I Can't Date Jesus
| Industry | Publishing |
|---|---|
| Products | Books |
I Can’t Date Jesus: Love, Sex, Family, Race, and Other Reasons I’ve Put My Faith in Beyoncé is a 2018 collection of essays by Michael Arceneaux, published through Atria Books. Comprising seventeen pieces, the collection delves into Arceneaux’s multifaceted identity, struggles with internalized homophobia, experiences in dating, and his path as a writer. Additionally, it highlights his deep appreciation for the singer Beyoncé, who also hails from Houston.
Arceneaux, an openly gay African-American and former Roman Catholic, debuted this work on July 24, 2018. The essays navigate both intimate and cultural subjects while engaging with relevant social conversations.
Development
Arceneaux sought to craft a narrative blending emotional depth with humor, inspired by writers such as David Sedaris and Augusten Burroughs, who are predominantly white males. Though he completed the manuscript in 2011, it took until 2018 to find an agent and publisher. Initially rejected by Jim McCarthy of Dystel, Goderich, & Bourret, McCarthy later agreed to represent Arceneaux after reviewing his essays. Editor Rakesh Satyal at Altria played a significant role in refining the book.
The title originates from a dialogue with Arceneaux’s mother, who believed that God condemns homosexuality and questioned whether Arceneaux could be saved because of his sexual orientation. His retort was, "I plan to have sex, so I can’t date Jesus." This phrase was chosen as the title after the manuscript’s completion.
Contents
Michelle Raji from the Texas Observer described the book’s format as a "series of explanations," resembling self-help literature in its accessibility and mirroring Arceneaux’s candid online voice.
The essays explore topics such as his critical view of whiteness, influenced by his education in mostly African-American and Latino schools and attendance at a historically black university. In "The Place Is No Sanctuary," he addresses homophobia prevalent in black-owned barbershops—important social hubs for non-gay black men. "I See A Priest in You" narrates an instance where he was encouraged to pursue priesthood, which he declined.
Additional essays reflect on living in poverty in Los Angeles ("You Will Die Poor") and recount his romantic life ("The First, the Worst" and "Learning How to Ho and Date and Failing at Both"). Chapter 15 includes his critique of President Donald Trump’s administration alongside the story of coming out to his mother.
Reception
In Vogue, Chloe Schama and Bridget Read commended Arceneaux’s blend of "hysterically funny" and vulnerable storytelling, calling the collection "a triumph of self-exploration" that skillfully intertwines personal narrative with cultural and political issues.
Savas Abadsidis from The Advocate likened the book’s humor to that of David Sedaris, while Tre'vell Anderson writing for the Los Angeles Times observed parallels with Samantha Irby’s style.
Raji emphasized that the work challenges the notion that racial minorities must perform their identities as spectacle; instead, I Can’t Date Jesus provides "a little more story and a little less spectacle." Although she noted some imbalance between comedic and serious tones in certain essays—particularly those focused on romance—she singled out the essay on sexual racism and interracial relationships as exceptional, alongside the piece about priesthood.
Publishers Weekly highlighted the book’s "confident voice and unapologetic sense of humor," recommending it to admirers of Roxane Gay. Kirkus Reviews described it as "a funny, fierce, and bold memoir in essays."
See also
External links
- 2018 non-fiction books
- American essay collections
- LGBTQ literature in the United States
- English-language non-fiction books
- Atria Publishing Group books
- African-American autobiographies
- Gay non-fiction books
- 2010s LGBTQ literature
- Books critical of Christianity
- 2018 LGBTQ-related literary works
- Non-fiction books about LGBTQ and Christianity