Just in time for gay pride, AOL/Blackvoices produces a thoughtful microsite devoted to Famous Gay African-Americans. The editors went beyond the usual suspects and devoted slides and bios to 29 contemporary and historical men and women, and, some of the choices were surprising. On the historical side, there is Bayard Rustin, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, as well as women such as the late Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, author Octavia Butler, and singers Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Billie Holiday. The sexuality of these women is often ignored by mainstream and black media, so their inclusion was commendable.
On the contemporary side, there are bios of Rod 2.0 faves such as Darryl Stephens, Billy Porter and Maurice Jamal, as well as producer/director Lee Daniels, Sheryl Swoopes, Angela Y. Davis, E. Lynn Harris, Kevin Aviance and many others. Several of the inclusions are questionable, such as The Wire's Felecia Snoop Pearson, who is openly lesbian and tells Jasmyne Cannick she has "no thoughts" on homophobia or anti-gay discrimination. Meanwhile, Jasmyne Cannick and Keith Boykin did not make the list.
The new gay and lesbian microsite is a welcome improvement to some of Blackvoice's more superficial recent content.
This is good news to learn about. Rod, thanks again.
Posted by: Mel Smith | 26 June 2008 at 18:44
This is good news, I am glad to see Blackvoices growing up.
Posted by: XAVIER G | 26 June 2008 at 20:15
I so did not know Barbara Jordan was gay. That's interesting. I love to see stuff like this. It's a pretty fresh list for the most part, and that's probably why Keith and Jasmyne are not on it. They are cool, but we have seen enough of them.
Posted by: Me | 26 June 2008 at 21:47
They also omitted James Earl Hardy (B-Boy Blues series) and Patrik Ian-Polk (Noah's Arc; Punks).
Any others?
Posted by: TE | 27 June 2008 at 10:15
Well, of course, they couldn't include everybody, but there are some notable names in my book:
Tony Jackson (early pioneer of rag-tme and jazz piano--idolized by Jelly Roll Morton)
Ethel Waters (the greatest show business talent of all time)
Alberta Hunter (more pure Lesbian than either Bessie or Billie)
Gladys Bentley (openly gay until she got old)
Richard Bruce Nugent (of course)
Billy Strayhorn (greatness & genius!)
Little Richard (not always sane about his sexuality, but "gay" whether he likes it or not).
Emile Griffith & Glenn Burke (openly gay athletes who suffered for it)
Paul Winfield (everyone in show business knew, but we didn't)
The beautiful actor who played the 2nd Lionel on "The Jeffersons".
Reverend James Cleveland (a genius)
and then some speculation on:
Max Robinson (black network news anchor)
Franklin Seals (that wonderful actor from the 1980s ...rememeber "The Onion Field"
The guy that started the Dance Theater of Harlem (oh, Lord, I can't remember his name)
Miles Davis (maybe just gossip)
Reverend Alex Bradford (another genius)
Sherman Hemsley (ooops, nevermind, he's still alive)
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 27 June 2008 at 13:12
"Franklyn Seales" is the correct spelling of that handsome actor's name...I believe he was in the TV show "Amen" also.
Pepper Labeija & Dorian Corey, darlins'
And if Arthur Mitchell aint gay, then I'm in trouble, honey.
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 27 June 2008 at 13:23
Wasn't Franlin Seales on Silver Spoons too? I think I actually remember when he passed away. How sad.
Posted by: Me | 27 June 2008 at 13:33
TE, everyone can't be included on the list. It's a simple photo gallery, not a hall of fame. FWIW, James Earl Hardly has written several books on homothugs, not sure does that warrant his inclusion as a trailblazer.
Derrick, your list is soooo much better. Black folks will forever be in the closet about Max Robinson, James Cleveland and Paul Winfield.
Posted by: DR | 27 June 2008 at 19:29