black history month News

black history month

sage

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Behind the Scenes: The Autostraddle Black Elders Interview Project

“You and I are family.”

the team —

Feb 27, 2023

black history month

interview

a black and white photo of Barbara Johnson, a Black woman and elder, is the center focal point of this collage. Beautiful collaged items including newsprint, colors, squiggles, and lines surround her. She's wearing a sweatshirt that says Brooklyn on the front.

community

“I Don’t Want To Be Forgotten”

“So I just accepted the fact that I truly was gay. I had to be gay. That was my acceptance of myself. I made an announcement in my own head…

Sa’iyda Shabazz —

Feb 27, 2023

black history month

interview

a black and white photo of Malcolm Reid, a smiling Black gay man and elder, is the center focal point of this collage. Beautiful collaged items including newsprint, colors, squiggles, and lines surround Malcolm.

community

“I Needed To Create Something To Save Myself… That’s What I’ve Done”

“Ain’t nobody trying to slow down! Life is fun. Keep doing it.”

shea wesley martin —

Feb 20, 2023

black history month

interview

a black and white image of DonnaSue, a Black butch elder, is at the center of this collage. the artist has layered newsprint, paper, and lines over the photo to create a gorgeous playful picture of DonnaSue

community

“Mother Has Lived, What Can I Say?”

DonnaSue Johnson describes herself as a “big, black, beautiful, Bohemian, bougie, Buddhist butch.”

danijanae —

Feb 13, 2023

black history month

interview

a black and white photo of Donald Bell, an older Black man with a beard and a large smile. Behind Don is a gorgeous collage filled with yellows, blacks, blues, and reds.

community

“And I Said to God, Isn’t Being Black Enough? Do I Have To Be Gay Too?”

“The truth of our history is that gay, lesbian, and gender-expansive people were normal and recognized in the Black community.”

shea wesley martin —

Feb 6, 2023

black history month

interview

a black and white photo of Ray Gibson, a Black trans man and elder, is the center focal point of this collage. Beautiful collaged items including newsprint, colors, squiggles, and lines surround Ray.

community

“I Didn’t Know Trans Men Existed Until I Saw Chaz Bono on Dancing With the Stars”

This year, the Autostraddle team decided to focus our Black History Month coverage on the Black elders who are still here and still doing the work. We welcome our readers…

Sa’iyda Shabazz —

Feb 1, 2023

autostraddle behind the scenes

black history month

The words "Editor's Note" shine in a bright purple against a dark starry sky that is covered in a loop of dark, shimmering oval of a purple galaxy and purple roses that growing like vines on the edges.

af+

Editor’s Notes: On Black History Month 2021

I am unapologetically, over the moon, absolutely just cheesy cornball, would probably make you roll your eyes levels, proud of being Black, especially during this — the 28 Blackest days…

Carmen Phillips —

Feb 27, 2021

black history month

black history month 2021

Carmen's Aunt Lorna smokes a cigar. She's a light skin Black woman in her late 60s. She is cut out against a black starry sky and there are purple rose petals growing out of the side of the image like a vine.

first person

Everything That Matters Is Stuck in the Back of My Throat

All I have is an ellipsis. Grief is a flat circle. And I never imagined I would have to live through grieving her.

Carmen Phillips —

Feb 27, 2021

audre lorde

black history month

Two hands are covered in darkness as they finger deep space, the space is in purple starry skies and it drips over the index and pointer finger of one hand facing upwards.

first person

Queering Faith: Reclaiming the Holy of Sexuality

How do you tell them your poem about pussy doesn’t negate your love for God? That your spirituality isn’t separate but an extension of you?

Khalisa Rae Thompson —

Feb 25, 2021

black history month

black history month 2021

first person

Wrestling With Kamala and Beyond: Reckoning With Blackness, Womanhood, and What Comes Next

I am ready to be fearless. To dream beyond Black womanhood and know that I — Black, queer, and not-quite-sure — am worthy, so worthy of all of the love, affirmation, and…

shea wesley martin —

Feb 23, 2021

black history month

black history month 2021

A black outline of a body floats in the blue and purple waves of the ocean. The ocean is covered in sparkles, like the stars of a night sky. Everything feels all-encompassing, full, and at peace.

first person

Gender Fluidity and the Black Atlantic

I always wonder what words my ancestors had for someone like me. In embracing my genderfluid identity, I’ve found great comfort in the deep and wide of the Atlantic —…

Lazarus —

Feb 18, 2021

black history month

foolish child

visual art

Foolish Child #90: It’s Black History Month, I’m on Break

Are you asking me if I want to work more than just my regular work days? In Black History Month!?!

Dickens —

Feb 10, 2021