National Black Justice Coalition

Last updated
National Black Justice Coalition
FoundedDecember 8, 2003 (2003-12-08) [1] [2]
20-0667808 [3]
Focus Black LGBTQ people
Location
Area served
United States
Services Campaigning, advocacy, education
Key people
Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director [5] [6]
Revenue
US$911,451 (FY 2012) [4]
Website www.nbjc.org

The National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) is an American civil rights organization serving primarily Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people. Since 2003, NBJC has collaborated with national civil rights groups and LGBT organizations, advocating for the unique challenges and needs of the African American LGBT community in the United States. [7]

Contents

Activities

In 2011, the organization identified the issues it would focus its programming efforts on: [7]

Bayard Rustin 2013 Commemoration Project

Bayard Rustin (left) outside the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom headquarters in Washington, D.C. Bayard Rustin NYWTS 3.jpg
Bayard Rustin (left) outside the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom headquarters in Washington, D.C.

On the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the organization is honoring the courage and legacy of the march's chief organizer, openly gay civil rights leader Bayard Rustin. In addition to organizing the 1963 march, Rustin was also known for mentoring Martin Luther King Jr., and helping to form the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Led by NBJC co-founder and political activist Mandy Carter, [8] the initiative includes ongoing collaborations with Walter Naegle, Rustin's surviving partner as well as the executor and archivist of Bayard Rustin's estate. The organization is also working with Nancy Kates and Bennett Singer, co-producers and co-directors of Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin, a biographical documentary about Rustin. [9] [10]

Black Church Summit

In 2006, the organization held its first Black Church Summit in Atlanta, Georgia. During the first summit, the Rev. Al Sharpton denounced homophobia and called for greater inclusion of LGBT people. [11]

Black, Trans and Proud

Black, Trans & Proud, a campaign promoting trans visibility and raising consciousness in the black community, was launched in honor of Transgender Awareness Week. The project called for community members to submit their photos and testimonials about their pride in the black trans community. As part of the campaign, NBJC featured ads with transgender leaders, including Kye Allums, Rev. Carmarion Anderson, Kylar Broadus, Laverne Cox, Janet Mock, [12] Monica Roberts, and Valerie Spencer. [13]

Emerging Leaders Initiative

This program identifies young activists (ages 18–30) in the black LGBT movement, and provides opportunities for young leaders to build networks and take action in their communities. [14] The organization hosted the 2013 Black LGBT Emerging Leaders Day in conjunction with the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force on February 21, 2013, in Washington, D.C. [15]

Many Faces. One Dream.

"Many Faces. One Dream." is a series of LGBT economic conferences for LGBT communities of color co-hosted by NBJC and the U.S. Small Business Administration. The events began in early 2013 and will eventually travel to 13 major cities throughout the country that have a significant LGBT presence in communities of color, including Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, Ft. Lauderdale/Miami, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York City, Newark, New Jersey, Oakland/San Francisco, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C.

Participants are grouped into two tracks: "Starting Your Business" and "Taking Your Business to the Next Level". In the first track, training is provided on business plans, loans, marketing, and SBA's program and services. The second track is designed for LGBT firms that are currently in business, with a desire to expand and grow. [16] [17]

OUT on the HIll

Attendees – black LGBT activists, allies, elected officials, faith leaders and youth – discuss and implement strategies to educate federal lawmakers about public policies impacting the black LGBT community. [6] [18] [19]

#whatablacklesbianlookslike

After the Lieutenant Governor of Florida, Jennifer Carroll, avoided answering questions about an alleged same-sex encounter with a female subordinate by telling a local news outlet that black lesbian and bisexual women ‘don’t look like her’ in the summer of 2012, NBJC launched a campaign with the Twitter hashtag #whatablacklesbianlookslike. [20] After more than a week of pressure from groups like NBJC, Equality Florida and GLAAD, Carroll finally apologized, calling her comments "wrong and inexcusable" in a letter to Equality Florida's executive director Nadine Smith. [21]

History

NBJC was co-founded by activist, author, and commentator Keith Boykin. Keith Boykin.jpg
NBJC was co-founded by activist, author, and commentator Keith Boykin.

