<I>BLK Vol. 2 No. 9</I>
date: label: Date
content: September 1990
name: label: Published by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Edited by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Interview of
content: Audre Lorde, American, 1934 - 1992
label: Subject of
content: Nelson Mandela, South African, 1918 - 2013
label: Subject of
content: Winnie Mandela, South African, 1936 - 2018
label: Subject of
content: The New York Times, American, founded 1851
label: Subject of
content: Associated Press, American, founded 1846
label: Subject of
content: Supreme Court of the United States, American, founded 1789
label: Subject of
content: Thurgood Marshall, American, 1908 - 1993
label: Subject of
content: National Endowment for the Arts, American, founded 1965
label: Subject of
content: Spike Lee, American, born 1957
label: Subject of
content: Mayor Marion Shepilov Barry Jr., American, 1936 - 2014
label: Subject of
content: 2 Live Crew, American, 1985 - 2014
label: Subject of
content: Black Entertainment Television, American, founded 1980
label: Subject of
content: WLIB, American, founded 1941
label: Subject of
content: AIDS Project Los Angeles, American, founded 1983
label: Subject of
content: Minority AIDS Project, American, founded 1985
label: Subject of
content: AIDS Healthcare Foundation, founded 1987
label: Subject of
content: Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, American, 1988 - 2003
label: Subject of
content: Gilberto Gerald, Panamanian American, born 1950
label: Subject of
content: Jewel Thais-Williams, American
label: Subject of
content: Rev. Carl Bean, American, 1944 - 2021
label: Subject of
content: National LGBTQ Task Force, American, founded 1974
label: Subject of
content: African-American Lesbian and Gay Alliance, American, founded 1986
label: Subject of
content: Phill Wilson, American, born 1956
label: Subject of
content: Sabrina Sojourner, American, born 1952
label: Subject of
content: Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, American, founded 1973
label: Subject of
content: Tom Bradley, American, 1917 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: National Association of Black and White Men Together, American, founded 1980
label: Subject of
content: National Task Force on AIDS Prevention, American, 1985 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: Nia Collective, American, founded 1987
label: Subject of
content: Grupo Gay da Bahía, Brazilian, founded 1980
label: Subject of
content: Chicago Tribune, American, founded 1847
notes: label: Description
content: This is the 22nd issue of BLK Magazine published September 1990. The front cover features a black and white photograph of Audre Lorde from the chest up, with lighting on her left side, creating a shadow over her right side. In the upper left corner, [BLK] is printed in bold, white, uppercase letters within a red rectangular box. The L and K are partially obscured by the photograph of Lorde. Above the text box in white, uppercase, smaller letters reads [THE NATIONAL BLACK LESBIAN AND GAY NEWS MAGAZINE] fitting perfectly across the length of the textbox. Below the textbox and margined to the left is white text that reads [Vol. 2 No. 9 / Whole No. 22 / September 1990]. The headline in white text reads [Audre Lorde] with red text reading [ON EVERYTHING / FROM BLACK GERMANS / TO 2 LIVE CREW]. At the bottom and aligned to the left is red text announcing the contents of the issue: [NEWS / CARTOONS / WORD UP / READ MY LIPS / CLASSIFIEDS]. There are 56 numbered pages, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and cartoon illustrations throughout.
label: Description
content: The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS project for a free, anonymous, AIDS antibody test [WHAT’S WORSE… / 20 MINUTES OF FEAR AND WORRYING OR… / A LIFETIME OF FEAR AND WORRYING? CONSIDER GETTING THE AIDS ANTIBODY TESTED TODAY.]. The content opens with the section titled [Word Up / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with four short articles: [Running Back to Macy’s] about Roger Craig modeling for Calvin Klein, [Tiny Tina Grows Big] about drag queen Tiny Tina acknowledging her offensive behavior, [Rescuing the White Race] running for the Democratic Primary for lieutenant governor, J. B. Stoner says AIDS is a disease meant to wipe out the Jewish, Black, and LGBT+ community, and [Etiology 101] about 2 Live Crew and Public Enemy’s homophobic lyrics. The section ends with [Tell the Tale] which encourages readers to submit a funny, strange, or odd story to the publication, reminding them it should be both Black and gay or lesbian related.
