In 2019, Dustin Lance Black released his autobiography, Mama’s Boy, filled with themes that are relatable, prevalent, and for historical purposes, stand the test of time. These included a family who was in constant financial struggles because Mom had to be the breadwinner, wife abuse, family abuse, religion, bigamy, homosexuality, and in the end, acceptance of some of these worldly constructs.
Dustin Lance does justice by reviewing the Ethnography of the fight for polio, and the March of Dimes. The program started in 1938 after Franklin Roosevelt’s struggle with Polio became public. As children, we collected those commemorative cards with the circles where you inserted dimes. We did not understand that young children and adults were receiving benefits of these collections, whether it is a hospital stay, education for the family about polio, or helping the patient themselves with braces or long-term care in hospitals. The March of Dimes is a novel idea today because by the 1980s, polio had mostly been eradicated in the United States.
Children received vaccinations at age two and four months and then again before entering elementary school. As children, the mere mention of swimming after Labor Day brought the fear of polio front and center in many mother’s hearts.
Lance Black’s mother accepted her polio by embracing Mormonism, thinking that in heaven she would finally have a healthy body. She was matched with several husbands through the church which did not prove to be healthy relationships. Black points out, “It should be noted that when I say the Mormon Church “encouraged” something, this means participation was expected.” In the end, the church did not save her, and it wasn’t until she found a husband on her own terms that things improved in her life and the lives of her children, proving that the third time was a charm.
Mr. Black and his mother share confluences of life experiences. While his mother is a Pre-teen and is fighting for or against her polio, he, at the same age, is wrestling with his gay identity.
After struggling with his homosexuality and finally being able to live his truth, he moved to San Francisco during the aids and HIV epidemic. Mr. Black became a screenwriter and an LG BT rights activist. He gained recognition for writing the screenplay for Milk and won an Academy Award in 2009 for Best Original Screenplay. He continues to write in Hollywood and his advocacy for the rights of all.
If you are not familiar with Dustin Lance Black, I highly recommend this autobiography. His family life brings to note so many human conditions that are significant to all. Mr. Black’s writing is quite brilliant, easy to read, and quite a convincing page-turner.