Type to enter a caption.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
26 MAGAZINE TAMARA LEIGH, Editor TamaraLeigh@blaqueoutmag.com
An
JUSTICE FOR CHANEL
online magazine platform
centered FIRMLY in
B lack
&
Brown Queer
Cultural Excellence. We seek to center, celebrate & showcase every facet of the diversity & utter magnificence of our community through art, activism, photography & the spoken word.
10
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SAMSON TEQUIR: A JOURNEY TO HEALING
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:
04.
LIVING IN THE LIGHT
07. THE GLAM DOWN
08.
ASK MARSHAY
29.
REVIEWS MAY VARY
www.BLAQUEOUT.com
Letter From the Editor…
Dear Reader, Its holiday season, obviously, and although most of us celebrate something, you will notice that we went light with typical holiday stuff. We recognize that so many people from our community have lost our birth families because we have chosen to be our authentic selves or for the opportunity to love who we love and it can sometimes make holidays extremely difficult. With that being said, we do want to recognize an incredible, uniquely Queer tradition that doesn’t always get the attention and celebration that it deserve. For many of us, it saved our lives. We have a beautiful chosen family tradition in our world that makes all the difference. For all of those chosen families that have provided love, guidance, community and home for so many- we honor you this month. For those of you spending the holiday alone we send you love and you always have family with us. For those of you who are going to be amongst family that don’t understand you, that don’t honor your pronouns, that disrespect the essence of who you are- we first say the sorry that you may never get and always deserve. Hold on to whatever peace you can find through the season and make your way DIRECTLY to people who love you and honor you as fast as you can- whenever we are able. We love YOU and YOU are enough, you are worthy, you are beautiful and you are perfect. Don’t you allow yourself to believe anything different. Not ever! And to those of you who will be alone due to following COVID precautions- thank you. We don’t shame anyone here. People do what they have to do for their own survival in many ways and that can look very different for different people. But we thank you for making the sacrifice to stay at home and be safe out of the love of others. It’s a bravery many of us just can’t rise to. We thank you and hope you find creative ways to still spend time with the people you love!!! Thank you to our frontline workers that are away from their families to serve others which has turned what was always an act of sacrifice into an act of bravery this year! To you we say thank you. Blaque/Out was also born this year. A suggestion, to a dream, to a reality. We thank every single person that contributed to making this possible. We are so grateful. Thank you to the readers, the writers and the advertisers. We hope you’re with us for the rest of this ride. The best is yet to come!! This month we celebrate the Power of Femme. All the beauty, strength, and magic in it. Thank you to my friend, Adrian Elim, our featured photographer of the month for sharing their gift for the spread. Thank you so much Damita Bonnemere, Chanel Hines and Samson Tequir for allowing us a peak into their lives, their trauma and their triumph. We wish you light, love, healing and justice. And I personally thank you with all of my heart for trusting me with your stories. Ase’
!3
Reflections……. Okay, let’s talk….
Welcome back babies to my little corner of the world! So, this year is fastly coming to a close, and damn, has it been a year. This is going to be brief, but as we prepare to celebrate another holiday under this pandemic, I want to take a moment to reflect over this year, and its highs, and lows. Starting with COVID-19, this year began throwing us all in devastating and life altering situations of social paranoia, health scares, financial hardships, protests, a number of personal and professional losses, and a shortage of toilet paper, and 70% rubbing alcohol. However, In spite of all that, we still found ways to come together and fight for justice, and help right the wrongs of racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, and police brutality that has plagued our communities for far too long, just from the sanctuary of our own homes.
We have become masters at Zoom. Zoom meetings, Zoom parties, Zoom concerts, etc. all have become the norm, and the daily part of our lives. Not for nothing, I have to admit, as an introvert, that whole quarantine for those first couple months from much human interaction was a little piece of heaven on earth for me. That’s not to dismiss that there were those who did not, or could not find it at all enjoyable, and for them I empathize. Yet, we made it through, not without our own personal scares in some way, but we made it. For those that did not make it to this point with us, we should remember and honor their memory with each day given to us. And If anyone should feel that they haven’t learned a thing this year, all you need do is look at this past election. That in and of itself should teach anyone the power of unity, and what occurs when a community comes together to incite change. That’s definitely something to celebrate, the dawn of a new administrative government, and the hopes that things could bring ALL of us back to some type of peace of mind for our lives and our loved ones.