NBJC was founded on December 8, 2003, by a group of eight black civil rights leaders [2] – Keith Boykin, [22] Mandy Carter, [23] Jasmyne Cannick, Donna Payne, Frank Leon Roberts, [24] Sonya Shields, Roddrick Colvin, and Maurice Franklin. The formation of the organization was announced during a press conference held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. [1] Initially the group came together to challenge support from African American religious and civil rights leaders for Republican-led efforts to amend the U.S. Constitution to prohibit same-sex marriage. Instead, the group began raising money to place advertisements promoting same-sex marriage in the African American media. Within three years, the group had created an organization and employed a staff led by founding executive director H. Alexander Robinson. [2]

In July 2009, the organization became the first black LGBT group to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) board of governors when its deputy executive director, Jason W. Bartlett, urged the NAACP to pass resolutions issues pertaining to LGBT people of color. [25]

In October 2009, it was announced that Sharon Lettman-Hicks would be joining the organization as executive director. She had previously worked at People for the American Way as executive vice president of leadership programs and external affairs. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bayard Rustin</span> American civil rights activist (1912–1987)

Bayard Rustin was an American political activist, a prominent leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, nonviolence, and gay rights. Rustin was the principal organizer of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in 1963.

This is a list of notable events in the history of LGBT rights that took place in the year 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride at Work</span>

Pride at Work (P@W) is an American lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender group (LGBTQ+) of labor union activists affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights is an American coalition of more than 240 national civil and human rights organizations and acts as an umbrella group for American civil and human rights. Founded as the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) in 1950 by civil rights activists Arnold Aronson, A. Philip Randolph, and Roy Wilkins, the coalition has focused on issues ranging from educational equity to justice reform to voting rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audre Lorde Project</span> LGBT community and activism organization

The Audre Lorde Project is a Brooklyn, New York–based organization for LGBTQ people of color. The organization concentrates on community organizing and radical nonviolent activism around progressive issues within New York City, especially relating to LGBTQ communities, AIDS and HIV activism, pro-immigrant activism, prison reform and organizing among youth of color. It is named for the lesbian-feminist poet and activist Audre Lorde and was founded in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT movements in the United States</span>

LGBT movements in the United States comprise an interwoven history of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied social movements in the United States of America, beginning in the early 20th century. A commonly stated goal among these movements is social equality for LGBT people. Some have also focused on building LGBT communities or worked towards liberation for the broader society from biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia. LGBT movements organized today are made up of a wide range of political activism and cultural activity, including lobbying, street marches, social groups, media, art, and research. Sociologist Mary Bernstein writes: "For the lesbian and gay movement, then, cultural goals include challenging dominant constructions of masculinity and femininity, homophobia, and the primacy of the gendered heterosexual nuclear family (heteronormativity). Political goals include changing laws and policies in order to gain new rights, benefits, and protections from harm." Bernstein emphasizes that activists seek both types of goals in both the civil and political spheres.

LGBT rights organizations are non-governmental civil rights, health, and community organizations that promote the civil and human rights and health of sexual minorities, and to improve the LGBT community.

The Center for Black Equity is a coalition of Black gay pride organizers formed to promote a multinational network of LGBT/SGL Prides and community-based organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National LGBTQ Task Force</span> US gay rights organization

The National LGBTQ Task Force is an American social justice advocacy non-profit organizing the grassroots power of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Also known as The Task Force, the organization supports action and activism on behalf of LGBTQ people and advances a progressive vision of liberation. The past executive director was Rea Carey from 2008-2021 and the current executive director is Kierra Johnson, who took over the position in 2021 to become the first Black woman to head the organization.

The Maryland Coalition for Trans Equality (MCTE) is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to advance equal rights for transgender, transsexual, and gender non-conforming people in Maryland. Their stated goal is to achieve this "through shared leadership, decision-making processes, and resources". It is the largest coalition assembled in Maryland whose activities focus on advocacy and education with regard to transgender and gender non-conforming equality issues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mandy Carter (activist)</span> American activist

Mandy Carter is an American black lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activist.