label: Description
content: This is followed by [JUMP START], with founder and editor Alan Bell comparing the Kuwaiti outrage with the Jesse Helms issue. On the same page and to the left is a column for the BLK mast head and below is the [CONTENTS] listing the one cover story and seven departments, or sections. On the following page are three letters to the editor in the section [BLK MAIL].
label: Description
content: The cover story, which begins on page 7, is titled [Audre Lorde / The celebrated author on everything from Black Germans to 2 Live Crew] with the label headline [THE BLK INTERVIEW]. Conducted and written by Alycee J. Lane, Audre Lorde answers questions regarding the issues faced by Black communities, the Middle East crisis, art as a community and revolutionary act, and the idea of the American Dream. One quote from the article is printed in a larger font: [“I think all art by its nature must be revolutionary. In times that are sick and as critical as the time that we live in, how can any art not be revolutionary? If it is not, then it is something other than art.”]. There are two photographs of Audre Lorde, with one of them featuring Afro-German Sarah Schneir. Organizations and individuals mentioned by Lorde include: Sisters in Support of Sisters in South Africa, Somani Soweto Sisters, Maggie Mugaba Trust Fund, South African’s Organization of Lesbian and Gay Activists, the United Democratic Front, Mikhail Gorbachev, David Souter, Jesse Helms, and the Publishing Triangle.
label: Description
content: Several shorter articles appear under [BLK NEWS] beginning on page 18. These include: [Man, 26, Disguised as Woman Becomes High School Cheerleader Before Being Arrested for Impersonation] about an individual who says they have a multiple personality syndrome, [Penn States: Study Says Blacks, Women Fear AIDS] a 684-student study asks 39 questions led by K. Robert Bridges, [Racism Dooms AIDS Drug Say New York Blacks] Kenyan President Daniel arap Moi and others believe the lack of publicity surrounding the AIDS drug Kemron is due to a distrust of African science based on racism, [Former Military Officer Says Nigerian Prexy Gay] about Gideon Ngwozor Oka and Ibrahim Babangida, [APLA Grants $225,000 to Smaller L.A. AIDS Groups, but Controversy Continues; Second Walk to Go Forth] awards given to the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum’s AIDS Prevention Team, Asian Pacific Lesbians and Gays/AIDs Intervention Team, two Latino lesbian and gay groups, Women and AIDS Risk Network, Being Alive CONTINUED, [Jefferies Appointed to West Hollywood Position] Keith Jefferies becomes the first Black Commissioner of Human Services of West Hollywood to allocate funds and review social services for Russian immigrants, women, lesbians, and gay men, [People of Colour Meet Slated for London School] about the 6th International Lesbian and Gay People of Colour Conference at the University of London and their workshops, [POC Conference Set for Creating Change Meet] leading gay and lesbian activists will attend the People of Color Organizing Institute preceding the National Gay and Lesbian Task Forces Creating Change Conference, [Phill Wilson to Serve as L.A. AIDS Coordinator] Mayor Tom Bradley appoints Phill Wilson, [Nia Collective to Meet], [Black Colleges Get Over Million $ in AIDS Funds] about the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases awarding grants to the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools to support an AIDS Consortium Center of seven African American health professional schools, headed by Rudolph E. Jackson, M.D., [Congressman Reports on Africa’s AIDS