LARKER ANTHOLOGY Issue 5: Fullness, Expressed Edited by Patrícia Silva www.larkeranthology.com Published by Shambalissima Editions New York, NY, September 23 2017 Cover: Photograph by JR Yussuf, 2017. Cover: TBA. This page: View of Crispus Attucks Park in Bloomingdale, Washington D.C., where the Bisexual Women of Color Collaborative organized an evening gathering on September 23, 2016 for BIWOC, on the occasion of the 2015 Bisexual Community Briefing hosted by the White House Office of Public Engagement.
First Annual Pride Kick-Off at Philadelphia’s City Hall reveals new Pride flag designed by Tierney in 2017
Skin, born Deborah Anne Dyer. Video still for Breed.
André Matronic, UK, 2016. Photograph by Max Davies of Proud Animals
Elizabeth Eyre de Lanux by Man Ray
Angélique “Angel” Gravely, 2016. Photograph courtesy of The Gay Christian Network
MariNaomi in San Francisco, photograph by Fiona J. Taylor.
Heru Khuti, Photograph by Steven G. Fullwood
Tamara de Lempicka, Skyscrapers, 1929
Ruth Nelson Dunbar. Photograph courtesy of Rare Books Division, Schomburg Center
Desirée Akhavan, Photographed by Christopher Teague
Beacons of Resistance
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel (1895-1952) became the first Black actor to be nominated and win an Oscar, in the Best Supporting Actress category for a Mammy role in Gone with the Wind. Enslaved maid roles were the only options open to Black actresses in cinema. McDaniel is also the first person of color to attend an Academy banquet—the Twelfth Annual Academy Awards Presentation Dinner on February 29, 1940— but was forced to sit at a separate table from other nominees. Despite acting in over 300 films, McDaniel is mosly remembered, and criticized, for playing tropes of American racism.
“I could make $700 playing a maid or earn $7 a week being one.” A philanthropist, activist, and mentor to younger actresses, McDaniel was no one’s servant beyond the screen. According to Vox, “McDaniel played a pivotal role in desegregating housing in Los Angeles” in a case that “set a precedent that would later help the Supreme Court rule it unconstitutional for the courts to enforce restrictive housing covenants [Shelley v. Kraemer, 1948.]” McDaniel was also the first Black woman to sing in American radio (“High Hat Hattie”), McDaniel’s Oscar was donated to Howard University in Washington D.C., but this Oscar been missing since the early 1970s. Due to racism, McDaniel was excluded from the Hollywood Memorial Park cemetery.
U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
Tangible History
“Hattie McDaniel (center), Chairman of the Negro Division of the Hollywood Victory Committee, takes time off from rehearsals...to lead a caravan of entertainers and hostesses to Minter Field,...for a vaudeville performance and dance for soldiers stationed there. The young lady to the right of Miss McDaniel is Miss Virginia Paris, noted concert singer.” —U.S.
National
circa 1941-45
Archives
and
Records
Administration,
What’s it like, being bi in London? There are various meet-up groups, and BiCon yearly, but what I really want to see is bisexual venues. Being bi today is so different than it was even five years ago. We now receive discrimination from people on dating apps whilst gay men have Grinder, and straight people have Tinder, but no widely used successful bisexual dating app yet. I do think the world is finally ready to discuss bisexuals. People are going to want examples of ourselves on TV shows, media, and in publications. But what happens when the bisexual on the screen is a different shade of bisexual than you? Do you get angry or do you throw your support behind bisexuality, no matter what shade it is?
Best part of living bi? It frees me from a lot of social control that so many are bound to. It helps me to be comfortable in my own skin. I don’t feel the need to act like a stereotype. I’m free to write rules for myself.
Being bi & biracial, double stress? It gives me perspective. Growing up, my grandad told me stories about how hard time he had coming to England just for the colour of his skin. To be honest I do what I do to encourage other bi guys to feel as confident as I do. I was born at just the right time: how else would a biracial, bisexual, and dyslexic guy be able to write for such a wealth of publications? —Lewis Oakley
Sandra Berhard by WHO WHO WHO
Lewis Oakley, photographed by Andrew J. Eastwood
That’s the decision individual bisexuals have to make, as one bisexual can’t represent every different incarnation of bisexual. But it’s better to have bisexuals visible even if that’s not your take on bisexuality.
