How Black Queer Culture Shaped History | Channing Gerard Joseph | TED

Summary

The speaker explores the erased history of Black queer communities, highlighting the significance of figures like William Dorsey Swann, the first documented drag queen, and the influence of Black American culture on drag. They emphasize the importance of recognizing and learning from these histories to understand the broader social movements for civil rights and queer liberation, and to appreciate the contributions of Black queer individuals to American society.

Takeaways

• 🎤 'Walk light, ladies, the cake's all dough. You needn’t mind the weather if the wind don’t blow.' is a song from the slavery era, highlighting its significance in Black American culture and early queer events.
• 🌈 The term 'drag queen' has roots in the African-American emancipation, with William Dorsey Swann being the first documented person to use the title in a cross-dressing context.
• 🏳️‍🌈 The history of Black queer individuals is often overlooked, with figures like Bayard Rustin and Frances Thompson making significant, yet underrecognized, contributions to civil rights and social change.
• 📚 Genealogy, focusing on heterosexual lineage, and historical bias have contributed to the erasure of Black queer communities from mainstream historical narratives.
• 👑 Swann's use of 'queen' as a title was not only an honorific but also one of the earliest positive self-identifiers within the queer community.
• 🚨 The police raids on Swann's drag balls and his subsequent legal battles make him an early American LGBTQ+ activist, advocating for queer rights.
• 🎭 The mainstream popularity of drag today, as seen in shows like 'RuPaul’s Drag Race', has its origins in the historical drag balls of the 19th century, which were a form of resistance and self-expression.
• 🗽 The Emancipation Day parade in Washington, DC, and the concept of 'queens' inspired Swann to adopt the title, linking drag culture to the celebration of freedom and identity.
• 🏁 The narrative of queer liberation often starts with the Stonewall uprising, but the script challenges this, emphasizing the decades of activism and community building that preceded it.
• 🌟 The script calls for the recovery and recognition of Black queer histories, arguing that these stories are crucial for a comprehensive understanding of shared human history and identity.

Q & A

What is the significance of the song mentioned in the script?

The song is significant as it was popular during the slavery era and was sung by Black Americans on holidays and during cakewalk dance contests. It also connects to the early queer ball culture in the United States.

How does the script suggest that drag culture is related to African-American emancipation?

The script suggests that drag culture is related to African-American emancipation through the historical figure of William Dorsey Swann, who was inspired by Emancipation Day parades and adopted the title 'queen' for himself, which is one of the earliest positive terms used by queer people to describe themselves.

Why have Black queer communities been largely erased from history according to the script?

The script suggests that Black queer communities have been erased from history partly due to historical research beginning with genealogy, which is a record of heterosexual behavior, and partly because historians have looked down on Black queer folks as immoral and deviant.

Who is Bayard Rustin and what is his significance in the script?

Bayard Rustin was a gay Black man who organized the March on Washington in 1963, leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act. His significance in the script is to highlight the contributions of Black queer individuals to history that are often overlooked.

What impact did the testimony of Frances Thompson have on the Reconstruction era?

Frances Thompson, a formerly enslaved Black woman assigned male at birth, gave harrowing congressional testimony about the Memphis race riots of 1866, which helped shape the course of Reconstruction and galvanized support for the 14th Amendment.

Why does the script argue that learning Black queer history is crucial to understanding our shared history?

The script argues that learning Black queer history is crucial because it provides a more complete and accurate understanding of the contributions and experiences of Black queer individuals who have shaped history, and it challenges the erasure of these communities from historical narratives.

What is the significance of William Dorsey Swann in the history of drag culture?

William Dorsey Swann is significant as he is considered the first drag queen. He was the earliest documented person to call himself a queen of a cross-dressing party described as a drag, which began the use of the term 'drag queen' in the context of queer culture.

How did the term 'drag' originate according to the script?

The term 'drag' possibly originated from a contraction of 'grand rag,' which is an early term for a masquerade ball, as per the script.

Why is it important to consider how historical figures like Swann thought of themselves?

