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Tuesday, September 01, 2009
A Candid Debate On Black Manhood, Same Gender Love & Civil Rights: Fact & Fiction from Cleo Manago on Vimeo.
There's many different opinions on the work of activist Cleo Manago within the black gay community, but one thing is for sure he nails it in a recent panel discussion held in Atlanta on black manhood, same gender loving relationships, and civil rights. I've never witnessed such an honest discussion regarding homosexuality in the black community such as the one that takes place in this video.
There is no commentary needed because the dialogue within the video speaks for itself. I highly recommend that you set aside twenty minutes of your day to watch it. And by all means leave your thoughts in the comment section as a discussion definitely needs to take place.
5 Comments:
I have to be honest and say I'm done with a lot of the mainstream black gay leadership
September 01, 2009 5:36 PM
Cleo Manago more than held his own at the "debate" but I'm wondering how much good did it do?
I'm sick of having to explain my humanity to straight black people. I say, as a black LBGT person, just walk away from the so-called black community (including homophobic relatives) and live your life. Why should people who HATE us matter to us? Let's just og our separate ways.
September 01, 2009 6:39 PM
Cleo Manago has certainly been doing a lot of good for a very long time, and though I haven't always been completely on board with his approach, I respect his work.
But, I'm not interested in "pitching softballs" to straight black folks who have deemed themselves "gatekeepers" to the community. It is completely silly at this point, that I should have to explain that I, as a black lgbt/sgl/fill in the blank man, was lynched WITH YOU, enslaved and oppressed WITH YOU, shackled on ships over the atlantic WITH YOU!!
And all of this Black Male Identity Crisis stuff just rubs me the wrong way as well... at the end of the day, everyone has a different idea and view of what a "real man" is or is not, so why would I put so much stock in what someone else thinks about my manhood, as long as I'm good with me??
September 01, 2009 6:56 PM
This work is not simply about pitching to "straight" people. Audience are hardly all straight. And some of the most anti-homosexual are homosexual. Black homosexuals don't live on an island, but are part of families and community. It'S about building community, and being confident, clear and present in our communities. A lot of anti-homosexual hate is based on self-hate. You can't go your separate ways from your self, and a lot of SGL Brothers and Sisters hate themselves. And let's be real, they can hardly go to a Black "gay" community for safety and affirmation. This community has more viciousness than a lion's cage. So, it's also about role modeling decent and confident behavior, righting wrongs and being able to know and love ourselves.
September 02, 2009 9:32 AM
Anon 9-2-09, 9:32 AM said among other things:
"You can't go your separate ways from your self, and a lot of SGL Brothers and Sisters hate themselves."
A black LGBT person can do whatever he/she wants. I left the traditional black church, for example, when I was a teenager and NEVER looked back. I was not going to sit up in some black church and be called an "abomination" by some jackleg preacher because of my sexual orientation. And guess what? Life goes on.
"And let's be real, they can hardly go to a Black "gay" community for safety and affirmation. This community has more viciousness than a lion's cage."
I was not suggesting that "black homosexuals" go to a "black gay community" for affirmation (I don't believe there is a black gay community). I have little to nothing to do with my biological family because they hate me for being gay. Why should I waste my time explaining ANYTHING to these people just because we're related by blood? I have surrounded myself with outstanding friends (my CHOSEN "family"), most of whom are NOT black, and they have helped me in ways that my so-called blood family never did. If you believe that YOU cannot exist outside of black constructs that's your business. Many black gay men, however, do not feel the way you do and I'm one of them. You rant about self-hate among "black homosexuals", but your comment reeks of self-hatred. Walking away from my so-called blood "family" is the best thing I ever did.
When straight black homophobes say that being gay is an "abomination" I just laugh because straight black people have an out-of-wedlock birth rate that exceeds 70%(now THAT'S an abomination!) and marriage among African-Americans is practically dead. What right do straight black people have to judge gay people? None whatsoever.
September 02, 2009 10:49 PM
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