So as we celebrate as best we can throughout the rest of this year, and walk wearily, but with our heads held high to the horizon of a new year, let us be grateful for what we’ve been through, and the strength it has given us to persevere through whatever comes our way. For what 2020 has taken, it has also given even more; the knowledge to make 2021 as successful, and abundant as it can be for us all.
With love, this is your girl Javannah saying, Happy Holidays, and be good to you!
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All
BLACK LIVES
Matter
Beauty Tip of The Month:
Its winterrrr the perfect time to wear full face without sweating lol!! Wheeww! I know you sometimes we worry in the winter season about the health of our skin in and out of make up. Whats your winter skin type? What are some things your skin goes through during the winter season? Do your lips chap? Do you get dry spots in your face? Lets talk about that!
The main thing we worry about is keeping our skin and lips moisturized and exfoliated? Winter can be harsh on the skin. From the dry climate and brisk winds. When it come to rejuvenating my skin I run to my go to! SUGAR SCRUBS! I’m big on sugar scrubs during the winter because my face dries out from the harsh winds and weather. Lips are always dry too! Who likes dry crusty lips. Sugar scrubs all ways come in handy! From at home to store bought you can always find a good sugar scrub to exfoliate and give your skin the flawless buff you need in the winter winds. Sugar Scrubs have many benefits from brightening dull looking skin. They also fight skin aging!
Yes hunny Sugar Scrubs help fight against aging skin! We all want that ageless glow. You can also exfoliate most parts of your body with sugar scrubs! Its not enough to have to mixing your own or hitting the store to purchase a few I don’t know what to say!
Brian Aguilar is one of Rochester’s hottest MUA’s no matter the look he slays! Self Taught Brian is taking overr the game with his High Glam make up looks! You know his work when you see his girls! Only 26 years old and from his social media accounts you can tell he’s booked and busy! Posted below are some of some of his Winter Looks thus far!
Brian can be followed Via Instagram at @bbrianaguilarr be sure to check him out! 7
Ask Celebrating Femininity All Month Long...And Then Some! Marshay Dominique (she/her/hers) Oxford Languages defines femininity as a series of qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of women. And that’s it! I’m so thankful for growth, aren’t you? Let’s dissect and reconstruct our own realistic definition as the textbook description is limiting, vague and quite frankly, in my opinion, its rather outdated. We have an old habit of associating femininity with being female but both feminine and masculine energies are equally necessary for all beings to learn to delicately balance between; think Yin & Yang- not him or her. Try not to limit this article to gender roles because we’re really discussing dualism or the lifelong internal divide that we all face within self.
How Do We Embrace Femininity? I personally struggled to accept & appreciate my feminine self because I misunderstood its true meaning and power. I’ve watched a lot of very intelligent & strong-willed people silence themselves out of fear of misrepresenting what it means to be feminine, almost like they’re afraid of breaking some type of code. That unspoken code that says being feminine means to be polite, quiet, well-behaved, ALWAYS well puttogether and never speaking with foul language, etc. Sounds a lot like a dog’s training manual, doesn’t it? I’ve also had the misfortune of witnessing people run from facing their own feminine self believing they would somehow then appear weak by doing so. But wouldn’t you run from someone trying to enforce a dog’s training manual on you? That’s the best lesson for me...realizing that there is no cookie cutter way to embrace your feminine self! No one can decide for you what that means and don’t let anyone shape you by what they believe you should be. It took me some time to unlearn societal & generational misconceptions about what femininity truly means but I’ve got it now. It’s nurturing your tribe with the healing energy you were born with as a superpower, it’s sensitivity given at the right time to self and those around you for the betterment of a community, it’s gentleness offered with the intention of caring for someone enough to make them feel emotionally safe around you...that gentle, sensitive nurturer lives inside of everyone regardless of how we identify and there is NOTHING weak about that.
How Do We Denounce Toxic Societal Thinking? It definitely starts at home but we all know some people are beyond that and have been in the dark so I believe it actually starts within you. Think back to when you had a really good day where you just couldn’t stop smiling (everyday, I hope!) and before you knew it, your smile was infectious. Thats exactly how we reprogram ourselves and others from thinking with old, outdated narratives (they may not even realize they are). We start within us. We erase the old fear that we’ll be bulldozed over, weakling, puppet versions of our true selves just for facing and embracing our feminine side. Its simply not true!
