Lifelube, and the Communities of Color Collaborative
Justice for All?
A community forum exploring
What is justice for
the Black Gay man?
Panel includes Keith Boykin
Thursday, January 28 at 6pm
525 South State Street
Justice for All?
A community forum exploring
What is justice for
the Black Gay man?
Panel includes Keith Boykin
Thursday, January 28 at 6pm
525 South State Street
More info below - click images to enlarge
We hope to see you and yours there. Gay men of all colors, and allies, are welcome to attend this free event.
Very timely event. I will be there. Thanks, Jim.
ReplyDeleteThis was an important first step. This brought people together to share frustrations and success across generational and socio-economic boundries.
ReplyDeleteI 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.
I agree - a very broad issue. The conversation needs to continue. And I would be interested in more concrete ways we can be affect change - from an allied point of view! Thanks for a great forum.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to organizers for great turnout and discussion by panelists and audience. I agree that Justice is a broad topic. Looking at the many themes that came up, hopefully the organizers will use the email list serv to have follow up talks with more narrowly focused topics. I like blkgymle’s suggestion of more focused discussions and measurable outcomes.
ReplyDeleteTopics I noted were:
Identity/Being true self Visibility/Outness Homophobia/Internalized homophobia/Heterosexism
Access to privilege (white, male, etc)
Role of allies
HIV prevention in marginalized communities (MSM, prisons)
Interconnections with others (trans, bi, women)
Knowing our Black gay history (Bayard Rustin)
Using agency/empowerment to get stuff done
Affirming one another to build community
I believe the large turn out represents the desire for Black gay men to find solutions for ourselves. I noticed members representing many organizations in the audience; Chicago Windy City Black Pride, Adodi Chicago, ONYX, religious/spiritual orgs, etc. Maybe a comprehensive list of local Black gay groups could be posted to let others know who is doing what in the community.
As a small business owner, I’d like to see discussion on how we can build economic power and networking to address issues.
Thanks,
Otis
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I think tackling the HIV epidemic among gay black men - who are experiencing rates of infection not unlike those in sub Saharan Africa - must be a priority in terms of justice.
ReplyDeletei think this forum was very beneficial for many of us that attented. even though we all are gay men we all have different injustices that happen to us so im glad that everyone put there's out on the table and by them doing so many of us were able to relate. i hope that this wasnt the first and last of these types of forums. i feel that there should be more and since so many topics were thrown out that there can be more fourms with specific topics to tackle. as for this one it seems that solutions were thrown out but i still wonder where can justice start with the individual black man. when they say stay out the closet and come out and be proud i respect that why hide who we are. but i think its a mind think with some of us so im thinking could there be something to be said as a sort of prep to preparing yourself to get ready to make a change in this world basically saying is your mind body and soul ready to do what you feel is right. sorry to get off track but once again this forum was awesome overall im glad i came and like i said PLEASE PLEASE dont make this the last one ! WE NEED THIS !
ReplyDeleteThe turnout was impressive - great job on that front. But I was VERY dissapointed by the panelists' framework for justice, which seemed to be about feeling good about yourself and not having anything to do with, say, structural and culture inequalities and prejudices. A great audience, but a downright depressing presentation. Find an essay detailing my thoughts on my blog: trevorhoppe dot com.
ReplyDelete