It is important to consider how historical figures like Swann thought of themselves to respect their identities and to avoid erasing a crucial element of shared history, as applying modern identities to people of the past can lead to misunderstandings and disrespect.

What is the connection between the drag balls of the 19th century and modern drag culture?

The connection between the drag balls of the 19th century and modern drag culture is that they share a similar structure, with queens presiding over beauty and dance contests, and the term 'queen' continues to be used as a positive term for drag performers.

What is the script's call to action regarding the erasure of Black queer stories from history?

The script calls for the recovery and recognition of Black queer stories that have been erased from history, emphasizing that these stories can provide valuable insights into our shared identity and history.

Outlines

00:00

🎤 The Legacy of Black Queer History in Music and Activism

The speaker begins by engaging the audience in a song that was popular during the slavery era, highlighting its significance in Black American culture and its connection to drag culture and early queer balls. They discuss the erasure of Black queer communities from historical records due to the focus on genealogy and the stigmatization of Black queer individuals. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing the contributions of Black queer figures like Bayard Rustin and Frances Thompson to American history. They also share personal experiences of growing up as an effeminate Black child and the impact that learning about Black queer history could have had on their self-perception. The paragraph concludes with a call to acknowledge the foundational role of Black queer history in the fight for queer liberation, challenging the common narrative that it began with the Stonewall uprising.

05:01

🌟 The Pioneering Role of William Dorsey Swann in Drag and Queer Activism

This paragraph delves into the history of drag culture, specifically the influence of William Dorsey Swann, who is credited as the first drag queen. Swann, born into slavery, was inspired by the Emancipation Day parade in Washington, DC, and adopted the title 'queen' for himself at cross-dressing parties known as 'drags.' The speaker explains the significance of the term 'queen' as an early positive self-identifier for queer individuals. They also discuss the challenges Swann faced, including police raids and legal battles, and his role as an early activist in defending the queer community. The paragraph concludes by drawing parallels between Swann's 19th-century community and modern drag culture, emphasizing the ongoing celebration of African-American emancipation and the importance of self-definition in queer history.

Keywords

💡Cakewalk

A cakewalk was a dance contest popular among African Americans during the slavery era and later. It was a celebration of African-American culture and a form of resistance against oppression. In the script, it is mentioned that Black Americans sang the song during holidays and cakewalks, indicating a historical connection between this cultural practice and the expression of Black identity and resilience.

💡Drag queens

Drag queens are performers who dress in clothing typically associated with the opposite gender, often for entertainment purposes. The script suggests that drag queens likely sang the song at early queer balls in the United States, highlighting the intersection of drag culture with Black queer history and the broader LGBTQ+ community.

💡Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of family origins and lineage. The script points out that traditional genealogical research often overlooks Black queer communities because it focuses on heterosexual relationships and family structures, thus erasing the contributions of these communities from historical records.

💡Eradication from history

This concept refers to the deliberate or unintentional omission of certain groups from historical narratives. The script discusses how Black queer communities have been largely erased from history, which has led to a lack of awareness about their significant contributions to society and culture.

💡Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was a civil rights activist and an openly gay Black man who played a key role in organizing the 1963 March on Washington. The script uses Rustin as an example of a Black queer figure whose contributions to history have been overlooked, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and celebrating these individuals.

💡Frances Thompson

Frances Thompson was a formerly enslaved Black woman assigned male at birth who testified before Congress about the Memphis race riots of 1866. Her testimony is highlighted in the script as an example of how Black queer individuals have influenced significant historical events, such as the passage of the 14th Amendment.

💡William Dorsey Swann

William Dorsey Swann was an early drag queen and a significant figure in the LGBTQ+ community. The script describes him as the first documented person to call himself a queen at a cross-dressing party, or 'drag.' Swann's story is used to illustrate the deep historical roots of drag culture and its connection to African-American emancipation.

