Tiffany Nicholas

May 12, 2023

African American History

Professor Channon Miller

Black History LGBTQ+ and Literature for the Future

For the Black History at USD Project, I decided to attend the San Diego Public Library for The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience on February 11th of this year. This event sought to bring about greater understanding, empathy, and acceptance of diverse identities and perspectives within the Black LGBTQ+ community. Through this unique format, participants can engage in one-on-one conversations with “human books,” people who share their experiences and stories of being a part of the Black LGBTQ+ community. As an LGBTQ+ individual, being able to participate in this beautiful event meant a lot to me. The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience and the works of African American writers and poets demonstrate the power of literature and poetry in promoting empathy, understanding, and social change, particularly within marginalized communities. Through their stories and experiences, these individuals challenge stereotypes and misconceptions, assert their identities, and highlight the resilience and strength of the Black LGBTQ+ community, contributing to the ongoing progression of African American history.

Historically, literature and poetry have been used by African Americans as a means of expressing their struggles, experiences, and aspirations, as well as challenging societal norms and injustices. In the case of the Black LGBTQ+ community, literature and poetry play a similarly important role in providing a platform for voices that are often silenced or ignored.

One of the “human books” at the Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience was Angel Maya, a trans activist, and educator. Maya shared her experiences of navigating life as a Black trans woman, including the challenges she faced in accessing modern human necessities like healthcare, employment, and housing. Through her poetry and spoken word performances, Maya emphasized the importance of self-love and self-acceptance and the need for greater understanding and support for the Black trans community.

Shanelle Johnson, another “human book” at the event, shared her experiences as a Black lesbian mother. Johnson’s poetry explored the complexities of navigating multiple identities and societal expectations, as well as the importance of building community and finding joy in everyday life. Through her poetry, Johnson highlighted the resilience and strength of the Black LGBTQ+ community, and the power of storytelling as a means of creating connection and understanding. Brittany Hayes, a bisexual writer, and activist, was also a “human book” at the event. Hayes shared her experiences of growing up in a conservative, religious household and coming to terms with her sexuality. Through her writing, Hayes explores themes of identity, community, and belonging, and challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about bisexuality. Hayes’ work highlights the importance of representation and visibility, both within and outside of the Black LGBTQ+ community.

Together, these “human books” demonstrate the power of literature and poetry as a means of promoting understanding, empathy, and social change. By sharing their stories and experiences, they are not only challenging stereotypes and misconceptions but also inspiring others to speak out and create change in their own communities.

Through what was learned this semester, literature and even poetry have a long and rich history within the African American community. From the slave narratives of the 19th century to the Harlem Renaissance of the early 20th century. According to Freedom on My Mind, “fresh forms of expression in literature, the visual arts, dance, and music affirmed black identity and culture and gained recognition for black creativity in American culture.” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 679). African Americans have used literature and poetry as a means of telling their own stories and asserting their own identities. In the 1950s, The Civil Rights Movement created a revitalization of African American literary and artistic expression, with writers such as James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, and even female writer Maya Angelou using their work to challenge racism and inequality. For example, in modern times today, the Black Lives Matter movement has sparked a renewed interest in literature and poetry as a means of promoting social justice and change. Correspondingly, within the Black LGBTQ+ community, literature, and poetry have become important means of promoting visibility, representation, and understanding. Writers and poets such as Audre Lorde and Danez Smith have explored themes of sexuality, gender, and identity, and challenged stereotypes and misconceptions about LGBTQ+ people of color. Events such as the Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience provide a platform for these voices and create opportunities for dialogue and understanding within the community. Through literature and poetry, African Americans have been able to tell their own stories and assert their own identities, challenging societal norms and injustices. This is particularly true for the Black LGBTQ+ community, where literature and poetry provide a means of promoting visibility, representation, and understanding.

