ATLANTA, GA — Gregory “Gee” Smalls, Sr., nationally recognized LGBTQ activist, philanthropist, father, husband, and entrepreneur, has released a deeply personal new memoir titled Black Enough, Man Enough: Embracing My Mixed Race and Sexual Identity. The book, which debuted last month, has already sparked powerful conversations around race, masculinity, and sexual identity.
Smalls—no stranger to national platforms like Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and Aspire TV—invites readers on what he calls “a riveting, contemporary journey through multiple comings-out to authentically live his unique identity.” From his early struggles growing up biracial in the Gullah Geechee community of James Island, South Carolina, to his evolution as a proud gay Black man, the memoir is a raw, unfiltered chronicle of resilience, love, and self-discovery.
“I knew I was different, called ‘punk’ or ’half-breed,’ teased for my light bright skin, soft curly afro, freckly face, and feminine ways,” Smalls writes. “Growing up the child of a Black daddy and white momma in the Gullah Geechee culture… I was an outsider.”
From marriage to his high school sweetheart and fatherhood, to a painful divorce and custody battle, Smalls shares his internal conflicts and eventual liberation as he learned to embrace his truth. His journey led to marrying the love of his life, Juan, with whom he co-owns Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen and Bar, a popular Atlanta-based restaurant celebrating Gullah Geechee cuisine and culture.
Virgil’s quickly became a cornerstone for Black LGBTQ visibility in Atlanta, offering not just food, but a space that honors cultural pride and queer identity. The Smalls’ unique blend of authenticity, activism, and entrepreneurship continues to draw in a loyal customer base from across the region.
Beyond the kitchen and the page, Gee Smalls is also the co-creator of The Gentlemen’s Ball, an annual Black-tie fundraiser uplifting the accomplishments of Black LGBTQ individuals. Proceeds from the event support The Gentlemen’s Foundation, which provides mentorships, scholarships, and holistic development for Black LGBTQ men.
In a moving reflection from the book, Smalls shares:
“Most of my life, I’ve lived trying to be enough. Black enough. Man enough. Strong enough… GOOD ENOUGH. I am fortunate enough to have come out on the other side of knowing that I am already enough, just the way I am. And you are enough too, just the way you are. I invite you to own that and set yourself free.”
Black Enough, Man Enough: Embracing My Mixed Race and Sexual Identity is now available on Amazon.
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