A Black dandy tells the story of his dying American husband about their harrowing and inspiring epic 50 years together where their gay and Interracial relationship was illegal under South Africa’s apartheid. Inspired by two remarkable gentlemen.

SYNOPSIS:

With his spouse, an American War Correspondent, on his deathbed, a successful Black dandy recounts their epic fifty-year love affair.

In 1968 during the dark period of Apartheid, Teddy Mboto, a young Xhosa college student and aspiring designer, meets a cocksure American war correspondent, Ernie Halloway, and they fall in love, much to the protestation of Teddy’s mother, Winifred.

Over the next 25 years, they figure out ways to live together even though their relationship - both as an interracial and a gay couple - is dangerously illegal.

On assignment in Angola, Ernest is shot. While recovering, Teddy discovers that Ernest has had an endless affair-on-the-road with a NY Times journalist.

That, and Ernie's aloofness during the Soweto student uprising when hundreds of children were gunned down, puts a strain on their relationship. Ernie convinces Teddy to explore living in the United States.

Traveling to Ernie's home in California's wine country, they confront the ignorance of Americans about Africa. Ernie’s father, a hardened war veteran doesn’t hesitate to berate his gay, anti-war son. They flee to San Francisco and find themselves in the gay White Night Riots where Teddy is beaten.

Teddy decides he would prefer the violence and racism of South Africa than that of America. And they settle into an improving South Africa until Teddy discovers that Ernie has been enjoying the freedom within Johannesburg's integrated gay Butterfly Bar, without Teddy. Teddy and his friends storm the bar and confront Ernie as he chats up a Black gay activist. And after twenty years together, Teddy decides Ernie cannot be trusted, and they split up

But the AIDS epidemic hits, and their mutual friends and family members perish which pulls them reluctantly together, putting aside the distrust and they slowly and cautiously rebuild their relationship.

But their biggest challenge came after Nelson Mandela became President and Teddy demanded they rebalance their relationship on an equal footing, shedding the sham master and servant roles that allowed them to be together.

They managed to remain together as partners and lovers for 51 years.

This story is inspired by and dedicated to two remarkable gentlemen, who, if they are still alive today, would be in their nineties.