History on Film: The Massacre Of South Carolina Students(1968)

 

 

For three days in February, 1968, students at South Carolina State located in Orangeburg confronted the police in an effort to end the 'whites only' policy at The All Star Bowling Lanes. Over the three nights there was an escalation in tension between about 200 protesters and the police.

February 8, 1968 was the third night and the night of the Orangeburg Massacre. State Police opened fire on the demonstrators, shooting 30 of them. Almost all who were shot had wounds in the back as they fled the police. Three people were killed in the melee: Samuel Hammond and Henry Smith were students at South Carolina State and Delano Middleton was a Wilkinson High School student.

The dead and wounded were taken to the South Carolina State infirmary which looked like a war zone. Nine policeman were charged and all were acquitted for killings.

Below are two videos. The first is background of the situation at the time. The second is a moving oral history by some of the survivors of that horrible night.

LGBT VIDEO: Dancing and Singing "Secretly"

 

 

When you went to LGBT bars in the late 1950's into the 1960's, the juke box was filled with music that had hidden meaning for the community. Some patrons would gather around the piano bar and sing "Somewhere" from West Side Story and many would have tears in their eyes. Even Sammy Davis, Jr's "Candy Man" had a special place in our list of songs. One of those songs became a hit twice. "Secretly" was recorded first by Jimmie Rodgers (1958) and then by the "Lettermen" (1965).

Men would dance with men and women would dance with women as this song told of our closet and hidden lives. This video is set to that song as it shows vintage photographs (some that I have placed on the site before). The lyrics were perfect for the days of the closet.

Film: "How To Survive A Plague" Wows Sundance And Gains Critic's Raves

 

 

Increasingly the arts community is becoming the voice of the history of the darkest years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The newest project to be unveiled at Sundance Film Festival was Director David France's "How To Survive A Plague" which tells the story of ACT UP in the 1980's and early 1990's. At its first screening, the documentary received two standing ovations. In addition, the film was immediately brought for distribution by Sundance Selects. Jonathan Sehring of Sundance Selects said of the Joy Tomchin/David France entry

This is a towering film in the history of cinema about social activism. Its astonishing use of archival material to reconstruct an era of political indifference in the face of an unimaginable health crisis helps to create a new blueprint for modern activists."

The Hollywood Reporter gave the film a rave review and here are a few excerpts:

Words like “important” and “inspiring” tend too often to be meaninglessly attached to non-fiction filmmaking, but in the case of David France's compelling snapshot of a revolutionary period in AIDS treatment, they are amply justified........

Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of David France’s emotionally charged documentary, How to Survive a Plague, is that despite the wealth of books, films and plays dealing with AIDS, this feels like a part of the story that hasn't yet been told – certainly not with such probing insight. Packed with fascinating interviews and stirring footage from the trenches, the film deftly shapes its information stream into a powerful drama recounting the highs and lows, setbacks and victories in the fight for an effective HIV treatment.........

The battle of a small New York-based group of gay activists against the FDA, the NIH and major drug companies might sound more earnest than engaging. It’s not. The film is actually an epic celebration of heroism and tenacity, and less directly, a useful template for any fledgling activist movement, demonstrating the effectiveness of inside/outside strategy. It also shows the enduring government apathy toward gay-rights issues that slowed research funding and cost so many lives.

Variety also joined in the raving about the documentary:

This saga is told primarily through archival videotape (Act-Up was nothing if not media-savvy) often narrated by participants. These include a number of important researchers, but the character emphasis is on the activists, a vivid assortment whose survival the pic cannily holds in suspense.

A veteran journalist who's been reporting on AIDS since the epidemic's earliest days, debuting helmer France and his first-rate collaborators have assembled a package as engrossing in human terms as it is historically informative. Artful editing, original scoring and music supervision make especially valuable contributions.

LGBT History: Meeting Our Pioneers....Jim Foster

 

 

Often the real mover and shakers from our glorious history live in the shadows of our legends like Harvey Milk or Elaine Noble. Many of them died during the AIDS epidemic and no one was left to tell their story. As we move forward this week making great progress on marriage and a host of other LGBT issues, let us not forget a silent hero from our past - Jim Foster.