Marshay You’ll never be stronger than you are when you’ve identified your balance and found your power. I promise you that. You can be in touch with your feminine self and still be protected and protective; fierce yet forgiving; tender yet still strong; expressive & courageous and so much more. You are not limited by exploring your inner self in all of its unique facets. In fact, you are better equipped to face the world once you do. I promise you that too. Being that self-assured example for friends and family in constant contact with you can only mean good things. Trust me, I know! Take Away I’d like to think of myself as a bold example of what happens when you face your fears. We spend so much time trying to bury them, trying to denounce them and run away from them altogether but if you could take anything from this article, I’d hope it would be to go out and fight your fears. Hunt them down and make them afraid of you! Our fear of the unknown and unexpected has been genetically passed down and is actually a defense mechanism built into each and everyone of us. I find its the biggest resistor to us appreciating and celebrating our femininity. But once that beautiful balance is struck, you get to stand back and see how masculine and feminine energies flow together in a constant web of protection and guidance around your life, which I believe is where true intuition is born (another superpower unlocked)! Don’t be afraid to master the many video game achievement-esque levels inside you. You were gifted with everything you need to maneuver this difficult life and we celebrate trusting and living in that solid fact.
Eternally & Very Truly Yours, ~Marshay Need Advice? Email your questions about love, life & entanglements to: AskMarshay.BlaqueOut@gmail.com & you might see it answered in an upcoming issue of Blaque/ Out Mag!!
the sidewalk, my face was numb, I hadn’t realized it then, but I couldn’t see out of my
It has been hard for me to sit and write this,
right eye. After a few steps, I collapsed in our
because every-time I attempted, I felt I may
yard and was nearly dragged into the front
have been writing a suicide letter. It’s taken
door.
until now to be able to tell this story without
I don’t remember much of that part. I
fixating on myself as a victim.
remember yelling and a 911 call. One of my
On July 31st, 2020, I was assaulted just steps
closest friends tried to clean blood from my
from our home in Rochester, NY.
face and chest- she would later be one of the many who cared for me nearly 24/7. I
That morning, we left our house to make a quick
remember paramedics trying to ask me
run to the store just at the end of the block. It
questions. I remember Rochester police
was hot and we grabbed whatever clothes were closest. We left our house and went to the same store we’d been in plenty of times. I remember the group of guys who were watching us at the corner. I saw them every day. Sometimes we’d speak, but usually we just nod and keep walking. My partner went into the store and I went into a garden across the street. The same group of men watched me while I walked through the garden looking for kale, until going to the store front to wait for my partner. That’s when they told me to leave their block. I was supposed to “take my gay shit”
officers showing up and doing absolutely
somewhere else. But why would I leave without
nothing. I remember all of our Black
my partner? I refused to go and they walked into
community and allies showing up and
the store to harass my partner, telling them to
occupying our block. Then I remember 2 of
make me leave. Once we were together, we tried
my brothers carrying me into an ambulance.
to go home. They followed us around the corner
I was seen quickly and never left alone, only
and, while I was walking away, one of them hit
due to the love, planning and labor of my
me from behind. ! 11
community. Just a few hours later, I learned
I woke up a moment later on the ground. The
the extent of my injuries: a fractured eye
group of young men around me and my partner
socket, a fractured cheekbone, retinal tearing,
pulling at me, telling me to stand. A teenager in
a concussion and a broken tooth. The entire
the group, went live on Facebook and recorded
right side of my face had been broken. After
me on the ground. I stood up and saw blood on
the weekend and many failures from
Rochester General Hospital in communicating
alone. My eyesight is still mostly gone in my
with my care team, I was admitted for surgery to
right eye and I have adapted to that as best I
repair my facial fractures. I now have 2 titanium
can. Eyepatches to match all of my cute
plates in my face fixing a sloping eye and a
outfits. And I’ll finally say it, I still look damn
sunken cheekbone.
good with one eye.
We expected a few hours for
This assault sparked
surgery, and then back home
my partner and I to
for recovery. So I was
relocate and we are
shocked waking up a day and
starting a new home
a half later, with a breathing
while I finish my
tube in my mouth, to learn that
physical healing and
I had gone into cardiac arrest
begin emotional
during surgery. During
repairs.
resuscitation, injury to my ribs was added to the list of things that would need to heal. I stayed the remainder of the week in the hospital, and once discharged, my mother, my partner and my friends spent the next month caring for me full time.
