A Million Surprises? An SAT2C Editorial

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Ten years ago I was in college and contemplating taking a trip to Washington, D.C.  The Nation of Islam along with other organizations had organized the Million Man March.  A part of me wanted to go--and another part didn't want to be bothered.

The freak in me wanted to be surrounded by tens of thousands of men of all shapes, sizes, and shades.  But the timid side of me was afraid.  I was--and in some ways still am--a socially awkward youngster.  I never quite fit in.  I felt like I wouldn't fit in at the march.  Not only was I a bit nerdy and not very down--but I was also gay.  All of these things together would make me stick out almost as much as a white woman at the Million Man March.

Fast foward to the present for the Millions More Movement--marking the March's ten year anniversary.  And some things have changed, and other's havent.  I feel so much more comfortable in my skin, that I think that if I were in the DC area, that I wouldn't have hesitated to go to the commemoration.  Who knows?  With all of those thousands of black men--you never know what handsome surprise you might happen upon.

Another change is that, at the original march, there were no homosexual speakers , but there was one this time--Cleo Manago from the Black Men's Xchange.  But surprise, surprise--this is an event run by colored folks, so there has to be some drama and controversy.  There was controversy that Manago was chosen to speak because he supposedly lies outside of the gay mainstream (for example, he rejects the term gay as a white construction and instead uses the term same gender loving). 

But, there's one more surprise.  Activist, lecturer, and reality show contestant Keith Boykin was also invited to speak at the Millions More event--but he was turned away from the podium the day of the event.  The organizers claimed that Boykin's organization didn't RSVP in time, which Boykin denies. 

But guess who's responsible for Keith not being able to speak?  Reverend Willie Wilson--one of the black ministers that Boykin tried to out in his recent campaign.  You will remember that I was adamantly against Keith's outting tactics and I said that nothing positive could come from slinging smut.

On his website, Keith is very critical of Reverend Wilson and says that he was going to use his remarks at the event to extend an olive branch.  But how can he be taken seriously when less than three weeks ago he was begging people to tell him if Reverend Wilson was gay.

I am not excusing the actions of the homophobic Wilson--he's an asshole.  I wish Keith Boykin would have had an opportunity to speak.  I read his speech and his words needed to be heard.  Everyone benefits when there are many, and multiple black gay voices speaking on behalf of the diverse people in our communities.  Which is why I was a bit disheartened that Boykin stated that Cleo Manago did not represent mainstream black gays. Who is Keith Boykin to determine who is "in" and "out" of the black gay mainstream?

But Keith shouldn't have been surprised that he got turned away.  When you start slinging mud and you lower yourself to other people's ruthless tactics, then you have to deal with the consequences.  Instead of working on keeping an open dialogue, Boykin wanted to play pussy. Unfortunately, he got fucked.  You can't show your ass, act up, and then not expect retaliation.  Hell, I learned that in kindergarten.

Comments

[GbreadMan72]

Hey Bernard: I began reading your site a while ago. Luv it. Issue though with this jab at Keith Boykin. Keith has been out there for a very long time. Some like him some don't, shouldn't really matter; the man's doing his thing. I haven't noticed many, if any, political or religious posts from you on your site before. Why now? Why Keith Boykin? Why this particular issue? If you choose to dig just a little bit deeper there are red flags waving all over the reverend Wilson. Politics is such a nasty business. Also, there is a long history between Keith and Cleo Manago... and Cleo and a whooooooole lot of other folk. "Cleo the Crackpot"... If you're going to jump in to the political commentary ring, it would definitely be worth a little diggin on your part to discover what that history is, how and why Cleo was chosen to speak...and just a little more about Mr. Manago. One question would be...Why did he leave Oakland in such a hurry?

[GbreadMan72]

Hey Bernard: I began reading your site a while ago. Luv it. Issue though with this jab at Keith Boykin. Keith has been out there for a very long time. Some like him some don't, shouldn't really matter; the man's doing his thing. I haven't noticed many, if any, political or religious posts from you on your site before. Why now? Why Keith Boykin? Why this particular issue? If you choose to dig just a little bit deeper there are red flags waving all over the reverend Wilson. Politics is such a nasty business. Also, there is a long history between Keith and Cleo Manago... and Cleo and a whooooooole lot of other folk. "Cleo the Crackpot"... If you're going to jump in to the political commentary ring, it would definitely be worth a little diggin on your part to discover what that history is, how and why Cleo was chosen to speak...and just a little more about Mr. Manago. One question would be...Why did he leave Oakland in such a hurry?

[Coquito]

Love the new layout! Great look Bernard!

[P. Alonzo Harris Jr.]

hey there...

i heard that the march in dc was a success...let us hope that it causes the changes that need to take place within our community...because as you know these europhoric highs never last....

[JayJay]

love the new look. :)

[David]

i LOVE your new layout. Yes, KB was wrong on that one.

[feli]

Cool Layout. i love it. did you design it yourself?

[summer]

nice new layout. i really dig it.

as for this boykin mess, i think you're totally right bernard. i'd love to have a conversation with you about it...

[Wise&Young]

Very true can't do shit like that w/o it coming back to you...

Just my thoughts

[paco]

nice new layout