A. J. Dye, Dr. Robert Koopman, Dr. Daniel Kugler, Dr. Franklin Boteler.

I would give anything to meet….
I grew up during the Motown era and I would give anything to meet Miss Diana Ross! I still sing and dance to her music. I’m Coming Out and Its My Turn made a huge state for me and to many LGBT people during that period in American History. Miss Ross has continued her career in film, stage, and theater. In her many roles, she transformed many LGBTQ lives. She is a star in my eyes!

Your idea of a perfect evening is?
My idea of a perfect evening is whenever I am with the one I love, anywhere, doing anything.

The last book I read was….
The last book I read was: Becoming by Michelle Obama. I have read many books in my lifetime and have many favorite authors however I thought Becoming was the most crystal clear books I had ever read. Her style is very honest and fluid even when the story was not pretty.

My favorite movies/plays are?
I have been a regular patron of movies and plays. Over my lifetime and I have seen hundreds of great movies and plays. As a gay man, I think Torch Song Trilogy is the play and movie that resonates most with my life, especially in the scenes where Arnold (Harvey Fierstein) passionately argues with his homophobic mother, and test traditional ways of living, to gain his personal happiness. I had this same passionate argument with my mother whom I have also written in this article is the most influential person in my life. Singlehandedly fighting traditional family values with your mother is a hell of a fight. It is the fight for your life from the women who gave birth to you. It was one of the first times in life I had to stand up for myself against my mother. It was the hardest and intense.
The timeline of Brokeback Mountain is 1963. This was the period when the joys and heartbreaks of same-sex relationships were budding in my life, thus I could relate to the relevance of the film. As an African American from the rural south, I could clearly identify with the brutality of narrow mindedness, ignorance, traditions and in my case race and poverty too.

Nobody knows that I……
Nobody knows how I have suffered alone; I cry, pray, and give gratitude to the unknown.

What is your favorite place in the entire world?
I have had the opportunity to travel the world and of all of the places I felt most comfortable was Sydney, Australia. The people were friendly, the city is clean, and there was room for gay living and celebration. It is somewhat expensive.

What is the most spontaneous thing you’ve ever done?
The most spontaneous thing I have ever done was to get in my car and drive across the country, alone in an 18-year-old Nissan Maxima with no planned destinations. It was one of the most adventurous and decompressing things I have ever done in my life.

What odd talent do you have?
I know how to crochet and needlepoint.

What had been your biggest setbacks or failure in life and how did you overcome it?

I am the youngest of three children, I was sheltered, I was an average student, I was bullied at home, school, and work, I was professionally inexperienced, I am a black male, I am gay, I had poor communication skills and attracted toxic friends and lovers, I did not know the difference. Balancing all of this baggage was difficult.
I overcame all of this with a combination of integration of public schools, integration of housing, completing high school, college, graduate school and attending every staff development and training opportunity my employers offered. This was hard, time-consuming, and expensive. I made personal sacrifices but more than anything I kept a positive attitude through all of it. It took years to get to where I am today but at last, I am happy.

If I could meet my younger self, I would tell him……
I would say, Maurice, pay attention in school, do all of your homework with pride. You can do this.

What would you like to say to the Gay Life after 40 tribe?
We all have a story. Let’s tell our story more, let’s coalesce and love each other more and not separate ourselves by race, gender, religion, and politics. There are good and bad people in all groups.

Where can our readers find you or know more about you?
Just google my name Maurice W. Dorsey, there are several pages of entries; Or personally at mdorsey10@verizon.net. I am on Facebook too!

How can they purchase your book?
Both of my books can be purchased at amazon.com; OR www.mauricewdorsey.com