This is a timeline of notable events in the history of non-heterosexual conforming people of African ancestry, who may identify as LGBTIQGNC, men who have sex with men, or related culturally specific identities. This timeline includes events both in Africa, the Americas and Europe and in the global African diaspora, as the histories are very deeply linked.

The National LGBTQ Wall of Honor is a memorial wall in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, dedicated to LGBTQ "pioneers, trailblazers, and heroes". Located inside the Stonewall Inn, the wall is part of the Stonewall National Monument, the first U.S. National Monument dedicated to the country's LGBTQ rights and history. The first fifty inductees were unveiled June 27, 2019, as a part of events marking the 50th anniversary of Stonewall. Five honorees are added annually.

Equal is an American documentary television series produced by Scout Productions, Berlanti Productions, Raintree Ventures, That's Wonderful Productions, and Warner Horizon Unscripted Television. The four-part series chronicles landmark events and leaders in LGBTQ history, and consists of a mixture of archival footage and scripted reenactments. Equal stars several actors including Samira Wiley, Jamie Clayton, and Anthony Rapp. The series premiered on HBO Max on October 22, 2020.

Joseph Fairchild Beam was an African-American gay rights activist, writer and poet.

The Bayard Rustin Center for Social Justice is a nonprofit organization located in Princeton, New Jersey. It hosts programming and events geared towards public health, gender and sexual advocacy, and civil rights for marginalized people, particularly LGBTQIA+ youth. The center was named in honor of Bayard Rustin, a black and gay activist of the American civil rights movement.

References

  1. 1 2 "National Black Justice Coalition Announces National Campaign for LGBT Civil Rights" (Press release). National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. December 8, 2003. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 O'Bryan, Will (September 22, 2005). "Reaching the Summit: NBJC's H. Alexander Robinson and Donna Payne on their group's leadership summit, the African-American GLBT community's socio-political reality, and the MMM commemoration". Metro Weekly . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  3. 1 2 "GuideStar Reports for National Black Justice Coalition". GuideStar. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  4. 1 2 "National Black Justice Coalition 2012 Form 990" (PDF). Internal Revenue Service. December 1, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Mangum, Christopher (October 5, 2009). "National Black Justice Coalition Announces ED". The Advocate . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Interview with National Black Justice Coalition Executive Director Sharon Lettman-Hicks". LGBT Weekly. February 3, 2011. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  7. 1 2 "About Us". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  8. ↑ Baim, Tracy (July 24, 2013). "Old Lesbians Organizing for Change gather in St. Louis". Windy City Times . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Bayard Rustin 2013 Commemoration Project". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Still Walking for Justice - November 3, 2012". Pauli Murray Project. Archived from the original on January 21, 2015. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  11. ↑ Dade, Corey (May 22, 2012). "Blacks, Gays And The Church: A Complex Relationship". NPR . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Writer and trans activist Janet Mock tells NBJC why she's proud to be Black and trans". bklyn boihood. November 15, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Black, Trans and Proud". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Emerging Leaders Initiative". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Quick Recap: NBJC Emerging LGBT Leaders Day in DC". bklyn boihood. March 6, 2013. Archived from the original on September 3, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  16. ↑ Stevenson, Jan (July 18, 2013). "SBA And NBJC Team Up". Between the Lines . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Many Faces. One Dream. LGBT Economic Empowerment Tour for Communities of Color". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  18. ↑ Rea, Julius (September 19, 2012). "National Conference Supports Black LGBT". JET . Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  19. ↑ "OUT on the HIll". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Week in Review (September 2 – September 8)". ELIXHER. September 8, 2012. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  21. ↑ "whatablacklesbianlookslike". National Black Justice Coalition. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Sylvia Rhue - Oral History Interview - LGBT-RAN". LGBT Religious Archives Network. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Social Justice Activist Mandy Carter to Speak at BVU". Buena Vista University. April 2, 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
  24. ↑ "NBJC Board Members | National Black Justice Coalition". nbjc.org. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
  25. ↑ "NBJC First Black LGBT Group to Address NAACP Convention". Rod 2.0. July 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.