I decided that I will not write my assailants name here. It isn’t important. He is the result of widespread homophobia, transphobia and anti blackness that eats away at Black culture
It has been 3 months since
and will get publicity
that chain of events. The man
from me. I believe that
who assaulted me returned to
Black life is beautiful and
our home multiple times during my recovery,
unique and my entire community has marched
despite multiple restraining orders. Fortunately,
in the streets all summer saying just that. I will
we foresaw this happening and I spent my
never not believe it. The man who broke my
remaining time in Rochester in a large
face- and almost my spirits- is one more Black
undisclosed space, housing myself and my
life. As I wrote this, I know he will be in prison
family, paid for by donations from our
soon and I sincerely hope he does not become
community- the Black Queer community. I have
another one of our skewed statistics. As I am
since been able to feed myself, bathe alone and
healing, I also hope that he heals as well. I
walk unassisted. All of this I needed constant
hope he can return safely to his life after he is
help with for nearly 2 months. I’m back to
released. I hope he can find love for himself
breathing nearly normally and going places
and people around him. I hope he can feel
love just as well. I hope that love is what he
carries around with him as he works and raises his children and makes trips to the corner store. I hope he heals so he does no more harm. I am healing from this. I’m learning to not blame myself for simply existing as me. I’m learning to not be afraid of men in the street and continue my life. I’m learning to recognize that even after that one moment of hate, I have seen nothing but love, support and encouragement from my entire community embracing me. I am going to heal completely and I wish this same healing to all of us. All Black lives matter. All of us. Every day that I wake up, its even more
evident that I can love being me and I will keep being flamboyant and Black because there is room and love for us always and in all ways.
Femme: /fem/ n.) A person (regardless of gender assigned at birth) who actively embodies a femme identity or gender presentation. Non-Binary gender identity aligned with “femininity”. adj.) intentionally, cleverly “feminine”. Feminine in a non-traditional way- or referring to one who embodies a conscious femininity. Whatever that means… We prefer fabulous, fierce, fearless and FREE.
Photography Provided By: Adrian Elim Cocoa Rae Southtown Images Zach Brown
Our Feature Artist: Adrian Elim
(They/Them/Theirs)
“The Gatekeeper” Visual Artists / Activist / Filmmaker / Entrepreneur / Bad Bitch /
“To center the lives of Black Femmes is a revolutionary act. Divine feminine energy wins every trip.” - The Gatekeeper Gatekeeper is a Queer Non-binary Femme artist, filmmaker, organizer, activist & entrepreneur based in Rochester, NY. Having been involved with the BLM movement since 2014, they have been a part of many grassroots efforts and have helped establish various organizations that work towards Black Liberation. Currently as the founder & chair of Rochester Black Pride, their work centers specifically around advocacy for Black Queer & Trans people and this current era of the movement for (all) Black lives.
AN AUDIO PLAY FESTIVAL CELEBRATING BLACK VOICES
Begins October 27
Esther Winter, Creative Producer Andrew Mark Wilhelm, Sound Engineer
Four plays written and directed by Black artists that amplify a mosaic of Black stories. Specially crafted for an immersive listening experience. Begins November 10
Recognition-Radio.com Geva Box OffÄące: 585-232-4382 Begins November 24
Photography by Adam Eaton.
Begins December 8
On November 3, 2020, Chanel Hines, a Black Trans woman, was shot five times by her parole officer, Jeff
Dept of Corrections, DOC stated it was under their discretion and nothing changed. Once again, Strong’s handling of a
Smith in Canandaigua, NY. The Office of Parole reported that
patient in their facility for care, while under police custody
the officer was executing a routine Parole violation when the
was brought to light. For the majority of her stay Chanel was
altercation ensued. The media went on to report the incident,
also denied mail, packages and calls. The first two weeks
misgendering and “dead-naming” her. They reported her having
after the shooting she was only allowed two 5 minute
been shot 3x while trying to run over the Parole officer
supervised speaker phone calls with her mother, Damita
attempting to “apprehend” her. The officer sustained no injuries.
under the threat of the call being disconnected if they
Blaque/OUT was put in touch with the family early on and have
discussed the case. When she was eventually allowed an
followed their journey to justice. We came to learn that witness
attorney visit, the officers refused to leave the room to
reports greatly differed from what the police were reporting. We
enable client/atty confidentiality. Chanel was shot multiple
worked to get media outlets to correct their original reports and
times, experienced blindness in one eye, loss of the use of
tell the accurate story of the 27yr old woman who was shot by
her arm and hand, a collapsed lung and in surgery, lost half
law enforcement. Over the course of a month we learned just
of one of her lungs. After three weeks, Chanel was moved to
how sad and infuriating Chanel’s story was and more and more
an all male upstate correctional facility with a hospital unit
of what actually took place. Chanel was shot at 7 times through
and once again her family was denied visits and
the windshield and hit by 5 bullets by Smith. The family only
communication. Calls eventually were restored and now
learned this after weeks in recovery. She was removed from the
Chanel sits in wait, still in pain and recovering, without
vehicle at the scene and left on the ground with no medical
visitation- all without new charges even being levied against
treatment for over an hour. Chanel was airlifted to Strong
her. Chanel’s Mother, Damita Bonnemere, her staunchest
Memorial in Rochester, NY where she endured 3 emergency
supporter, began a crusade to make sure Chanel receives
surgeries with no support. Chanel was denied any visits from
the justice that she deserves. Joined by Free the People
family her entire stay at Strong despite no one being able to
ROC, Blaque/OUT Mag, Next Generation Men of Transition,
provide any statute that supported that. Strong pointed to the
BlackCuse Pride, BLM Syracuse and countless members of
the Rochester, Geneva, and Syracuse communities, Damita is standing for her daughter and we sat down to talk with her about
what this fight means for her.
