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AIDS: The Legacy Project remembers Essex Hemphill (1957 – 1995)
The Legacy Project
2011-10-19
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This article shared 3535 times since Wed Oct 19, 2011
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Born in Chicago, Hemphill grew up in Washington, DC where he was at the heart of an African-American gay and lesbian literary and performance renaissance during the 1980s and 90s. His poetry evoked the challenges of being black, gay and young in the midst of the AIDS epidemic articulating the anger, despair, and commitment of his generation; his critiques of homophobia and heterosexism within the Black community, of sexism among black men and of racism among gay whites served as reminders that being oppressed does not mean one is unable to oppress others. Hemphill sought to examine how sexuality is impacted upon and influenced by racism, allowing neither his sexuality nor his race to define him. He argued that "…homo sex did not constitute a whole life nor did it negate my racial identity …" and challenged himself to "…integrate all of my identities into a functioning self, instead of accepting a dysfunctional existence as the consequence of my homosexual desires." Probably the most profound and provocative thinker of his generation he was prominently featured in the films Tongues Untied ( 1989 ) , Looking for Langston ( 1988 ) and Black Is…Black Ain't ( 1994 ) and the anthologies In The Life ( 1986 ) and Brother to Brother ( 1991 ) Hemphill gave voice and metaphor to the lives of African-American gay men. He died in 1995 due to AIDS-related illnesses.
The Legacy Project recognizes the many roles Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered people have played in the advancement of world history and culture. "THE LEGACY WALK" - the only outdoor International GLBT History Museum in the World - is coming to North Halsted Street in Chicago to be dedicated on October 11, 2011.
For information, to donate or to volunteer, go to www.legacyprojectchicago.org
SPONSORED BY GERBER/HART LIBRARY/FISCAL AGENT |
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This article shared 3535 times since Wed Oct 19, 2011
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