BLK Vol. 3 No. 8: Museum Object and Cultural History

The object in the museum catalogue

This is the 33rd issue of BLK magazine published August 1991. The front cover is printed in color and features an image of the three members of the of the San Francisco troupe, Pomo-Afros-Homos: Brian Freeman, Eric Gupton, and Djola Bernard Branner. They are each wearing different colored, black polka dotted, baggy, shiny shirt with long-sleeved and a collar, along with a flat hat similar to the material of their dress. At the top and centered, [BLK] is printed in bold, white, uppercase letters within a sky-blue rectangular box. Above the text box in small, white, uppercase letters it reads [THE NATIONAL BLACK LESBIAN AND GAY NEWSMAGAZINE], fitting across the length of the textbox. Below and to the left of the the [BLK] text box is the magazine issue information; in small, white text it reads [Vol. 3, No. 8 / Whole No. 33 / August 1991]. To the right of the [BLK] text box is the magazine headline [Young, / Gifted, / and / Fierce]. This issue is the first to have a new internal layout. There are 48 numbered pages, stapled at the center fold, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, both colored and black and white photographs, and cartoon illustrations throughout.

The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS project, [Join Ms. Dionne Warwick and Bishop Carl Bean / COMING HOME 4 / For Friends / Annual Gospel Benefit]. The content opens with the section titled [Word Up / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with three short articles: [THE SUMMER OF DISCONTENT] about Donna Summer, [AS LONG AS THE CLOSET DOORS ARE CLOSED] regarding Rita Dyson of the Black and Lino Multicultural Book Center, and [NASTY NAME FOR EVERYONE].

This is followed by four letters to the editor in the section [BLK MAIL] on pages 5 and 6, with the [BLK] masthead on page 6. On the following page is the section [BLK PEOPLE] about broad and general news regarding the Black gay and lesbian community. It is divided by city.

The cover story, which begins on page 9, is titled [Young, / Gifted / and Fierce], with a sub-heading [Telling very real / stories makes heroes / of three very real / black gay men]. Written by Alan E. Miller, the article speaks with Brian Freeman, Bernard Branner, and Eric Gupton about their performance group Pomo Afro Homos, and their performance of “Fierce Love: Stories from Black Gay Life.” Each member talks about the importance of this 12-vignette play that speaks to the experience of Black gay men, which is often omitted in the LGBTQ+ community and the African American community. A colored photo of the troupe is printed on page 12.

A second feature story begins on page 15, titled [Pressing Issues], with a sub-heading [A quick history and / survey of current / black lesbian and gay / periodicals]. Written by Mark Haile, the article addresses the history and development of the Black gay press ending with a list of 21 current Black gay and lesbian publications. Citing “Fire!!” as the first magazine which held that title with the printing of a single issue in 1926, Haile traces the emergence of “Blacklight” in Washington D.C., 1979, to “Onyx” the first Black lesbian newsletter from Berkley in 1982 before providing a snippet on each current newsletter.

Several shorter articles appear; beginning on page 21, these articles include: [Blacks Ponder Meaning of Dahmer / by Mark Haile, BLK Associate Editor] about the arrests and charges of Jeffrey L. Dahmer and the negligence by Milwaukee Police Department, [‘Tongues Untied’ Goes National, but 17 Top PBS Stations Refuse to Air It / by Mark Haile, BLK Associate Editor], [Black Men’s Xchange Holds First Retreat], [Pannell Cops Ward 8 Seat] about Phil Pannell, [Black Caucus Gets AIDS Information / by Mark Haile, BLK Associate Editor] organized by Rep. Maxine Waters with Anita Taylor, Belinda Rochelle, Reggie Williams, Brenda V. Smith, Dr. Janet Mitchell, Harlon Dalton, Rashidah Hassan, and Dr. Wilbert Jordan, [BMX in Denver Charges Racism] regarding a dance club, Matchmaker, [Black Men’s, Women’s Retreats Planned] about United Lesbians of African Heritage retreat, Sistahfest, [Mason Quits Council Race] about Abner Mason, the first openly gay African American to run for Boston’s City Council, and [CDC July Statistics on AIDS Cases in U.S.].

This is followed by the new column [BOOKS / by Alan E. Miller] on page 29, where Miller will review books as a response to more Black lesbians and gay men publishing books. Miller cites their upbringing and attendance of conferences as further inspiration for the column, accompanied by book suggestions. On page 31 begins [MUSIC / by D.J. Marius] with three album reviews: [Linsey / “Perfect Love” (Virgin)], [Brand New Heavies / “Brand New Heavies” (Delicious Vinyl)], and [Innocence / “Belief” (Chrysalis)].

The advice column [Rules of the Game / by Emanuel] is on page 32. The gossip column titled [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider is on page 35. The section [BLK LIST], a listing of gay and lesbian organizations, bars, and baths, runs from pages 37 to 39. Entities are assigned one to four stars based on how Black they are, with one star meaning “Somewhat black” and four stars “All black,” with a cross meaning “Mixed gay and straight.”

Materials, dates and provenance

• Date: August 1991
• Published by: Alan Bell, American
• Edited by: Alan Bell, American
• Subject of: Pomo Afro Homos, 1990 - 1995
• Subject of: National Black Theatre, American, founded 1968
• Subject of: Marlon Riggs, American, 1957 - 1994
• Subject of: Black Men's Xchange, American, founded 1989
• Subject of: Joseph F. Beam, American, 1954 - 1988
• Subject of: Bayard Rustin, American, 1912 - 1987
• Type: magazines (periodicals)
• Medium: ink on paper (fiber product)
• Dimensions: H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 1/8 in. (27.4 × 20.9 × 0.3 cm)
• Place made: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Compton, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Denver, Denver County, Colorado, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
• Place depicted: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, United States, North and Central America
• Topic: African American
• Topic: Activism
• Topic: Black Press
• Topic: Communities
• Topic: Hate crimes
• Topic: Health
• Topic: Identity
• Topic: Journalism
• Object number: 2018.108.33
• Credit Line: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Bell
• Data Source: National Museum of African American History and Culture

Sources and reuse

Catalogue descriptions and facts adapted from National Museum of African American History and Culture through the Smithsonian's official Open Access dataset. This record explicitly marks its metadata CC0 1.0; formatting and selection have been changed. The underlying object's rights statement is: © BLK Publishing Company, Inc Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.