<Tr> <Th> Pages </Th> <Td> 208 pages </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> ISBN </Th> <Td> 0767913981 </Td> </Tr> <P> On the Down Low: A Journey Into the Lives of Straight Black Men Who Sleep with Men is a 2004 New York Times Bestselling non-fiction book by J.L. King . The book was released in hardback on April 14, 2004 through Broadway Books and details the sexual lives of African - American men who are on the "down low" or having sex with men while posing or identifying as heterosexual . When the book was initially released, King denied claims that he was gay in both the book and in the media, but later confirmed that he was gay in 2010 . </P> <P> In the book King discusses the subject of African - American men who claim to be or otherwise consider themselves to be heterosexual, but hold secret sexual encounters with other men . The men give an outward appearance of only being heterosexual and will hold long - term relationships with women without informing the women or anyone else that they are having encounters, some of which are unprotected, with other men . King also discusses his own personal experience with living on the "down low", as well as what he perceives as potential risks and dangers that some forms of the lifestyle can bring . </P>

Who wrote the book on the down low