TL:
Can you just tell us about Chanel? It's easy to hear
about her story- but who is she? DB:
You know I’d best describe Chanel as free-spirited. I
always think of her as a party girl, just always on the go. If it was a boat party or someone is having a cook-out- Chanel is there! She’s been out of the country, to all the newest restaurants. If something is going on she wants to be a part of it. Chanel is very intelligent. She loves her family but sometimes at a distance because she is always on the go so we keep up through a lot of phone calls. TL:
What would justice look like for you and Chanel
TL:
How did you learn about what happened to her?
at this point?
DB:
My sister, called me and gave me a message from
DB:
Justice for me would be Jeff Smith (the parole
Chanel’s friend she was with her when everything happened. My
officer who shot Chanel) going to prison for what he did. If I
sister told me that the friend reported that Chanel “they killed
can’t see that happen, justice would be him losing
[Chanel].” My sister then called again and said she was shot. I
everything. His job, his house- everything so he can feel
drove, in my pajamas, to the scene. It’s a little bit of a drive so by
the severity of what he’s done to a family. There must be
the time I got there, they had already taken her to the hospital
consequences. If they aren’t criminal legal consequences,
via the mercy flight helicopter. I didn’t get to see her that day and
then civil. I also believe that there needs to be greater
haven’t seen her since.
police accountability across the board. In these small towns, like Geneva and Canandaigua, they need oversight.
TL:
As a Mom, what has it been like to be in this
They can NOT police themselves. Out here with no one
position?
watching they feel like they can do anything and there will
DB:
be no consequences. That’s how this happened to Chanel.
This is really, really hard. I feel like we like to tell
ourselves that we are “woke” but now I feel like I was like “semi-
This man thought he could put seven bullets in her, take
woke”. I was that person who came out and waved
her life and that no one would see and no one would care.
when Black Lives Matters protestors came by. I’d donate here or
He didn’t know she was a fighter and that there is a whole
there. I am a part of the Marshall Project so I’ve read about the
community out here ready to stand with her and fight for
school to prison pipeline and systemic racism in the criminal
her.
justice system. But in retrospect I know that I should have been doing more. Being in the middle of one of these stories you only
TL:
What have you learned through this process?
hear about, its surreal. There is outrage and anger. I can’t
DB:
What I’ve learned is that we all need to be a little bit
believe anyone has the audacity to actually think they have the
more aware of the issues that effect the Black, Brown, and
right to end someone’s life like that, because that’s what they
Trans communities. We can’t only be involved with the
tried to do. There is depression. There are days I don’t eat, don’t
issues that directly affect us, in the moment that they affect
take my meds, that I don’t even want to get up out of the bed. I
us. We have to be paying attention. We have to take
have nightmares. Closing my eyes and seeing what happened
action. It is going to take all of us. Especially Black Women
haunts me. I am constantly worried. Is she okay? Where is she?
to move the needle for justice. I have also learned that our
Is she being taken care of? And my husband and children are
children are so important.We must love them
always worrying about me. If I’m okay and taking care of myself. But when you are a mother. No matter how old your child gets, that is ALWAYS your child and not knowing if she is okay is devastating.
!27
unconditionally.Mothers out there should never know this pain, almost losing or losing your child to violence.Violence perpetrated at the hands of Law enforcement.
