Where are the children headed this year?
Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am a guy who likes to work hard and play hard. This doesnt mean that you'll find me in the club every weekend (been there, done that...) but it does mean that when the summertime rolls around and all of the funky "special events" start popping up, Frank Leon Roberts will be in tha building! Last year I went to 5 different Black Prides (thanks in large part to my mini-ballroom tour with FLAVALIFE).
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Unlike many of my colleagues, I dont believe that being an "activist" means that you have to frown upon circuit parties or Pride events. Sure, these events sometimes function as problematic reinscriptions of a certain kind of hyper-masculinist queer hetero-patriarchy, however they also function as important opportunities for social networking and modes of queer belonging. (Try reading E. Patrick Johnson's academic essay on D.C. Black Pride entitled "Feeling the Spirit in the Dark").
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Ok, now that said....
The kids are officially gearing up for Memorial Day Weekend 2007. It is going down. Everyone wants a piece of that black gay dollar. Three cities are going "head-to-head" for this year's most popular destination spot:
*Will it be Washington, D.C., where it all began at the legendary D.C. BLACK PRIDE?
Will it be on the beaches of Miami for SIZZLE MIAMI from the folks that bring you CLIK MAGAZINE?
Or will it be on the roads of San Juan, Puerto Rico for SAN JUAN BROTHAS?
Where are the children headed this year?
Miami!
Posted by
Anonymous |
3/10/2007
Children???? I would hope this is for adults.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3/10/2007
interestingly, my thesis work sorta "answers" Johnson's "Feeling The Spirit..."; i think there are a lot of other things going on in the performance of gospel music in a gay club other than the unity of body and soul for black queers...and for some of the folks i interviewed, they actually don't like gospel music in gay clubs at all and see it as a means to further castigation through religious rhetoric...
Posted by
AC |
3/10/2007
none of the above... thinking the sandy boy filled beaches of Santo Domingo
Posted by
C. Baptiste-Williams |
3/12/2007
I think that I am gonna try Miami this year. I have spent every other year here at home in Atlanta since it's the default city for Pride events.
Posted by
That Dude Right There |
3/13/2007
I was going to Miami...but I'm going to KEEP my black a$$ right here in NEW YORK CITY!!! We spend way too much money on these events and I got stuff to buy and own ;-)
Posted by
WATER |
3/16/2007
I'm going to keep my black A** right here in NEW YORK CITY...The Gays spend way too much money at these events...I was going to hit Miami but decided not to...I got stuff to BUY & OWN...Economics people!
Posted by
WATER |
3/16/2007
I've been around awhile and been there done that clubbing every weekend also. However, I agree that these summertime circuit events provide an opportunity to see old friends (and lovers) and usually, if theyre organized well, exude Unity. How often do you experience that in the Black Gay Community? San Juan Brothas is Amazing! Miami...Love me some Miami on a regular weekend, but Circuits there dont support Unity. Miami is good on good drugs, sex and shopping but I cant say theres anything "spiritual" about it. Santo Domingo...paleez! Wait for Island Heat for a "C" grade experience and bring some Irish spring to scrub them hookers down before you take em home. D.C. is the first and is always a good bet and a first rate fallback plan if others fall through. I'll see you in San Juan this year! Dear Water: Stay in NY if you want but dont try and make others feel bad for treating themselves for their hard work baby.
Posted by
Anonymous |
3/20/2007