“Brother to Brother. Brother to Brother. Brother to Brother. Brother to Brother.” This was the whisper in my ear when I attended a screening of the iconic film “Tongues Untied” by the late filmmaker Marlon Riggs. The film is one of the only pieces of history and culture in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s cultivated by and for black gay men. The screening, held at the Phillip Rush Center, was part of a series hosted by Georgia Equality, to highlight the HIV advocacy of black gay men in decades past, while pushing for dialogue and collaboration around advocacy needed in the present.
As the viewing started, the powerful chorus resounded “Brother To Brother. Brother to Brother.” The black men in the film were calling for us. The mirror was up. This was meant for us. This was for us to share with our brothers. This was not for white folks, nor straight folks. That night, this was “Brother to Brother.”
I looked across the room in the dark. From the vantage of my front row seat, I noticed folded arms and crossed legs become undone. As the film dipped in and out of comedy and tragic reality, the usual silence was undone. Instead of watching an old film in some cold community center, it felt like I was ki’king in my gurl’s apartment: snaps, gasps, and laughs! Rarely, do we as black men, let alone gender and sexually diverse Black men, get to see ourselves reflected, not merely (mis)represented.
When the film ended, there was applause. Had the room somehow gotten warmer?
Intermission: In the light, I noticed the attendees looked to be mostly over 30. This was confirmed when Rev. Duncan Teague got up to transition us from the film to a panel discussion. Rev. Teague gave the audience context for the film based on his and other’s experiences at the time. As he painted scenes with a unique color of nostalgia, his words were met with gleeful and solemn nods by the crowd, remembering where they were at the time too. Rev. Teague talked about the club scene—the ones we had, the ones we lost. The ones we had and lost, and had and lost again. Our spaces were like timeshares, and we savored the time shared. The Reverend talked about the significance of those spaces and how losing them was losing to HIV and AIDS. He talked about political and personal division, PBS funders threatening to rescind their support if “Tongues Untied” was broadcast to the public. In the face of HIV/AIDS, it was much too much; much too gay and much too black.
“How dare these Negroes, these homosexuals, celebrate themselves at a time like this?!’
Rev. Teague talked about how the only medication at the time was AZT. He joked that reminder beepers would go off in theaters so you had to go to more than one screening of “Tongues United” to get a full viewing. Much like the cadence of Riggs’ film, Rev. Teague‘s speech moved seamlessly from humor to solemn contemplation and back to humor; mirroring the levity and gravity of the late ‘80s.
After Rev. Teague, there was a panel discussion featuring various community members: Larry Walker, DaddyRod, Quincy Rineheart, and Justin Smith. They represented, in order, young Black gay men (Evolution Project of AID Atlanta), Black leather men (ONYX Southeast), the Black church, and research.
Daddy Rod talked about his mother. With warmth and fondness, he told us of her caring for some of the very patients in the film. A young nurse, she noticed early on her son’s interest in men, particularly ones in leather. Each panelist followed after: Quincy talked about his experiences in faith communities and the audience resonated with his truth of reconciling internalized homophobia in the Church. Larry didn’t need a microphone; he spoke, like poets often do, candidly, about young Black gay men and the similarities between our struggles across generations.
We closed with a call to action by, you guessed it, Rev. Teague. He said, “We should already have had 10 of these films. If you are sitting on great work, get up! When your family burns it, when your aunt puts it in the closet you came out of, where will we be? You are accountable to this community.”
I have to thank Charles Stephens and Steven G. Fullwood for putting out Black Gay Genius: Answering Joseph Beam’s Call. I can longer put off my own work. The time is now. The time is now. Brother to Brother. The time is NOW.
Mobilizing Black Gay Men Through Culture: A Blog Series- This blog series examines innovative strategies for mobilizing and engaging black gay men.
Micky Bradford is graduate of Georgia State University, Micky currently works as a “Linkage to Care Specialist” as well as a training consultant in public health, housing, and cultural competency. Micky has been selected as “2015 LGBTQ Marshall of the Atlanta MLK March”, “SpeakOutHIV” Ambassador, “NMAC 2014 Youth Scholar”, and more for work at the intersections of racial justice action, gay liberation, and sexual health. Upcoming, Micky is proud to be co-founder of the “Southern Fried Queer Pride” festival, elevating radical Southern art, dance, and community over food.
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