….singled out by family members, so she would be liked and accepted in school and in the community. It took a long time for me to recognize the psychological trauma it causes trying to make someone be anything but what they authentically are. We do tremendous damage to our children when we don’t love them absolutely unconditionally. If they need to talk- listen to them. If they are sick, take care of them. If they need you, show up. Their sexuality or gender identity shouldn’t have anything to do with that. Love your child. TL:
Do you have any advice for parents whose children
come to them and reveal that they are trans? DB:
Yes. Seek support from the local LGBTQ+ centers in
your area. Seek out programs and groups that can assist you. Your child will need support and community and you will too. Learn about the fluidity of sexuality and gender expression. You will need an education to understand how expansive it can be. There is a strong learning curve there. People hear and say the letters but don’t necessarily know what they mean TL:
In your opinion, why do you think the State is handling
Chanel's case the way they are? DB:
I think there are a couple of reasons. It is a rural, smaller
area that already has issues with racism, institutional racism. A
or Includes. You need to be able to speak the language in order to understand yourself and support them in their journey. Like I only recently learned what “bottom surgery” meant. You have to learn the language.
culture exists where people believe what the police say so they are almost above the law. Jeff Smith didn’t bank on the climate change that's happening right now. That people are tired. They are tired of being abused, of police misconduct, of seeing people murdered in the streets. And then of course the State just follows up to protect themselves. The Attorney General, Leticia James and Governor Cuomo rally for Black and LGBTQ votes but where are they? Where are the programs that they say are available? Where are the treatment programs and mental health services? If Chanel stole, she stole and there are consequences for that. If Jeff Smith used excessive force, he should be held accountable and there are consequences for that. Since when does justice mean someone is allowed to play judge, jury and executioner out in the street? That’s not justice. There is a different standard of law and justice for us in this country and it’s not right. We are asking for accountability. And if you aren’t willing to hold these officers accountable, we will vote you right out too. You gotta go. TL:
Many parents struggle with having a LGTBQ+ child.Â
You are so incredibly supportive. Was that a difficult place for you to get to? DB:
Yes. It was a process. Even from a very young age Chanel
exhibited traits and behaviors considered effeminate. In the beginning, especially coming from a Muslim faith, I tried to discourage it, sometimes harshly, because I felt like I was protecting her. So she wouldn’t get teased, so she wouldn’t be
TL:
What can people do to help Chanel?
DB:
The biggest thing right now is continuing to raise
money. We began raising money for her defense but there is still so much work to do. This will be a marathon, not a sprint. So we need to raise money for travel and different things to get Chanel’s story out to the people. We will be starting a new campaign soon so people can follow the ‘Justice For Chanel Hines’ Facebook page for updates on all the upcoming fundraisers, actions, and news about her recovery and case. We are also asking folks to write her, to help keep her spirits up and keep her encouraged. She can receive mail at: Supreme Hines 19-B-0425 Wende Correctional Facility 3040 Wende Rd. Alden, NY 14004-1187
H
ere I am! Back with more book recommenda4ons for you. Yes. I am once again recommending two books. This month’s theme is
Femininity. I’ll admit, I was a liAle bit challenged to find something that I’ve read recently that I thought represented the theme well. I recommended Hood Feminism last month, and that one would fit well here; it may have been a bit on the nose, in fact. Read below and see how you think I did s4cking to the theme. Drop me a line at Reviews May Vary@ gmail.com with your thoughts and comments about these books as well as recommenda4ons that you think I should read. Both of these books have trigger warnings for at least a reference to past assault. Take care of yourselves, sibs.
Not So Pure and Simply by Lamar Giles (Young Adult, Contemporary Fic>on) It’s a liAle weird to recommend a book during Femininity month that centers a male. Its annoying, in fact, when our femininity is defined mostly in contrast to masculinity or when we are shouldered with making men beAer through our struggle. This book definitely has some of that so skip it if this ain’t your month for that foolishness. But hear me out. This is one of my few 5-star reads this year. Giles gives us a young man, Del, who is running face first into the toxic lessons that he has learned about how to be a man. Del thinks he’s a “nice guy” who deserves to get the girl because he’s been pa4ent while she’s
dated other guys. He even joins the purity pledge at church so he can spend more 4me with her. He thinks that because his inten4ons are good, his behaviors are jus4fiable. This is an excellent fic4onalized explora4on of teen rela4onships with family, friends, and the church. The role of religion in educa4on and iden4ty development is also great as the teens figure how to become the kind of person they want to be. But I’m recommending this book because of the cadre of young women surrounding Del that ul4mately help him see what a fool he is. His sister is star4ng a Youtube channel about empowering women. He has a love interest who is aAemp4ng to hold herself accountable for some bad decisions and shake off her reputa4on as valuable only as part of the school’s power couple. An old friend is a member of the group of teen moms who have put their town on the map for an alleged pact to get pregnant. And there’s a new friend and co-worker well, you get the idea. These young women run the gamut of representa4on of the kinds of girls that you know from high school and remind us that men are beAer for having strong (and vulnerable) women in their worlds. This book was wriAen by one of the cofounders of #WeNeedDiverseBooks, a grassroots organiza4on that advocates essen4al changes in the publishing industry to produce and promote literature that reflects and honors the lives of all young people.
