The Day Eazy-E Died

"Hardy proves Black love is just as dizzying and gratifying when boy meets boy,"-Vibe

At the end of If Only for One Nite, Raheim Rivers' and Mitchell Crawford's love had been tested by ghosts of the past; now it will be tested by the very real spectre of AIDS. As Raheim juggles his increasingly hectic schedule as a supermodel, he is rocked by the news that one of his idols, NWA founder Eazy-E, has AIDS. Raheim gets tested, but keeps it a secret. Meanwhile life swirls on around him, as his son struggles with his new school, his ex-wife announces her impending marriage, and Mitchell becomes increasingly concerned by Raheim's withdrawal.

Hardy masterfully draws his fascinating and very human characters into the ferment of urgent societal issues. He has created a powerfully real look at the issues facing young people of all sexual persuasions, particularly young black men who are disproportionately at risk for AIDS. As the date for disclosure of his test results draws near, Raheim's fear and the stigma of the disease push him towards conflicting decisions.

James Earl Hardy is the author of the best selling books B-Boy Blues, 2nd Time Around, and If Only for One Nite,, as well as a biography of Spike Lee and a portrait of Boyz II Men. Hardy's writings have appeared in The Washington Post, OUT, Essence, The Advocate, Essence, Newsweek, Entertainment Weekly, and Vibe. Born and raised in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, he currently resides in Gramercy Park in Manhattan.