![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy67b50rdXYkTSztLyrImYqhURLwVOH1ja1z0FVl5XikJRzaeV00ha4DhBCBgW-TIMg-rkeB3fP9RbcCuIfZS3di8xAUEIHTf06Bkhr_rjRDWYVuf6-QnXPnm7yJHWLlPJIPyC/s320/aa+man+and+woman+celebrating.jpg)
What little coverage we have garnered has been limited to African-American oriented publications such as EBONY or JET, focusing on us when the subject turns to transgender prostitution or repeated inaccurate, insensitive and sensationalized stories filled with incorrect pronoun usage about transwomen who lost their lives to anti-transgender violence.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_u3uQpEEFskVRn1yr0cpu1BEmoPbapUv77633yqCeprBFEgpqovisYx252q4Ckaf2AVru2IntZBHe7sBa8VkbwhhY8iW5N-itmC2iBb5FSTLnYcBqerpkuFwznHOWFBEKesaO/s320/ts-cookie+fields1.jpg)
This year, there were encouraging signs that the media blackout African-American transpeople have frustratingly endured and fought for decades may finally be starting to lift.
Whether it was some African-American transwoman blogger whose commentary got posted on this blog, the Bilerico Project, and other various spots across the blogosphere to Isis King and Laverne Cox's star making turns on reality TV shows, 2008 will arguably go down as the year that Black transgender people got long overdue recognition and face time.
I'm proud to have played a small part in it when I became the Bilerico Project's first African-American transgender blogger in January. I not only was quoted in various articles and blog posts, in recognition that my TransGriot blog is continuing to grow and gain new readers I was asked to write guest posts for various blogs as well in addition to being invited to speak at various events.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAYXgeaXTd7WBrYMOlsPbu90r-5EfRTksrsbKATxHZA2gPiVnZXHHywSQRugLvEVvV5zZM3GXOF3ih0KNhL73xOqyqK6wyw091Qpijq5VX3p97maJ5DwzvFZ0AwgAs3htbNpri/s320/ts-louis+mitchell.jpg)
There was a documentary released called Still Black: A Portrait of Black Transmen that's garnered attention and racked up film festival awards. Daisy Hernandez's Color Lines article Becoming A Black Man and Nick Mwaluko's Huffington Post story gave some transbrothers an opportunity to tell their stories as well.
Nick's story was interesting because it gave us the opportunity to read about a continental African speaking on transgender issues. Nigeria's Mia Nikasimo did the same a little later and it highlights the fact there are transgender peeps on the second largest continent on the planet as well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBto_QrTyaHwlr9Sd6fWFprAKru9554l86HGbM4dFww105H8sWR6Rs826zEKO2sl9KsDpnE_Y0ydHhspoog9YXf0fdw_Fzu6cSy7y5wCKChZsXzUQyBr-oOm3NiHtx-wAt7WWo/s320/ts-isis_laverne.jpg)
While Isis didn't win the big prize of the modeling contract she was seeking, she became a role model to many people in the process. In addition to the numerous media interviews she conducted, she made an appearance on Tyra's Emmy award winning talk show. Laverne since her turn on I Want To Work For Diddy is working on various projects, acting and producing a documentary.
But just as these positive things were happening for us, the joy was tempered by the fact that we still have a long way to go before we are accepted by all our people. Too many times the anti-transgender hatred and violence we face comes not only from people that share our ethnic background, but from the people that are supposed to protect and serve us as well.
Those points were driven home by the shocking videotape of Duanna Johnson being beaten in a Memphis police station and several African-American transwomen across the country being murdered. Duanna's story became more tragic as she was found shot to death November 9.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRng21HbQrD0F6H52SZ2GUBF-9jn1LhtEMruWS2Vj2WSd5_QjSgt-KtuQPJD8CxZfhQxyJIOfuBIZ39J5dPoNLzZOsQXUEE8GwW4F3zgwemvwIslIS011BU7aSP565sQ8jtI6/s320/ts-kellie+telesford2.jpg)
And while we didn't (as of yet) add any new members to the African-American IFGE Trinity winners club that is currently me, Marisa Richmond and Dawn Wilson, there are proud African-American transpeople who are leaders in various cities such as Cydne Kimbrough, Earline Budd, Louis Mitchell and others not only working to make things better for transgender people, but the communities they reside in as well.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif9fUQ-S_wKUSEapS-TQf36MA0CpUDtLTtZ6bEyw2r7-n55Mvk7fVf5AcYMY6k0tiAO-WpnBrouIDrOPp-WD2o-lPsqhnMZgF4zLAd50nTJzO6PulKNpncKLpMZ9mU9paV0Hgm/s320/ts-rochelle+evans1.jpg)
This year will close with the fact that African descended transpeople are beginning to have their stories be covered and told. When it isn't perfect or inaccurate, we're demanding it be done accurately and respectfully.
And what a story it is. We're doing our part to uplift the race by helping to uplift our communities, are breaking historic ground in various fields, and are shaking off the shame and guilt to forcefully stand up for our rights to simply live their lives.
We can only hope and pray that the positive upward trends for African descended transpeople continue into the New Year.
4 comments:
And we love having you at Bilerico!
This was a big year in a lot of ways. Thanks for rounding up these stories!
Just wanted to drop a note about how awesome Marissa is.
And what a story it is. We're doing our part to uplift the race by helping to uplift our communities, are breaking historic ground in various fields, and are shaking off the shame and guilt to forcefully stand up for our rights to simply live their lives.
I LOVE this!!! I am so happy to have found your blog. You are an inspiration.
Your presence, your voice, your truth, is appreciated and respected. I hope and I pray that the trans community continues to receive *positive* exposure in our community and the community at large.
Thank you for all that you do. You've made me a loyal reader now so I'm here to stay and I've got your back. :-)
Alex
There are some peeps that say otherwise ;)
I'm honored to be there as well.
Erin
'Number Two' is one of the people I look up to. Marisa's a class act, definitely the bomb and you are blessed to have her down there in Tennessee.
Eileen
You're welcome. Glad you stopped by TransGriot, hope you stick around for awhile.
Always cool when anyone reads the blog and appreciates the stuff I write, but it's extra special when my own peeps show me some love as well
Post a Comment