<I>BLK Vol. 2 No. 7</I>
date: label: Date
content: July 1990
name: label: Published by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Edited by
content: Alan Bell, American
label: Subject of
content: Nedra Johnson
label: Subject of
content: Dionne Freeney
label: Subject of
content: AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power, American, founded 1987
label: Subject of
content: National LGBTQ Task Force, American, founded 1974
label: Subject of
content: National Association of Black and White Men Together, American, founded 1980
label: Subject of
content: Grupo Gay da Bahía, Brazilian, founded 1980
label: Subject of
content: Lavender Light, American, founded 1985
label: Subject of
content: Unity Fellowship Church, American, founded 1982
label: Subject of
content: Rev. Carl Bean, American, 1944 - 2021
label: Subject of
content: Jewel Thais-Williams, American
label: Subject of
content: Jewel's Catch One, American, founded 1973
label: Subject of
content: Keith St. John, American, born 1957
label: Subject of
content: Sgt. Perry Watkins, American, 1948 - 1996
label: Subject of
content: David N. Dinkins, American, born 1927
label: Subject of
content: Simon Nkoli, South African, 1957 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: Gay and Lesbian Organization of Witwatersrand, South African, 1988 - 1997
label: Subject of
content: Minority AIDS Project, American, founded 1985
label: Subject of
content: Gilberto Gerald, Panamanian American, born 1950
label: Subject of
content: Reggie Williams, American, 1951 - 1999
label: Subject of
content: National Task Force on AIDS Prevention, American, 1985 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: Audre Lorde, American, 1934 - 1992
label: Subject of
content: Pat Norman, American, born 1939
label: Subject of
content: Nelson Mandela, South African, 1918 - 2013
label: Subject of
content: Whoopi Goldberg, American, born 1955
label: Subject of
content: Larry Saxxon, American
label: Subject of
content: Cleo Manago, American, born 1963
label: Subject of
content: Congressional Black Caucus, American, founded 1971
label: Subject of
content: Marlon Riggs, American, 1957 - 1994
label: Subject of
content: Eldridge Cleaver, American, 1935 - 1998
label: Subject of
content: James Baldwin, American, 1924 - 1987
label: Subject of
content: Professor Griff, American, born 1960
label: Subject of
content: Public Enemy, American, founded 1982
label: Subject of
content: Heavy D & the Boyz, American, founded 1987
label: Subject of
content: Malcolm X, American, 1925 - 1965
label: Subject of
content: 2 Live Crew, American, 1985 - 2014
label: Subject of
content: Audio Two, American, 1987 - 1992
label: Subject of
content: Rep. Maxine Waters, American, born 1938
label: Subject of
content: Little Richard, American, 1932 - 2020
label: Subject of
content: Sabrina Sojourner, American, born 1952
notes: label: Description
content: This is the 20th issue of BLK Magazine published July 1990. The front cover, printed in black and white with an orange tint, features Nedra Johnson (left) and Dionne Freeney at New York’s Gay Pride Rally in Union Square. Both are wearing cut off t-shirts and photographed from the waist up, with Johnson raising their right first and Freeney showing their profile. In the upper left corner [BLK] is printed in large, bold white upper case letters within an orange rectangular box. The bottom of the letters “L” and “K are slightly obscured by Johnson and Freeney. To the right of “BLK”, is the list of section present in the issue in black, uppercase letters [NEWS / CARTOONS / ARTS / WORD UP / READ MY LIPS / CLASSIFIEDS]. The date and issue [Vol. 2, No. 7 / Whole No. 20 / July 1990] are printed below the BLK box and above Johnson’s right fist in black text. Near the bottom, left corner, [Black / Gay / Pride] is printed in orange text. There are 48 numbered pages, with articles, advertisements, classifieds, black and white photographs, and illustrations throughout.
label: Description
content: The inside of the cover features an ad for the Minority AIDS Project for their event [COMING HOME FOR FRIENDS / 3 / ANNUAL / GOSPEL / BENEFIT]. The content opens with the section [WORD UP / News of the Outrageous, the Amusing, the Pathetic and the Unexpected] by Leon Miller with five articles: [VCR Begets AZT] about an individual who is HIV+ committing a crime to be treated with azidothymidine (AZT), an antiretroviral medication used to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS, [UT Giveth and Taketh Away] about two frats painting and selling t-shirts with racial slurs, [Whoopi Goldberg on Leg Waxing] about personal choices, [Audio Two Doesn’t Care] about homophobic slurs in the rap duo’s lyrics, and [Graffiti] regarding posters promoting the New York Post.