Epidemic] about Rep. Jim McDermott, [Sizemore Out; Knight In] about Miss Black Gay Ohio, [AHF, Others Plan Fundraiser for Eastside Agencies] organizations participating include: Homeless Outreach, Asian Pacific Lesbians and Gay/AIDS Intervention Team, Cara a Cara Latino AIDS Project, El Centro del Pueblo, Asian American Drug Abuse, [Insurers Tell New Rules] life insurance companies now requesting medical tests from applicants, [CDC June Statistics on AIDS Cases in U.S.], [White Supremacists Target Gay resort in Midwest / by Mitchell Andrews] about the Iron Guard of Holland and White Reunification Project, [GLCSC Gets Reports on Women, POC Outreach] Deborah Johnson and Chi Hughes complete a report of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center titled “Organization and Program Analysis Outreach to Women, Outreach to People of Color”, [Black Clergy Joins Chicago AIDS Transit Poster Flap] public service ads produced by the Gran Fury as part of a national awareness program, [Juliette Love Leaves Executive Director Post] about Gary Steinsmith remaining as president of Center One/Anyone in Distress, [Black Bishop Killed in Suspicious Auto Crash] about Bishop Alexander Muge of the Church of the Province of Kenya, [Study: HIV Depresses TB] a Ugandan study suggests HIV can depress reactions to tuberculin tests, [Mother, Boyfriend Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Death of 4-Year-Old Child They Thought Was Gay], [Black Transvestite Dead], [Facility to Be Named in Honor of Rev. Carl Bean] the AIDS Healthcare Foundation renaming the South Central hospice at the request of State Senator Diane Watson, [City Releases Calendar] a calendar with male models with the purpose of raising AIDS-prevention consciousness, [Brazil Denies Murders] regarding activist Michael Petrelis, the Brazilian embassy, and Grupo Gay de Bahia, [Elizabeth Taylor Pushes New World AmFAR Effort] about the International Fund of the American Foundation for AIDS Research expanding to East and Central Asian, Latin America, the Caribbean, and Southeast Asia, [Osei, Noted L.A. Artist, Gets $$$ for AIDS Mural] Olu Kwasi Osei to create a AIDS memorial for the Black community titled “Missing You”, [Kenny Leon to Receive AALGA Walker Award] the African-American Lesbian Gay Alliance, the only co-sexual Black lesbian and gay organization in Atlanta, [Actor St. Jacques Dies] multilingual actor Raymond St. Jacques dies at the age of 60, and [Pioneer Activist Grayson Ends 5-Year AIDS Battle] activist, organizer, playwright, and poet Ron Lloyd Grayson dies.
label: Description
content: The section [BLK VEIL] starts on page 35 and lists three obituaries: Scott Paco Coleman, Gregory Michael Harrison, Wyatt Jarvis. This is followed by the section [BLK ARTS] on page 36. The subsection [DANCE MUSIC REVIEWS] has one article titled [Marris Day Makes Up for Lost Time / by D.J. Marius]; and the subsection [MUSIC NEWS] has one article titled [Jackson to Duet with Cartoon Star / by Ron Smith]. The gossip column titled [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider on page 39. The section [BLK LIST], a listing of gay and lesbian organizations, bars, and baths, runs from pages 41 to 45. Entities are assigned one to four stars based on how black they are, with one star meaning “Somewhat black” and four stars “All black." The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET], starting on page 46, with personal ads divided by gender, nation, then U.S. regions.
label: Description
content: The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [Jewel’s Catch One] announcing two events, [THE HALLOWEEN BALL] and [THANKSGIVING MARATHON].