Jim Foster, along with Del Martin and Phyllis Lyon, was one of the founders of the modern day LGBT political movement in San Francisco. He was so successful that the became a role model for many of us still struggling to come out of the closet. Foster was among the founders of the first LGBT political club in San Francisco. At first he worked through the Society for Individual Rights (SIR) where he was a major player in assisting a young Dianne Feinstein to be elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in 1969.

In 1972, as a McGovern delegate, he became the first openly gay man ever to speak to a national political convention. While speaking very late at night, his speech is still remembered by those of us who couldn't believe a gay man was speaking to the National Democratic Convention. His speech electrified the small activist LGBT community in 1972. Among the lines of his historic address were:

"We do not come to you begging your understanding or pleading your tolerance. We come to you affirming our pride in our lifestyle, affirming the validity of our right to seek and to maintain meaningful emotional relationships and affirming our right to participate in the life of this country on an equal basis with every citizen."

At that very same convention, it was the first time the LGBT community was able to maneuver and bring a 'gay rights plank' to the floor where it was voted down. Foster was the key force and floor leader in that battle.

One of the sad aspects of Foster's career is that he supported a liberal straight Democrat over Harvey Milk when Milk ran for Supervisor. It led to an intense rivalry in the city.

In 1980, Foster became a key supporter of Senator Edward Kennedy in his primary challenge to President Jimmy Carter. Foster used personal funds to keep the campaign running in San Francisco when money was short and earned the love and respect for the senator the rest of his life.

Foster died of HIV/AIDS in 1990. Like many who died in this epidemic whose contributions are unknown today, Foster left his mark for good and enabled us to make it this far.

Canada Celebrates Huge Victory Over United States!

 

 

Say what? Think the Canadians defeated us at some major sporting event that you failed to read about online? Maybe they won a major vote at the United Nations against the good ole USA. Nope. Canada is celebrating a victory in war that most Americans don't even remember. This is the 200th Anniversary of the War of 1812 and when Canadians successfully stopped an American invasion.

For Americans, the War of 1812 was one of those obscure little wars that mostly is remembered for the burning of the Washington, DC and the writing of our national anthem. For Canada is a major source of pride and a reason for year long celebrations. James Moore the Minister of Heritage states:

"The heroic efforts of those who fought for our country in the War of 1812 tell the story of the Canada we know today: an independent and free country with a constitutional monarchy and its own distinct parliamentary system."

When our nation's forces thrust northward doing the conflict most American citizens believed that our troops would meet little resistance and we would greatly expand our land area. The invasion northward was poorly planned and poorly supplied. The conflict was messy and brutal with both nations committing acts of looting and killing innocent civilians.  Americans retreated in defeat.

So if you are traveling to Canada this year you might encounter one of their commemorative celebrations of the War of 1812. As an American please do our Canadians friends a real favor and act like a defeated foe!

LGBT: Do You Care About Our Seniors As Much As You Do Our Youth?

 

 

That is the great moral question facing the LGBT community. Our Seniors are living in fear, being abused, dying alone and being forced back into the closet in order to receive care and treatment. After years of working to come out and blaze a path for the next generation, they are quickly becoming forgotten by the very generation they helped be freer. Not only are our seniors losing the battle to spend their later years with dignity and honor, we are losing their stories and our history.

For are LGBT seniors, simply put, "It Gets Worse".

Those who are still able to live on their own are having to sell pocessions in order to pay the rent. This is the last generation that was forbidden by law to have children. Many of our seniors were rejected by their families. Almost all of them have lost many of their friends to HIV/AIDS over two decades ago. Some with increasingly health issues await that call or visit from someone as they sit and read or watch television alone night after night in their apartments. LGBT older generation yearn to have someone to share their life journey who will treat their stories with respect, awe and interest.

Those forced into assisted living facilities are often forced back into the closet in order to avoid abuse, being ignored or punished for their sexuality or having people constantly visit them to 'save them' for Jesus. Almost no one visits them from the community and there is little outreach to this generation. Sadly no one hears their plea for attention and assistance.

