This document contains two opinion articles from FIU student publications. The first article discusses the importance of recognizing black LGBTQ individuals in Black History Month celebrations. It argues that influential black LGBTQ figures like Bayard Rustin have been left out of discussions and that the black community needs to be more accepting of gay and lesbian individuals. The second article talks about the importance of celebrating James Baldwin and other black queer figures who helped pave the way for more acceptance. It advocates for learning from Baldwin's rhetoric on issues of race and justice in America. Both articles call for properly representing and acknowledging the roles of black LGBTQ people in history and culture.

1. fiusm.comThe Beacon – 3 Thursday, February 25, 2016
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This Black History
Month has been more
empowering than
those in recent years;
The Black Panther
Movement will celebrate
its 50th anniversary this
October and Beyoncé’s
performance of her new
single “Formation,” a
song considered to be a black power
anthem, rocked the Super Bowl halftime
show.
The analysis of Beyoncé’s lyrics
followed the release of the music video,
praising the Queen for her celebration of
traditional African traits as exemplified in
lines like, “I like my baby heir with baby
hair and afros. I like my negro nose with
Jackson Five nostrils.”
But out of all the reports I read, no one
mentioned what I found to be the most
powerful sentence, saved for the last part
of the song, “Best revenge is your paper.”
While my roommate later informed me
that “paper” is representative of money,
I originally presumed the sentence
referred to freed slaves having to carry
around papers stating that they were free
people, and the emancipation of slavery
altogether; an empowering reminder to
blacks, indeed.
Chanelle Porter, an FIU senior and
active member of the Black Student Union,
thought it could refer to immigration and
being able to become a complete citizen
- just like an emancipated slave deserved
citizenship. Porter told FIU Student Media
that the song as a whole reflects what
African Americans have been through.
As far as Black History Month
is concerned, BSU held an opening
ceremony, lectures on black history and
collaborations with organizations like the
Muslim Student Union and the African
Student Union at FIU.
“[The events] bring us together. Though
we extend the hand to other races, other
communities, it’s mainly for us [black
students],” Porter said.
Porter feels that President Barack
Obama leaving the White House after
eight years is going to leave a “hole in
the heart” for many people, especially
those in the black community who saw
themselves in him. She’s interested in
what Bernie Sanders could do for the
black community, especially considering
his history in the Civil Rights Movement
and his embracing of the phrase, “Black
Lives Matter.”
While the U.S. has come a long way
since 1960 in terms of racial inequality,
it hasn’t been enough. Police brutality
against black males in particular shows a
major disparity and 2015 was littered with
cases like that of Trayvon Martin, Michael
Brown and Corey Jones - all of whom
were fatally shot by officers.
An even more disturbing idea that
Porter brought up in a conversation with
FIUSM was that in some areas, including
Miami, mug shots of black men are used
as targets when training police officers. A
report by CBS Miami confirms this.
Porter thinks the use of black male
faces perpetuates “the expectations of
what one thinks a criminal should be.”
Porter believes change will only come
if there is a discussion on the subject of
racism between all races and the “elephant
in the room” is addressed.
We cannot pretend it’s nonexistent
or easily dissolved. We need to “stop
assumptions and stereotypes and have an
open forum,” she said.
It’s wonderful that there is a month
that brings these topics into the spotlight,
lest they be ignored. We shouldn’t be
comfortable with ignoring them.
Black history doesn’t occur every
February and then cease. It’s an ongoing
history, intertwined with everything
around us and an ongoing struggle for
equality. These are discussions that need
to happen every day, in our homes and on
campus.
The Leveler is a column on global
social justice and political commentary.
For further commentary contact Aubrey
Carr at opinion@fiusm.com
Black history – an ongoing history
Sam Pritchard-Torres/The Beacon
POLITICAL ZOMBIES
Just in case it wasn’t made clear, it’s Black
History Month. A month dedicated to the
recognition of the many accomplishments and
contributions of blacks, as well as a time to
educate non people of color in the basics of
black history: The Middle Passage, cotton,
slavery, slave spirituals, the whipping, cotton,
the N-word, the lynching, more cotton,
Abraham Lincoln and then freedom.
In all the talk of the fearlessness of
Harriet Tubman, the boldness of Rosa
Parks, the inspiration that was Martin Luther King Jr. and the
groundbreaking achievement of Barack Obama, the lives
of black LGBTQA are often left out of the scope of black
history. Bayard Rustin, the chief organizer of the 1963 March
on Washington and advisor to Martin Luther King Jr., Angela
Davis, Emil Wilbekin, Janet Mock are amongst the many others
who deserve just as much recognition as the black trailblazers
that don’t identify as LGBTQA.
With shows that represent queer people of color such as
“Master of None,” “The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,”
“Orange Is The New Black” and Fox’s mega-hit, “Empire,” the
time has come for the black, queer community to be recognized
for our impact on culture and most importantly, history.
Why is it that we don’t celebrate our gay, history making
trailblazers? Homophobia is a disease that runs rampant in
the black community and creates an opportunity to silence the
voices of the black LGBTQA community. The hypocrisy of
it all is baffling, as well. Blacks should be able to relate to the
plight of the gay and lesbian community. The 300 years between
1654 and 1964, if you recall, brought a lot of resistance and hate
against black people.
I remember hearing the adults and elders of the church I grew
up in condemn the gay community and go as far as using the
“homosexuals are child molesters” rhetoric along with other run
of the mill stereotypes about the gay community. The church is a
staple in the black community and a lot of people claim to have
religious reasons for their disapproving views on gays.
The justification of using religion and the Bible to refuse
someone to the right to love and marry is wrong. The very same
Bible that the black church is using to defend their views is
the very same book that Southern slave owners used to justify
slavery.
What I think is interesting about this is that it’s common for
the musical leaders in southern Baptist churches to be gay men.
In the church I grew up in, there were three men who lent their
musical talent to the church and were gay. It was bizarre because
it was a thing all the adults knew about but didn’t discuss.
My stance on proper representation is extremely important. It
has been a great two years for queer POC in regards to media and
entertainment. Our stories are finally being told authentically and
the overused gay, black best friend troupe has become a thing of
the past; though the voices of the queer men and women who
came before us have been silenced and forgotten.
James Baldwin has taught me a great deal about white
privilege and the complicated, disturbing life of the African
American. Baldwin, one of the greatest orators of our time and
probably the brightest, has the potential to influence more of
a niche audience. One of my favorite moments from Baldwin
came in 1965, at a debate between he and William F. Buckley,
a well-known white conservative where Baldwin and James
debated about the “American Dream” and how it was made
possible at the expense of blacks. A hideously loaded statement,
I may add.
Baldwin’s use of rhetoric alone is a learning opportunity.
Baldwinutilizesrhetoricasitwasintendedtobeemployed,atool
for persuasion found in law, dealing with justice and injustice.
Along with Baldwin, we must celebrate the black, queer
women and men who made it possible for gay men like me to
dare; dare to be more than the depression statistic, dare to be
more than expected and dare to remain authentically gay, black
and proud.
Cocobttrdiaries is a commentary based on the black
community and gay pop culture. For suggestions, please email
Darius Dupins at darius.dupins@fiusm.com
Remember the black LGBTQA community, too
THE LEVELER
AUBREY CARR
COCOBTTR
DIARIES
DARIUS DUPINS