SPOTLIGHT: “BLACK PASSENGER, YELLOW CABS”

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 “Black Passenger, Yellow Cabs” is an depth look at a growing phenomenon also known as “yellow fetish”. The book explores the socio-psychosexual dynamics of Japan which allow for infinite availability of sex, for both black and white men. “Black Passenger” points out a growing new trend among American men (black and white) who travel to Japan to engage in a copulatory buffet with multiple women. Of course, most of these men are just too “busy” to write about it. Author Stefhen Bryan, offers readers insight via his memoir into his sexual addiction with Japanese women. Be sure to check out his myspace page and peep the interview with Stefhen Bryan after the jump!
Big Ups to DDub

DDub- What was the inspiration for your book?
SB- The inspiration for the book comes from growing up as a child having my first sexual experience at seven, then becoming obsessed with twat. Being in Japan I was isolated but integrated at the same time. When you’re in Japan you feel like you are out of the world, but still in the world. I’m by myself….. I’m away from the trauma of my childhood, the whole baby mama drama thing. The typical life of a black man in America…..ya know being in and out of jail that sort of stuff. But being at peace in Japan, I was able to reflect on my life from birth. Being in Japan in a relatively tranquil environment and not being distracted and stuff allowed me the luxury of sitting and observing. Comparing Japan and observing the similarities between my trauma and the trauma that Japanese society inflicts on its subjects. That is basically my inspiration….if you could call it that. I don’t think I could’ve written this book if were still in the states. I don’t think I would have had that kind of inspiration to sit down and put pen to paper like I did Japan.

DDub- Do you think this book will start an epidemic? What do you think will be the outcome? What will be the pros and cons?
SB- I think that already people who have been exposed to the excerpts on myspace have been emailing me in private telling me that they are booking tickets to Japan. Also they are inquiring about career opportunities in Japan. I don’t want to say there will be some sort of exodus. Even though there could be an exodus of men coming to Japan. But I do believe that there will be a growth in tourism because of the curiosity.

DDub- How do you think the African American community will respond to your memoir compared to the Japanese community?
SB – A lot of African American and especially Jamaicans, we think Japan is very advanced. We see Japan as this high level problem free perfect society. I wanted to bring to the forefront that no, Japan is not perfect, and is far from being perfect. As a matter of fact Japan is wrought with all kinds of problems. I wanted to show that we African people understand that this is not a model minority society. In America, Asians are considered this model minority, but they are not at all perfect and they have greater problems than we could ever imagine. As for the backlash from Japanese society, the Japanese are very sensitive. I think Japan is a very low emotional quotient society. They are like children if you may. I think their feelings might be hurt they don’t know how to deal with criticism constructive or otherwise. So from that aspect I think they will act like children and the backlash will probably be an over reaction. I’m not really concerned with the backlash. I will let the chips fall where they may and deal with whatever comes to me.

DDub- What drove you to write the book?

SB – First of all I missed my therapist, so it was very cathartic. I just started to write about my observation in Japan. It was different from what I learned in my economics classes at UCLA. Also it was completely opposite to the image of perfection which the west has of Japan. So I started musing about these things from my own perspective. Then I got to the sexual aspects of the Japan. My own sexual experiences in Japan and then I thought to myself…..No one talks about this. No knows this aspect of Japan. I wasn’t the only one indulging, but all my friends and all of the African Americans who I knew there. It was like a fuck fest. Almost like this was a well kept, well guarded secret. I felt compelled to write about it. Then I let a friend of mine read the first 25 pages. She thought it was great, but it didn’t tell the readers enough about me. How I became this sexual predator. What turned me into a whore or this pussy fiend. That’s when it took on a memoir characteristic. Then I allowed one of my mentors to read it and he gave me his approval and I haven’t looked back since.

DDub- Why should people read the book?

SB- It is very raw and honest writing. I want to touch on the fact that I don’t think I am really a writer. I am an observer of life. I have life experiences and a very good k-12 education in Jamaica back in the 70’s. I also credit Rick Adelstien, one of my acting coaches. He gave me the ability to just open up and be vulnerable. Rick taught me that the best way to be an affective actor is to be vulnerable on stage or in front of the camera, because the camera and people will know when you are not being truthful. So whatever it is, you have to reach deep down inside of you and bring it all up. Once I learned to do that I was able to write this book and let it all out.  

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Posted under Spotlight by LexAve