As Tom Brokaw would say, "This is one of our greatest generations". They have paved the path to freedom. They deserve to be treated with honor in their last days and not neglect.

Honor Dr. Martin Luther King By Reminding Ourselves Of Poverty In America

 

 

As we honor the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King this day we should remember that in his last days he undertook the mantle of erasing poverty from America. He was in Memphis to help sanitation workers earn a living wage when he was assassinated on the balcony of his motel. At the same time he was organizing a "Poor People's March on Washington."

Today we face a nation that has more poor people than any time since the Great Depression. Almost 15 million of our children go to bed hungry every night. As more people struggle, the Republicans want to cut their unemployment checks, their food stamps and their ability to survive. People who have dreamed of owning their own homes and finally achieved that dream are losing them - 7% of Americans have lost their homes to the banks.

The best way to honor Dr. Martin Luther King? Fight on!

History on Film: The Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945)

 

 

The Allies were making great progress heading toward Germany and hopefully a quick end to World War II. In a complete surprise, the Germans launched a major offensive in their last effort to turn around the war. Moving through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium the Germans broke through Allied lines and the ensuing battle lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945.

The battle was fought in intense cold and snow. Over 19,000 American soldiers died and another 23,000 were missing in the horrific fighting. This, without question, was one of the bloodiest battles for American soldiers in the war. Germans often violated the Geneva Convention and there was massive execution of American prisoners who had surrendered to the Germans.

After the defeat of the Germans in this engagement, the Allies were able to continue their march to Berlin and the end of the war just three and a half months later.

In a historical sidenote there was such a shortage of soldiers General Eisenhower allowed African Americans to fight side by side with white Americans for the first time. More than 2,000 African-Americans went to the front.

LGBT: Vintage Photographs That Create Our History

 

 

Every generation goes through the same process of believing in their youth that they are the first genuine and effective agents of change. The excitement of embracing and creating their own historic journey often overlooks those who made the path possible. These photographs from BuzzFeed remind us of those that came before us.

They are remarkable in their daring for the times and for their beauty. The mind could spend hours in attempting to put stories to the photographs and the individuals in them.

Enjoy!

Hell's Kitchen Journal: When The Schools Closed For The Flu.......

 

 

In 1957 the world in our little rural farm country was pretty limited. The phones were still party lines (eight people on the same line) where you had to call the operator to make a call to another town. While television had invaded our lives, the massive news operations were almost non-existent. The Huntley-Brinkley Report (NBC's Prime time News Show) was on the air for just 15 minutes each night. Satellites had not even been thrust into space to bring you the latest earthquake or tsunami live from anywhere in the world.

Those living in the country especially didn't have many resources to plug into the latest on public health. Doc Shepard still made house calls with his 1940's type suave moustache and little black carrying case. The great discovery of the Polio vaccine by Jonas Salk had us all standing in lines in our schools waiting for our shot. The queue went around the basketball court and it was my first experience of mass public health projects.

In 1957, there were a few hints of a pandemic starting calling the Asian Flu. There really hadn't been a huge pandemic since the great Spanish Flu in 1918 that killed 30 to 50 million people around the world. The Asian Flu sort of creeped into our lives through the schools. This flu targeted young children more than older citizens. At first, about a quarter of the kids stopped showing up at our local schools and then quickly there were only three of us left in the entire class. The next days they shut down all the schools for a week. Total panic set in and people ceased going anywhere or visiting other families. Public events in the area were canceled.

The only really public announcements that reached us were through the schools and in local newspapers which had limited information about what was happening at the time. Like a wind quickly sweeping through a deserted town as suddenly as it appeared, it disappeared. In fact, the 1957 pandemic was over in the first two months of school but another wave hit the older folks February and March of 1958. In the United States, 70,000 people died from the Asian Flu and worldwide they estimated two million dead.

Can't help but imagine the massive media reaction and public hysteria that would exist today if a moderate pandemic hit the United States. Today we hear about one person dying almost as soon as it happens in Asia. The good news with such communications there is able today to be a quick response and a reasonable shot of getting preventive vaccines before all hell breaks lose.