You can’t mention queer history without mentioning the Black legends who paved and enriched a path for us authentically be who we are today. It’s so important to know and understand your queer history because it equips us with the resources to combat the flawed system we’re living under.
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A month is not enough to represent the Black community and our indisputable bravery, dedication, and excellence.
However, sometimes Black queer people are often overlooked and go uncredited for the immense role they’ve played in the community. As the new generation, we need to preserve their achievements and keep their legacies alive. We need them now more than ever.
Here are five influential Black queer legends to educate yourself in queer history:
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Audre Lorde
Audre Lorde was a lesbian author and poet who challenged how we view queer identities today. She spoke about the injustices of being Black and lesbian and how those intersecting identities created disadvantages for her. She was truly ahead of her time with her powerful, raunchy, and passionate poems.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy
Miss Major was a transgender cultural icon and sharp speaker. She was an advocate who utilized her voice and career to spread awareness about Trans women of color and their struggles with imprisonment, HIV/AIDS, sex work, and being unhoused. At 84 years old, she’s still fighting for Black trans futures.
bell hooks
bell hooks was a controversial yet hugely influential queer writer and activist who taught us to challenge our ideas aroudn love. In All About Love, she took on toxic masculinity, compulsory heterosexuality, and the oppression marginalized people face.
James Baldwin
James Baldwin was an openly gay writer, scholar, and activist who often extensively spoke about racism and the Black queer experience in America. He was widely influential with his beautiful words and how fluidly he thought about gender, sexuality, and race. Reading Giovanni’s Room is a great introduction to his fiction.
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is a queer artist, notably known for her song Fast Car, which is a queer, heartfelt anthem to many. She had a powerful knack for storytelling through her songwriting and defied the odds against her in the music industry. A fun fact cited in the queer community is her messy sapphic relationship with Alice Walker. That’s worth noting!
Study your queer elders, understand their work, and sincerely cherish the elders who are still with us because without them, who knows where we would be.
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