💡Emancipation Day parade

The Emancipation Day parade was an annual celebration in Washington, D.C., commemorating the end of slavery. The script mentions that the parade featured 'queens' who symbolized the newfound freedom of African Americans. This event inspired Swann and is a key part of the narrative linking drag culture to Black history.

💡Self-acceptance

Self-acceptance refers to the process of recognizing and embracing one's own identity, including sexual orientation and gender identity. The script argues that the fight for queer liberation, including the Stonewall uprising, was built on a foundation of self-acceptance and solidarity within the LGBTQ+ community.

💡Stonewall uprising

The Stonewall uprising in 1969 is often cited as the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ+ rights movement. The script challenges the common narrative that queer pride began with Stonewall, arguing that there was a long history of activism and community-building that preceded it.

💡Historical research

Historical research is the study and interpretation of past events and their impact on the present. The script critiques traditional historical research for often excluding or marginalizing Black queer experiences, which has contributed to the erasure of these communities from history.

Highlights

The song 'Walk light, ladies, the cake's all dough' was popular during the slavery era and has a connection to drag culture and African-American emancipation.

Drag queens likely sang the song at some of the earliest queer balls in the United States.

Black queer communities have been largely erased from history due to historical research focusing on genealogy and heterosexual behavior.

Historians have often viewed Black queer individuals as immoral and deviant, leading to their exclusion from historical narratives.

Learning about Black queer history is crucial for understanding our shared history and can have a profound impact on individuals' lives.

Bayard Rustin, a gay Black man, organized the March on Washington in 1963, which contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Frances Thompson's congressional testimony about the Memphis race riots of 1866 helped shape the Reconstruction era and support the 14th Amendment.

The speaker's personal experiences with bullying highlight the importance of recognizing Black queer contributions to history.

The fight for queer liberation did not begin with the Stonewall uprising but was built on decades of work by activists.

William Dorsey Swann, the first drag queen, was inspired by Emancipation Day parades and adopted the title 'queen' for himself.

The term 'drag queen' began with Swann, who was the earliest documented person to call himself a queen at a cross-dressing party.

Swann's balls were raided by the police, leading to legal actions that make him the earliest documented American activist defending the queer community.

The legacy of Swann and the Emancipation Day parades is carried on in modern drag and ballroom culture.

The power to define ourselves, as Swann did, is more important now than ever in the context of African-American emancipation.

The term 'queen' in drag culture pays homage to a long history of African-American emancipation and the contributions of Black queer individuals.

The speaker calls for the recovery of Black queer stories that have been erased from the historical record to understand our true identity.

Transcripts

Hello folks, I'd like to start with a song

and the lyrics of the song are:

"Walk light, ladies, the cake's all dough.

You need not mind the weather if the wind don't blow."

So if you can repeat after me,

"Walk light ladies, the cake's all dough."

Audience: "Walk light, ladies, the cake's all dough."

CGJ: "You needn't mind the weather if the wind don't blow."

Audience: "You needn't mind the weather if the wind don't blow."

CGJ: Ok, so you got it. So I’ll sing.

(Singing) “Walk light, ladies, the cake’s all dough,

you needn’t mind the weather if the wind don’t blow.

Walk light, ladies, the cake’s all dough,

you needn’t mind the weather if the wind don’t blow. ...

Walk light, ladies, the cake's all dough,

you needn’t mind the weather if the wind don’t blow.”

Hardly anyone knows that song anymore,

but it was a popular one during the slavery era.

Black Americans sang it on holidays

and during a dance contest called a cakewalk.

But what you may not know is that drag queens probably sang it

at some of the earliest queer balls in the United States.

And you also may not know

that drag culture shares a history with African-American emancipation.

The reason you don't know is that Black queer communities

have largely been erased from history.

That's in part due to the fact

that so much historical research begins with genealogy.

And what is genealogy?

It's basically a record of heterosexual behavior:

mother, father, child;

birth, marriage, inheritance.

But another reason is that historians of all colors

have looked down on Black queer folks like me

as immoral, deviant,

distasteful, diseased,

even dangerous.

