I
HAD
NOT
even
made
it
all
the
way
through
the
June
Pride
festival
when
I
heard
“the
question”
again:
Do
you
think
we
need
a
Black
Gay
Pride?
It
was
one
of
“my
people”
who
asked,
of
course,
meaning
a
white
person.
Now,
I
like
white
people
just
fine.
Most
of
my
family
is
white,
the
majority
of
my
friends
are
white,
and
I
appreciate
the
individual
contributions
of
numerous
white
people
to
technology,
science,
business,
culture
and
education.
And
yet,
my
people
embarrass
me
sometimes.
The
whole
dynamic
of
one
white
person
asking
another
if
they
think
Black
Pride
is
necessary
is
illustrative
of
how
unbelievably
oblivious
most
white
people
are
to
white
privilege.
A
less
tactful
version
of
myself
would
have
said,
“Why
on
earth
would
you
think
it’s
up
to
you
or
me
to
decide
what
other
people
need
or
should
have?
And
further,
what
are
you
going
to
do
if
we
two
white
people
agree
that
it’s
not
really
needed?
Cancel
it?”
Is
anyone
catching
on
yet
as
to
why
Black
Pride
exists?
Many
white
people
would
rather
worry
over
whether
having
a
June
Pride
festival
and
a
Black
Pride
event
in
September
perpetuates
racial
divisions
rather
than
actually
do
something
to
eradicate
those
divisions.
After
all,
they
think,
why
do
black
people
feel
this
need
to
create
the
spaces
and
events
they
want
in
a
separate
sphere
when
they
could
just
hope
that
we
let
them
tag
on
to
our
event?
Plus,
then
our
event
could
be
“diverse.”
It’s
for
those
white
people
that
I
offer
a
few
facts
about
Black
Pride.
FIRST,
OUR
CITY’S
two
Pride
events
are
not
even
remotely
similar
in
structure,
content,
size
or
location.
Atlanta
Pride
is
a
300,000-person
three-day
outdoor
festival.
It
offers
more
than
500
marketplace
vendors,
two
stages
of
live
music,
and
a
parade.
It
has
a
celebratory
feel.
Atlanta’s
Black
Gay
Pride
feels
more
like
a
conference.
With
an
even
mix
of
in-state
versus
out-of-state
attendees,
the
event
is
headquartered
in
a
host
hotel.
Attendees
participate
in
numerous
educational,
wellness
and
cultural
workshops.
Instead
of
a
parade,
there
is
the
more
politically
inspired
“Stand
Up
and
Represent”
March,
which
travels
through
black
neighborhoods
and
ends
in
a
rally
on
the
front
steps
of
the
State
Capitol.
Some
10,000
people
participate
in
some
part
of
Atlanta’s
Black
Gay
Pride
weekend,
which
is
probably
a
good
indication
that
there
is
a
need
for
the
event.
But
even
if
only
10
people
attended,
the
point
is,
those
10
people
would
be
determining
what
they
need
and
creating
it
for
themselves.
What
is
it
that
my
people
find
problematic
about
this
idea?
Oh,
right…it
isn’t
about
them,
so
it
must
not
be
important.
BUT
WHITE
PEOPLE
are
welcome
at
Black
Gay
Pride,
and
generally
enjoy
themselves
when
they
don’t
act
like
jackasses.
Here’s
how
to
avoid
the
latter
categorization:
Most
importantly,
recognize
that
it
is
not
about
you.
Don’t
name
drop.
Don’t
babble
in
the
elevator
about
how
excited
you
are
to
be
part
of
such
a
“diverse”
gathering.
Don’t
try
to
establish
your
credentials
as
an
anti-racism
activist.
Don’t
dominate
audience
questions
in
a
workshop
that
focuses
on
nothing
to
do
with
you
(like
raising
children
as
same-gender-loving
people
of
color).
And
for
heaven’s
sake,
do
not
ask
to
touch
anyone’s
hair.
This
is
not
a
petting
zoo.
Please,
white
people,
you’re
embarrassing
all
of
us!
In
truth,
Black
Gay
Pride
is
more
political,
more
educational,
and
more
affirming
than
the
Atlanta
Pride
festival.
Frankly,
I
think
the
Atlanta
Pride
Committee
could
learn
a
thing
or
two
from
In
the
Life
Atlanta,
the
official
organizers
of
Black
Gay
Pride,
in
moving
Atlanta
Pride
toward
a
more
educational,
empowering
and
family-friendly
event.
This
year’s
Black
Gay
Pride
will
be
held
Aug.
30
through
Sept.
4
at
the
Sheraton
Colony
Square
in
Midtown.
If
you
are
looking
for
a
more
cerebral
Pride
celebration
this
year,
or
just
had
most
of
your
fun
washed
away
with
the
rain
in
June,
you
should
check
it
out.
But
please,
white
people,
do
not
tell
the
organizers
I
sent
you
or
ask
the
volunteers
if
they
know
the
only
black
gay
person
you
know.
We’re
trying
to
represent
a
little
bit
better
by
now.
