“Where my girls at?”
That question is more than just the title of our new book; that's a question that could be asked of Blacklight for the past few months. Over a year ago I took down just about all of our archival articles written by women in preparation for a special collection that only recently came together.
In regards to the question in the title, that's explained in the collection of fifteen extraordinary women, and one special man, Joseph Beam, whose “Conversation with Audre Lorde,” will make its Blacklight debut in print.
An inevitable outcome of longevity is, one acquires history, by default. Blacklight has history and in celebration of Women's History Month we share two milestones in Black Lesbian history from “Where My Girls At?” with reports on the first two Black Lesbian conferences to be held in the U.S.
The article on the San Francisco conference is by my longtime friend, colleague, former classmate at Howard, and now fellow Californian, Chi Hughes.
The second Black Lesbian conference took place on the other side of the country, in New York City, and was covered by writer, activist, feminist, and another longtime friend, Tania Abdulahad.
As for the rest of the “girls,” they're right here!
Sidney Brinkley
Editor
Making history in SF:
The first Black Lesbian
conference
By Chi Hughes
The first Black Lesbian conference to be held in the United States took place in San Francisco October 17-19, 1980. Nearly 200 Black women from across the country attended the historic event.
The conference was an outgrowth of the first National Third World Lesbian and Gay Conference held in Washington, D.C. in October of last year.
One of the stated goals was to address the varied needs of Black Lesbians and, “to provide the courage and strength necessary to make those needs felt in places where it becomes necessary.”
Two days of workshops addressed basic issues and problems relevant to Black Lesbians including, “Black women and Imperialism,” “Interracial Relationships,” and “Black Women and Feminism.” There was also a workshop aimed at teenage Lesbians.
Noted activist Angela Davis delivered the keynote address and called the conference, “a turning point in the women's movement and an historic event for all Black people.”
Blacklight Vol. 2, No. 3 —1981