Here Comes the Sun by Nicole Dennis- Benn (Adult Contemporary Fic>on)
Here comes the Sun is a book set in Jamaica, taking place par4ally on a resort in Montego Bay. Did you know Montego Bay was a real place? Neither did I. Anyway, Margot works as part of the house keeping staff with a big dreams. She wants to take over management of the resort and she wants to make enough money to pay for her sister, Thandi, to go to school. She has been hustling and using her feminine wiles to work her way up. When the opportunity to expand her side hustle to make more money for herself and the owner of the resort, she loses herself in the opportunity. This book is told with different characters as the foci in different chapters. Some4mes we see a bit about Thandi, who is struggling with feeling ugly due to her dark skin and sets out to find a way to get lighter. Some4mes we see Margot, selling herself in more ways than one and finding solace in her forbidden rela4onship with a woman. Some4mes we see Delores, the girl’s mother, who introduced Margot to the concept of what her body can do for the family and her trauma4zing response to her daughter’s sexuality. We also get flashbacks of their lives together. Set beside an expanding resort that threatens their neighborhood and highlights the limited way that commercial tourism posi4vely impacts poor communi4es, this story is full of women who are trying to balance expecta4ons and the freedom they hope doesn’t tear their rela4onships apart. This is an own-voices novel, wriAen by a Jamaican lesbian.
Doreen Scanlan, Intuitive Tarot Card Reader
Looking for insight into the things along your path? Online readings available. Call (585)615-8494 to schedule
Harrison David Rivers (He,Him,His) Interviewed by: “Living in the Light” Columnist, Javannah Davis BlaqueOut brings to center stage another riveting, and extraordinarily talented writer of both stage and screen; that was featured in our very own ImageOut film festival. Award winning writer Harrison David Rivers has written a variety of critically-acclaimed plays and films throughout his accomplished career. His work showcases his consummate and thought provoking talents as a writer. He has won such awards as the Relentless award in 2018, as well as Artist of the Year in 2018 by the Star Tribune, and 2017 Artist of the Year by City Pages. Harrison was reached out by an acquaintance he has who is affiliated with Rochester’s Geva Theatre to invite him to submit his works to be added to our famed ImageOut Festival line-up. I had the pleasure of corresponding with Harrison regarding his works, and getting to know him as the profound individual that he is.
Javannah: Tell us about who Harrison is? Where were you born/raised? When did you find your passion for writing? Harrison: I am a Black male identified person who is attracted to other male identified people. I was born and raised in Manhattan, Kansas. I am a writer, primarily of plays, but I have recently begun to dabble in TV and film. I’ve always written on Post-its, napkins and, to the chagrin of my librarian grandmother, in the margins of books. I was a performer, first, but switched to writing after I developed crippling stage fright my senior year of college.
Javannah: As a successful writer, what are the challenges that go along with creating the lives and background of such distinct characters in your plays? Harrison: Most of my plays are rooted in autobiography so sometimes the writing process can be painful.
There’s the pain of revisiting a trauma and then there’s the pain of transposing that trauma onto a fictional character. But while the process may have moments of pain, ultimately, its a process that leads to healing.
Javannah: What’s the first hook that gets a new play started for you? Is it an image, a theme, a character? A life experience? Harrison: Every play is different. Some begin with an image. Others with a line of dialogue. Sometimes a news story will trigger something. Or a piece of music. “we are continuous” was inspired by my relationship with my mother and my own HIV+ diagnosis story.
Javannah:. Class is sort of artificially invisible in this country, and often conflated with race. What is the significance of class on the characters, attitudes, beliefs, and behavior in the play? Harrison: In many plays about Black families, money is the primary obstacle. A Raisin in the Sun, The Piano Lesson, to name two greats. Oftentimes, the families in these plays don’t have money. Or they don’t have enough of it. And the lack of resources and/or opportunities due to the lack of resources propels the narrative. Most of the families in my plays are middle class, which doesn’t mean that they have unlimited resources, but money, or access to resources due to the lack thereof, is usually not their primary concern. Race and sexuality are undeniable components of my plays, but they are usually not the narrative focus though they are often the catalyst for the narrative.