label: Description
content: This is followed by [JUMP START], with founder Alan Bell addressing the difference between pressuring by private citizens and coercion by the government in terms of organized pressure. On the same page, a column for the BLK masthead is to the right, followed by the seven letters to the editor [BLK MAIL] on pages 6 through 11.
label: Description
content: The first feature story, which begins on page 13, is titled [Pride at Home / Celebrating being lesbian and gay in / our own neighborhoods], with the first part of the title in orange text and the label headline [CONTROVERSY]. Written by Alycee J. Lane, the article notes the difference where African Americans march for gay and lesbian pride versus where they live, calling for a revolutionary self-love. The second feature story , which begins on page 15, is titled [Accepting Difference / Conformity is the method / in the madness of oppression.] with the label headline [COMMENTARY]. Written by Sabrina Sojourner, the article is about difference causing oppression and the dialogue needed to undo inherited bigotry.
label: Description
content: Several shorter articles appear under the section [BLK NEWS]. Beginning on page 20, these articles include: [African-Americans Join in Gay Pride Celebrations Across U.S., but Overall Participation Still Sparse] talking specifically about New York, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Columbus, Atlanta, San Diego, San Francisco, and Washington D.C.; [Black South Africans Lose Only Gay Bar in Area / by Rex Wockner] the bar, Glowbar, was home to the Lesbian and Gay Organization of Witwatersrand, founded by Simon Nkoli; [BWMT Releases Results of National HIV, Sex Survey] through a task force led by Reggie Williams; [Black Participation in AIDS Conference Highest Ever Despite Boycott; Fewer Black Gay Issues Presented / by Perry Lang] about the Sixth International AIDS Conference, protests of Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan, and the conference seeing presentations by community members from the African continent, the Caribbean, and the United States; [Minority AIDS Project Gets $ to Test, Counsel]; [Audre Lorde Conference Set for Boston in October]; [Blacks to Participate in 12th Health Conference] about the 12th National Lesbian and Gay Health Conference and 8th National AIDS Forum to be attended by Joyce Hunter and Rev. Renee McCoy; [Bronx AIDs Group Elects New Board of Directors]; [Castro Area Bar Pledges No More Discrimination / by Alan Smithee and Cornell Makonnen] about the bar Midnight Sun and usage of racist and sexist slurs by staff; [Prison Bans Interracial Novel by Black Gay Man] about Larry Duplechan’s Eight Days a Week; [Appeal Planned in Case of Black Gay PWA Who Got 25 Year Sentence for Bite He Says Never Happened]; [Milk Fills GLASS: $250] about the Southern California Harvey Milk Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club and Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services; [Black Parents Nix Book]; [Pat Norman Named to Mandela Committee]; [Black, Gay Defendants Charge HIV Harassment]; [CDC May Statistics on AIDS Cases in U.S.] [2 Plead Guilty in Death of Transvestite Hustler]; [ACLU Gives 1990 Rights Nod to Whoopi Goldberg]; [Search on for Missing Atlanta Black Gay Man]; [NABWMT Holds 10th Convention in San Francisco / by Colin Gibson] about the tenth annual convention of the National Association of Black and White Men Together, where Black gay activists praised and criticized the organization, debated the name change to Men of All Colors Together, and an appearance by Grupo Gay da Bahia Brazil. Those who spoke include Larry Saxxon, Cleo Manago, Brandy Moore, Dr. John Peterson, Luiz Mott, Bang Nguyen, Lóren Laureano, Urvashi Vaid, Tom Horan, Rev. Renée McCoy, and Pay and Karen Norman; and [African Group Gets Office] about the Township AIDS Project founded by Tseko Simon Nkoli and other black activists.
