Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. for appetizers and socializing, and the program will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Admission to the event is free.
Boykin and fellow panelists will address and debate the meaning of justice, past and current efforts to obtain equality, the role of allies, and strategies to bring real and lasting change for Black gay men.
“It's not only important for Black gay men to be cognizant of how we are impacted by our lack of justice, but also, how we too, impact this innate right for others,” stated Boykin, who is affiliated with The Daily Voice, CNBC, and BET. “Events like these continue to challenge and illuminate this fact."
Joining Boykin on the panel will be E. Patrick Johnson creator of “Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South-An Oral History” and professor at Northwestern University, and Antonio D. Jimenez from the University of Illinois Chicago’s School of Public Health. The forum will be hosted and moderated by Dr. Keith Magee (National Public Housing Museum) and Jim Pickett (AIDS Foundation of Chicago).
"Black gay men and their allies need to come together to have a real discussion about factors that threaten the wellness of our community," said Anthony Galloway of Test Positive Aware Network, one of the event organizers. "Although potentially controversial, we must explore what 'justice' is and how we can achieve it. We are excited about the potential impact of this discussion."
A first-time collaboration between the Chicago Black Gay Men’s Caucus, the Communities of Color Collaborative, Project CRYSP and LifeLube.org has organized the forum to recognize Black History Month as well as National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (set for February 7, 2010). Black gay men, gay men of all colors, and allies are encouraged to attend.
blkgymle
ReplyDeleteThis was an important first step. This brought people together to share frustrations and success across generational and socio-economic boundries.
I appreciate all the work the organizers put into bringing the panelists, moderators and audience together.
Moving forward I believe that justice is too broad an issue to discuss en masse, and participants should be polled to outline types of injustices they have experienced or are concerned with so that discussions can be focused and measurable outcomes identified.