The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience is an example of how literature and poetry can be used to promote empathy and understanding within a community. By sharing their stories and experiences, the “human books” at the event are challenging stereotypes and misconceptions, and inspiring others to speak out and create change in their own communities. The event provides an opportunity for individuals to engage in one-on-one conversations with members of the Black LGBTQ+ community, fostering a greater understanding of the diverse identities and perspectives within the community. Literature as a whole has played an important role in shaping African American culture in the United States. It has been a means of expressing the experiences, thoughts, and emotions of African Americans and has helped to shape their identity. One of the earliest records of African American literature was the slave narrative and these autobiographical works told the stories of formerly enslaved individuals and offered a firsthand account of the brutality and dehumanization of slavery. They were a powerful tool for abolitionists, helping to mobilize public opinion against the institution of slavery and promoting the cause of abolition. As Deborah Gray White notes in “Freedom On My Mind,” slave narratives “drew attention to the horrors of slavery and provided evidence of the intellectual and emotional capacities of Black people” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 59).

Another important genre of African American literature was the Harlem Renaissance which I touched on earlier. This cultural movement, which took place in the 1920s and 1930s, was characterized by a flourishing of African American literature, music, and art. It was a time when African Americans were asserting their own cultural identity and challenging stereotypes and misconceptions. As Waldo E. Martin Jr. notes in “Freedom On My Mind,” the Harlem Renaissance “represented the first time that Black artists and intellectuals were able to speak for themselves, in their own voices, without white intermediaries” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 257). One of the most significant figures of the Harlem Renaissance was Langston Hughes, whose works captured the vibrancy and complexity of African American life during this time. In his poem “The Negro Speaks of Rivers,” Hughes writes: 

“I’ve known rivers ancient as the world and older than the flow of human blood in human veins.” (The Negro Speaks of Rivers, 1921) 

This is a powerful poem and a celebration of African American history and identity and serves as an example of how literature helped to shape African American culture during the Harlem Renaissance. In addition to the Harlem Renaissance, literature played an important role in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s through the 1960s. Writers and poets such as James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, and Amiri Baraka used their works to advocate for racial equality and civil rights. As Mia Bay notes in “Freedom On My Mind,” “literature played a central role in mobilizing support for the movement, creating a sense of shared identity and common purpose among activists and supporters” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 523). One of the most significant works of literature from this time was Baldwin’s “The Fire Next Time.” In this book, Baldwin offers a powerful critique of racism in America and advocates for a vision of racial justice and equality. As Waldo E. Martin Jr. notes in “Freedom On My Mind,” “Baldwin’s book challenged white Americans to confront the reality of racism and its impact on the lives of African Americans” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 547). In contemporary times, literature continues to shape African American culture and identity. Works by authors such as Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jesmyn Ward offer a powerful exploration of the ongoing struggles faced by African Americans, while poets such as Claudia Rankine and Jericho Brown offer a powerful critique of racism and injustice in America today. As Mia Bay notes in “Freedom On My Mind,” “literature continues to play a significant role in shaping African American identity, promoting empathy and understanding, and advocating for social change” (Freedom On My Mind 2020, 605). From slave narratives to contemporary works, literature has helped to express the experiences, thoughts, and emotions of African Americans, and has been a means of promoting empathy, understanding, and social change.

Overall, The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience and the exploration of literature and poetry within the African American community simply demonstrates the power of storytelling as a means of promoting social change. Through literature and poetry, marginalized communities are able to assert their own identities, challenge societal norms and injustices, and create greater understanding and empathy within their communities. As we continue to grapple with issues of racism, inequality, and systemic oppression, it is important that we continue to use literature and poetry as a means of promoting understanding and social change.

Work Cited

The Black LGBTQ+ Human Book Experience, February 11, 2023 

Hughes, Langston. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes.” Poetry Foundation, 1921. https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers. 

White, Deborah Gray, Mia Bay, and Waldo E. Martin, Jr. Freedom on My Mind. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2020. BibliU version.