label: Description
content: The section [BLK VEIL] is page 33 and lists seven obituaries: Stephen Anthony Church, William Lede Glover, Claudia Droyce Gregory, James Tyrone Mays, Jr. Esq., Michael Craig Robinson, Franklyn Seales, and Michael Louis Spain III. This is followed by the section [BLK ARTS] on page 35. The subsection [MUSIC NEWS] has one article titled [Purple Buckled Crotches / by Ron Smith]; and the subsection [DANCE MUSIC REVIEWS] has one article titled [British Soul fit for a Queen / by D.J. Marius]. This the gossip column [Read My Lips] written by Preston G. Guider on page 39. The issue concludes with the classifieds section [BLK MARKET], starting on page 41, with personal ads divided by gender, then international and U.S. regions.
label: Description
content: The back cover is a full-page advertisement for [TALK LIVE!].
label: Description
content: There are advertisements throughout, including: [Be A Buddy To Someone With AIDS] a support program by the AIDS Project Los Angeles; [EARLY INITIATION OF / ANTIVIRAL THERAPY] a patient workshop held by the Los Angeles Workshop; [Unity Fellowship Church / A Church for All People]; [ACCESS / The Center / The Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center] counseling services; [the BFP TEE]; [BLK SUBSCRIPTIONS / BLK CLASSIFIED ADS / BLK T-SHIRTS] payment options over phone; [“Keeping It Up” / A series of free workshops designed to / address coping with the crisis in our lives.] co-sponsored by The Center, the Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center; [COMPLETE AUTO DETAILING / TWO HOT HANDSOME MEN / WILL DETAIL YOU AUTO /BODY] by The Prestige Club Process; [THING / SHE KNOWS /WHO SHE IS] a Chicago-based underground zine; [The Black Men’s Dating / Service] dating form; BLK subscription ad; [SKIP AND BEAR / AND TOM AND HOMER: / WANT TO THANK…] a personal thank you ad; [Orange County Cultural Pride / Look to the Future / 2nd Annual OCCP Gay & Lesbian Pride Festival & Parade]; [THE FRIENDS OF BLK / invite you to / Laugh, Then Dance] benefit for the BLK community; [Buddies ‘n’ Pals / ‘n’ Partners] dating service for major cities in the U.S. and Canada; [Subscribe to the leading interracial gay magazine / QUARTLY INTERCHANGE]; [FOR BLACK GAY & / BISEXUAL MEN ONLY!] from the African American Men’s Health Project; [CHIRON RISING]; [A DIFFERENT LIGHT / Gay and Lesbian Literature]; [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; [970-WOLF]; [AIDS FUNDRAISING / An Open Letter To The Community] by The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (formerly the AIDS Hospice Foundation), Being Alive People with HIV/AIDS Action Coalition, The Minority AIDS Project, and the Los Angeles Shanti Foundation; [“Xperience the Xchange Xperience” / B.M.X. / Upcoming Events] with the Black Men’s Xchange support group; [HOT / TALKING / PERONSALS! / Connections USA]; [The Pleasure Chest Ltd.]; [976-HUNK]; ad for printing services by Louis; [ACT-UP/LA needs / your input • your leadership • your anger!]; [Black and White Men Together]; [Reactions]; [Chocolate Joy Productions]; and [GET A LITTLE… FUN!].
place: label: Place made
content: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Washington, District of Columbia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, 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: Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: San Francisco, San Francisco county, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Oakland, Alameda County, California, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Boise, Ada County, Idaho, United States, North and Central America
label: Place depicted
content: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, Africa
topic: label: Topic
content: African American
label: Topic
content: Activism
label: Topic
content: Black Press
label: Topic
content: Christianity
label: Topic
content: Communities
label: Topic
content: Families
label: Topic
content: Gender
label: Topic
content: Health
label: Topic
content: Holidays and festivals
label: Topic
content: Identity
label: Topic
content: International affairs
label: Topic
content: Labor
label: Topic
content: LGBTQ
label: Topic
content: Literature
label: Topic
content: Mass media
label: Topic
content: Men
label: Topic
content: Race discrimination
label: Topic
content: Race relations
label: Topic
content: Resistance
label: Topic
content: Sexuality
label: Topic
content: U.S. History, 1969-2001
label: Topic
content: Violence
label: Topic
content: Women
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: 2018.108.20
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)