The family at the heart of ˜we are continuous” is Black, midwestern, middle class and Evangelical. The Mother’s struggle with her son’s sexuality is tied up in these identities, her class included.
Javannah: Do you write a certain amount of time each day, or a certain amount, like a chapter each day, or only when inspiration hits you? Harrison: When I first started out, I wrote before and after work and on weekends whenever I had a free moment. Now that writing is my full time job, I spend most of my day, almost every day, writing. I split my time between various projects. The amount of time that I spend on a particular project depends largely on when its due to the commissioning institution or producer. Honestly, I wish that I had more time to write when inspiration hit. Right now, I make a note in my journal and hope that when I have the time to come back to it, it still resonates.
Javannah: Many, if not all of your plays highlight the lives of black and brown folks in the LGBTQ+ community. What is the overall message you try to convey with each play regarding the LGBTQ+ community? Do you see it as a form of activism? Harrison: It’s funny, for the longest time I didn’t see my writing as activism. Which, I think is due to the fact that I’m a fairly shy person and I associated activism with a kind of boots on the ground boldness that I don’t attribute to myself. I thought that I was hiding behind my pen (successfully, even) when really my writing was having the opposite effect. My hope or¦ message, I guess, would be, I see you. Growing up, I so desperately wanted to see myself on stage, my story. And when I didn’t see it, I questioned its worth and honestly, my worth. I don’t want other Black and brown LGBTQ+ folks to feel that way, to question their worth, to question the value of their lives or their experiences. Our stories are rich and beautiful and WORTHY.
Javannah: Out of all of your accomplishments, what are you most proud of?
Harrison: I’m most proud of the relationships that I’ve built over the past fifteen years. The creative collaborations. The friendships.
Javannah: Tell us of how you were notified that one of your plays was going to be featured in Geva Theater’s Recognition Radio Festival? Harrison: My dear friend, Pirronne Yousefzadeh, who is the Associate Artistic Director at Geva, asked me several months ago if I was working on anything new, and I mentioned “we are continuous”. She asked if she could read it and I said yes and sent her the play. Then she shared it with Jenni Werner, the Literary Director at Geva, and she emailed me about the Festival.
Javannah: Tell us what do you aspire your audience to walk away from your plays with? Harrison: Hope. Always hope.
You can learn more about Harrison David Rivers and his works by visiting his website at: www.harrisondavidrivers.com.
Queens Embrace who you are, my gorgeous queens Bearing light to the world every moment you tread on scene It’s the way you flip your hair and the manner you arch your smiles The way you float on by in the freshest fashions and styles My queens, I grant you nothing but the utmost respect Because only god recognizes the true wrecks of others presented neglect You deserve feasts, gifts, worship, and indeed the world on a platter So run in royalty, my queens and observe the others scatter It doesn’t matter what negative the next might say Because this is your world not just for the occasion but every day Your gentle but powerful sensitive but tough Bringing life into this world has got to be rough My queens just recall to keep your heads high And recognize your worth and your artistry fine as wine Because you my queens, no one can compare You, my queens your royalty is something to be feared Walk in your skin proudly and please understand That you are queens at delivery and no matter what the answer is …“Yes You Can”
- Ashanti Taylor-Alexander (she/her/hers)
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Blaque/Out Magazine was born out of a desire to create a platform and give voice to a community that although utilized for it’s talent and skill, admired for it’s style and consistently duplicated as the origin of most pop-culture trends- rarely receives the respect it deserves. We are not a monolithic entity but we are the heart, soul and backbone of most things. We are the frontline of the movement, we are the evolution of identity and the architects of authenticity. We are the “you” that most of “you” are afraid to be. We are FREE. This magazine is community, it is family, it is vision and it is voices. Yours. It is hometown, nationwide, small town, coast to coast. It is many, one, all and everything. It is of you, for you and by you. If you are here to see you, we hope you did. If you didn’t, that is a problem and it’s one that needs correction. Everyone who is Black, Brown & Queer should be reflected somewhere in these pages. If you aren’t- we need you. If you are- we need you- because we want MORE.
We are ALWAYS seeking new writers, whether it is a one off occasional submission, a monthly column, to be our featured artist, photographer or cover artist. If you have a story to tell, let us know, if you have an event coming up, come here and tell the word. If you have a business, advertise with us so we can support you and your dreams. No story is too small, no individual too unimportant. This is your stage.. use it.
Submissions are due the 15th of every month. With stories, art or ideas, email: tamaraleigh@blaqueoutmag.com