Rudolf Khametovich Nureyev. Photograph by Allan Warrren, 1973.
margaux delotte-bennet. Photograph by Chanel Jaali Photography
what it’s like to be a black bi unicorn (for those of you that aren’t) after Patricia Smith’s “What It’s Like To Be A Black Girl (for those of you that aren’t)” margaux delotte-bennett first of all, it’s knowing that your mane is wrong always too kinky probably too short with never enough PanteneTM shimmer, lift & shine never fine & feeling like the mane you were born with is unfit because you are unfit but can change to be right for a price horse hair puts unicorn hair to shame anyway it’s knowing that your black lacks luster like you mane neither light bright nor dusky enough to be a political statement a rallying cry for inclusion and appreciation like there’s something it’s missing because it’s yours & not on a model, movie star or muse it’s your bisexuality giving you the blues like your black & your mane isn’t that insane? your capacity for love is just seen as confusion & conclusions are made about you based on who you are with this time and in this place but don’t they know that unicorns tend to race past expectations limitations shed like dead hair shaken from a mane both black and bi it’s learning to sigh deeply prance swiftly shake smoothly because there are always other black bi unicorns watching waiting
Robin Renee. Photograph by Jim Doria
“I experience love and erotic desire as direct connection to the expansive well of all that feels most essential. My writing and performance, for the most part, are outward manifestations of inner truth-seeking. Seeking depth and truth, then showing up in the world on our paths toward fullness is life’s challenge. I don’t believe any of us are here to remain small, unseen, unexpressed.” —Robin Renee
H.D., Egypt, 1923. Photograph courtesy Norman Holmes Pearson and New Directions Pubilshing.
Neneh Cherry. Photograph by Kim Hiorthoy
Faith C. Cheltenham. Photograph by Chloe Jackman Photography. Makeup by One Makeup Artistry, Hair by Candyland Beauty Bar
Ana Castillo in New Mexico, photograph courtesy of Ana Castillo
Vanessa Clark. Photograph by Max Thomas
“It shouldn’t be something subversive, taboo, brave, or misunderstood, nor should it be treated as if it’s a sexuality exclusive for only individuals in kinky, poly, or open relationships. Bisexuality for me is freedom, and don’t we all deserve to be free?” —Vanessa Clarkexperience.” —Robin Renee
Gloria Jackson-Nefertiti.
David J. Cork photographed by Marusya Rybakova
“Bi men have been pillars of strength to me and David J. Cork has been exceptionally supportive of me this year.” — Andre Charles Le’Shawn Walker
Daniela Mercury. Photograph by Fabio Ceráti
Bronze statue of Brenda Fassie created by artist Angus Taylor, Johannesburg. Photographed by Axel Bührmann
kai Hazelwood, photograph by Amanda Bjorn
“It’s just who I am. Just like being an artist is part of my most basic make up, my bisexuality is just part of what makes me, well, me.” —Kai Hazelwood
June Jordan
Patience Agbabi, photographer unknown
Jane Bowles. Photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1951
Greg Ward. Photograph by Ellen Evanoff, 2016
“I’ve spent the last five months interviewing bi people who are in the closet. With the most recent statistics saying we make up more than half of the LGBT population at 52%, it wouldn’t surprise me if the number of LGBT people in the U.S. were actually higher. Don’t not box yourself in. Find safety within your own personal force field. Our community is your safety net.” —Greg Ward, Founder of Fluid Array Foundation, Arizona
Yukio Mishima photographed by Eikoh Hosoe, f1961. From Ordeal by Roses Collection Collection.
Libby Holman. Photograph from Advertisement for Lux Toilet Soap in 1930 Advertisement for Lux Soap
Ode 2 Duality by Andrea Jenkins
Heaven manifests its destiny My Consciousness on earth is twofold -Marilyn Chin Rhapsody in Plain Yellow
This energy flows through a dual stage Electronically controlled System of active volcanoes Slashing through the imaginary forest Ritualistic offerings purification For Ometeotl This dark dangerous energy Snapping limbs
qlick/qlick
Strengthens the believers heart and soul I am strong Delicious Increasingly less humorous Darker Deliberate Filled up with gratitude Anna didn’t know this growing Wise in the city
her mind took her 2 places at once here then there like “two nudes in a forest” Andrea Jenkins. Photograph by Craig VanDerSchaegen
yin and yang in the spirit of hatshepsut at once a female pharaoh sylvester said it makes you feel “mighty, mighty real” there’s this thin line and sometimes you hate that you have to walk it tao - take from those who have too much and give to those who do not have enough in 1st grade it became clear- boys and girls were different anna didn’t know this growing thing between two dusky thighs flaming like jimi hendrix’s’ guitar mama said “don’t pull on that thing” but anna felt compelled lopping slicing sculpting a new you liberating one into two.
ISSUE 7: FULLNESS, EXPRESSED