label: Description
content: There are advertisements throughout, including: [La Mirage]; [I’ve always said, “If I ever got AIDS, I don’t know what I’d do.” / I was right.] ad stating the mission of AIDS Project Los Angeles; [NATIONAL GAY & LESBIAN TASK FORCE / CREATING CHANGE] featuring Barbara Smith, Dr. C.T. Vivian, and Kate Clinton; [An Open Letter To The Community / APLA: / A GOOD FIRST STEP]; [Come Out! / Come Home! / Fourth Annual / National Black Gay and / Lesbian Conference / and Institutes] sponsored by Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum in Los Angeles, CA; [ALL NEW! / The Magazine / For the Gay Nineties / GENRE]; [Research Subjects / Needed / Men’s Sexuality and Coping Study] by Robert Fish, M.S.Ed.; [HAIR-O-DYNAMICS / by Chazz]; [THE WOMEN’S / EXCHANGE / PRESENTS A / HALLOWEEN / HOUSE PARTY]; [Black writer wants / to meet accountant / who looks like an / architect and lives / in Cheviot Hills]; [CHIRON RISING]; [FOR BLACK GAY & / BISEXUAL MEN ONLY!] from the African American Men’s Health Project; [LOVE FOR SALE / AIDS FOR FREE? / HIGH = / HIGH RISK]; [VIDEO DEMO TAPES / YOU CAN AFFORD / MIRROR IMAGE VIDEO]; [VOLUNTEERS WANTED / to help with the / National Black Gay and Lesbian Conference]; BLK subscription ad; [The Black Men’s Dating / Service] dating form; [FAERYTALES FOR THE 90’S] a Halloween Party held by the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum Men’s Committee; [Stonewall Democratic Club / Endorsement Slate Sheet, November 1990]; [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; [ARE YOU SHOOTING HEROIN? / ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FREE / AND CONFIDENTIAL METHADONE TREATMENT?? / THE UCLA PROJECT MAY HAVE / A FREE SLOT FOR YOU!]; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [Unity Fellowship Church / A Church for All People]; [Buddies ‘n’ Pals / ‘n’ Partners] dating service for major cities in the U.S. and Canada; [Reactions]; [A DIFFERENT LIGHT / Gay and Lesbian Literature]; [Black and White Men Together]; [THE / BFP TRIBUNE / ...Rimming the World for News!]; [Warning to Women: This Ad is Politically Incorrect]; [B.M.X. – Bay Area / One year Anniversary Weekend / Paris is Burning Premiere]; [976-WOLF]; [Subscribe to the leading interracial gay magazine / QUARTLY INTERCHANGE]; ad for printing services by Louis; [THE BODY BLACK CALENDAR 1991]; [GET A LITTLE… FUN!]; [JOB POSITIONS / Black Community AIDS Research and Education Project]; [COMPLETE AUTO DETAILING / TWO HOT HANDSOME MEN / WILL DETAIL YOU AUTO / BODY] by The Prestige Club Process; [HOT / TALKING / PERSONALS! / Connections USA]; [976-HUNK]; [The Black Line]; and [TALK LIVE!].
place: label: Place made
content: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Berkley, Alameda County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: West Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: State College, Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Saugatuck, Allegan County, Michigan, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Lagos, Nigeria, West Africa, Africa
label: Place depicted
content: London, England, Europe
label: Place depicted
content: Harare, Zimbabwe, Africa
label: Place depicted
content: Brazil, Latin America, South America
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Activism
label: Topic
content: Associations and institutions
label: Topic
content: Black Press
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities)
label: Topic
content: Health
label: Topic
content: Identity
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: LGBTQ
label: Topic
content: Mass media
label: Topic
content: Race relations
label: Topic
content: Sexuality
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
label: Topic
content: Violence
label: Topic
content: White supremacy movements
label: Topic
content: Women's organizations
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture Collection
label: Classification
content: Books and Published Materials
label: Movement
content: African American - Latinx Solidarity
label: Movement
content: HIV/AIDS Activist Movement
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Bell
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of African American History and Culture
identifier: label: Object number
content: 2018.108.22
objectType: label: Type
content: magazines (periodicals)
objectRights: label: Restrictions & Rights
content: © BLK Publishing Company, Inc
label: Restrictions & Rights
content: Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
physicalDescription: label: Medium
content: ink on paper (fiber product)
label: Dimensions
content: H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 1/8 in. (27.4 × 20.9 × 0.3 cm)