Nearly 20 years before the songs Old Town Road and Despacito peaked at #1 on Billboard’s charts, another song seemed to be played on an endless loop. Released in 1995, ”One Sweet Day” by Boys II Men & Mariah Carey sat at the top of the charts for 16 weeks, tying it for 2nd longest reign in Billboard’s history.

Fall is upon us, and we’re saying goodbye to the sweltering heat that has encapsulated most of the country over the past few months and hello to the beauty that comes with the change of season and cooler temperatures. The weather change isn’t the only thing we are looking forward to. Black queer artists will continue to impact culture throughout the second half of 2022.

There is no shortage of new literary works from Black queer authors. Whether you prefer to curl up with a physical book, a Kindle download, or an audiobook, The Reckoning has you covered with recommendations for titles to add to your must-read list. But wait, we’ve got you covered with music and movies too.

Lil Nas X is a self-affirming Black gay millennial, a megastar still rising, and an impresario of social media. His releases shatter sales and streaming records. His videos and live performances display unambiguously queer Black sexiness before mainstream audiences.