And the long-term impact of that

is that many of us don't learn

how Black queer people have shaped history.

People like Bayard Rustin,

a gay Black man who organized the March on Washington in 1963,

leading to the passage of the Civil Rights Act.

Or Frances Thompson, a formerly enslaved Black woman,

assigned male at birth,

whose harrowing congressional testimony

about the Memphis race riots of 1866

helped shape the course of Reconstruction

and galvanized support for the 14th Amendment,

which provided Black Americans with citizenship rights

and the promise of equal protection.

As an effeminate Black kid growing up in Louisiana,

I was bullied a lot.

In elementary school,

the other kids called me a girl

and I felt out of place almost all the time.

If I had learned in school

about the contributions of Black queer people,

it would have made an enormous impact on my life.

I think recovering these histories can save kids' lives.

But after spending the last 15 years

researching and writing about these topics,

I would like to make the case

that learning Black queer history

is crucial to understanding our shared history.

So you've probably heard

that the fight for queer liberation began with the Stonewall uprising.

New York police raided a queer bar in 1969.

Riots followed and magically,

a celebration of pride was born.

The problem is, that's not true.

(Laughs)

Queer pride did not arise out of nowhere.

There had to be a foundation of self-acceptance

and solidarity in place already.

And in fact,

many people had been working for decades

to build the courageous and confident community

that made Stonewall, pride

and eventually, marriage equality possible.

One of those people was William Dorsey Swann,

the first drag queen.

Swann was born into slavery in Maryland just before the Civil War.

In the 1880s, as a young adult,

he moved to Washington, DC

to find work to help support his parents and siblings.

In Washington, he found the Emancipation Day parade,

an enormous annual celebration

commemorating the end of slavery in the US capitol.

The highlights of the parade were called queens:

Beautiful, crowned Black women

who personified African-Americans' newfound freedom.

The queens of Emancipation Day so inspired Swann,

that he adopted the title "queen" for himself

at the secret dance

that he and his friends called "a drag."

The word "drag" possibly comes from a contraction of "grand rag,"

which is an early term for a masquerade ball.

So although people assigned male at birth have dressed in feminine clothing

for all sorts of reasons throughout the centuries,

the term "drag queen" began with Swann,

who was the earliest documented person to call himself a queen

of a cross-dressing party described by its participants as a drag.

The title queen signified

that Swann held an honored place in the community.

But the term "queen" is even more important

because it's one of the earliest positive terms

that queer people had to describe ourselves.

In the 1880s,

positive terms like "transgender" and "non-binary" didn't exist yet.

"Homosexual" was a word only used by Germans.

And although "gay," "lesbian" and "bisexual" were English words,

they didn't mean what they mean today

and they weren't used to self-identify.

So it can be tempting to apply modern identities to people of a distant past.

But if we do so,

we often fail to consider and respect

the ways that they thought of themselves.

Right?

If we fail to consider how our ancestors thought of themselves,

we risk erasing a crucial element of our shared history.

Swann's balls were raided numerous times by the DC police

leading to jail time

and eventually a public petition and a bid for a presidential pardon.

That makes Swann the earliest documented American activist

to take legal steps to defend the queer community.

But the authorities couldn't stop Swann

and couldn't stop the balls from continuing

and expanding to other cities.

Today, queer drag is mainstream.

From “Paris is Burning” to “Pose” to “RuPaul’s Drag Race”

and the houses of 21st century ballroom culture,

which feature queens who preside over beauty and dance contests,

have maintained the same basic structure as Swann's 19th-century community.

The history of DC's Emancipation Day has largely been forgotten,

but the power to choose how we define ourselves, as Swann did,

is more important now than ever.

And as long as the term "queen" lives on,

anyone who participates in

or enjoys watching drag competitions

is paying homage to a century-and-a-half long celebration

of African-American emancipation.

And William Dorsey Swann is just one example.

How many other Black queer stories

have been erased from the historical record?

And what could those stories teach us about who we are?

Thank you.

(Applause and cheers)