Rasheed Newson launches his novel There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood 

in conversation with actress Cassandra Freeman

Doors: 7:00pm

Event: 7:30pm

The Bureau and Hive Mind Books Present: One Night in Hollywood

Rasheed Newson, known for his work on The Chi and Bel-Air, launches his novel There’s Only One Sin in Hollywood, which follows a queer, Black Hollywood heartthrob of the Golden Age, Xavier Barlow, and the fixer hired to keep him in the closet. “This novel is my way of reclaiming untold Hollywood history, from a Black and queer perspective,” Newson told People in an interview. He will be in conversation with actress Cassandra Freeman.

This event will be held at 208 W 13th St, New York, NY – Room 301 (inside the LGBT Community Center)

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Rasheed Newson is the author of the national bestseller My Government Means to Kill Me, which was selected as a Lambda Literary finalist for Gay Fiction and was named one of the “100 Notable Books of 2022” by The New York Times. He is also a television drama writer, producer, and showrunner. He codeveloped Bel-Air and worked on The Chi, Animal Kingdom, and Narcos, among other drama series. Newson is a 2025–26 American Library in Paris Visiting Fellow. He currently lives with his husband and their two children in Pasadena.

Cassandra Freeman is an acclaimed actress, producer, and entrepreneur best known for her powerful portrayal of Aunt Viv on Peacock’s Bel-Air. Her film and television credits include Atlanta, Luke Cage, The Last O.G., The Enemy Within, Inside Man, and I Think I Love My Wife, with recent work in Love, Brooklyn, an Andre Holland-led film which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. Beyond acting, Freeman is the co-founder of Creatricity, a creative ecosystem supporting artists and innovators across entertainment and media. Freeman is a respected voice in the industry for her work as a creative strategist, thought leader, and advocate for diversity and inclusion and authentic representation. She is represented by the agents of Artium Talent.