an ongoing historiographic documentary project in support of same-sex marriages
2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day & 2005 Presidential Inauguration
Elvert Xavier Barnes Photography . Writings . Ads
On 16 October, 5 1/2 months later, I'd return to the same location during the Million Family March (MFM) to capture the 'Sacred Marriage Blessing'. A few months before the MFM and four months after the April 2000 MMOW ... in commemoration of the 37th anniversary of the historic 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington which was when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. would deliver his "I Have A Dream" speech .... on Saturday, 26 August, and in celebration of the new millennium I'd spend the day at the Lincoln Memorial and the Reflecting Pool capturing the "Redeem the Dream' Rally which focused on police brutality.
In August 2003 I'd capture the 'Return, Repair & Renew' March on Washington which commemorated the 40th anniversary 1963 Civil Rights March. A few days later on 28 August I'd snap candid shots at the Lincoln Memorial as folks viewed the "I Have A Dream" plague that had been installed a few days before.
And though I am now 51 years of age when in the spring, summer and fall of 2000 and while organizers and participants of each of these historic events commemorated and celebrated the new millennium as well as new beginnings and while demanding equality and protesting for freedom and, yet, but in every possible way and always in sharp contrast to the rights and priviledges of my white counterpart they'd discriminate, specifically, against me ... as a gay black man ... in a similar way as Bayard Rustin had been treated decades before.
My stand on same-sex unions is not unlike that on abortion or religion. It is not my business nor do I have a right to tell a woman what she should or should not do with her body. Nor should my decision 'to' or 'not to marry'' impact the life path or represent a deciding factor if another should or should not marry.
Contrary to what is expected of me ... as a gay black man ... 'moving forward' does not infer 'starting over ... again!'. I want, deserve, and have earned the same equality, rights, freedoms, priviledges and opportunities that my white counterpart and colleague enjoys. I will not settle for nor accept anything less.