Bert was a life-long learner who enjoyed being in the classroom as a student perhaps as much as a teacher. He was also keen on exposing himself to innovative ways to work with his urban high schoolers around social studies, US History, the law, and related topics, hence his participation in a graduate course at The New School for Social Research.
Category: Documents
Jericho ’98
As a community activist and law school graduate, B.Michael felt a deep commitment to raising awareness around the ongoing campaigns for justice for political prisoners like Mumia Abu-Jamal.
On 27 March 1998 in Washington DC, B.Michael accompanied a small group of his students from City-As-School for Jericho ’98. The purpose of the National Jericho Movement is amnesty and freedom for all political prisoners in the U.S. These photos (erroneously date-stamped on the 28th) were taken by B.Michael’s camera.
Were you present at this demonstration? Were you one of B.Michael’s students? Please let us hear from you!
City-As-School v25.0
Proud teacher B.Michael is listed as a guest on page 28. Did you attend this event? What would you tell Bert about your life since 2001?
Seven Brothers For Seven Sisters
A glimpse of how the sausage was made! Minutes (scribed by *Brother* Lidell Jackson) from a meeting on 8/14/97 that Bert was in attendance.
When stars align . . .
B.Michael was enthralled with maps, globes, atlases — anything that helped locate himself/ourselves in space, and imagine where else he/we could be. He also thought beyond our planet, and found boundless fascination and joy at one of his favorite places on Earth, New York’s American Museum of Natural History and, in particular, the Hayden Planetarium.
In May of 1997, he made his love affair with this heavenly institution official, the life-long learner-teacher that he was, by enrolling in an astronomy course. His certificate below is signed by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson who, like B.Michael, was born in Manhattan in 1958.
What, pray tell, would B.Michael say about the images from the James Webb Space Telescope?!?
B.Michael would also appreciate Nikita Gill‘s poetry: “We have calcium in our bones, iron in our veins, carbon in our souls, and nitrogen in our brains. 93 percent stardust, with souls made of flames, we are all just stars that have people names.”
American Social History Project
Bert participated in an interactive teaching seminar sponsored by the Center for Media and Learning at the Graduate School and University Center of CUNY. During this April 1997 session, his offering was to demonstrate “how he concludes his unit on the Civil Rights Movement with blues and jazz music and lyrics.”
Concurrently teaching at City-As-School, Bert operationalized his learning from the seminar in real time. Fortunately, we have one way to appreciate how innovative and impactful his teaching of high school US history was. Below are observations of his American Social History Project classes conducted by his administrative supervisors on two separate occasions — one during the spring semester that he was engaged in the above seminar, the other later that fall.
This is dedicated to the one I love
It was a priority for Bert to be present with and for Ummi, his beloved sistah-friend-colleague; he would not have missed the dedication ceremony of her child, his beloved goddaughter, Adunni.
Here, on the day of the Baby Dedication, Adunni is held by forever Godmom/Auntie Beverly Smith and Auntie Camilla Brizan. Photo: Ummi Modeste or forever Godmom Kmur Hardeman.
Brothers for Sisters
B.Michael was a staunch supporter of the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice. On December 1, 1996, B.Michael and six other brothers, organized the first Brothers for Sisters fundraising event in New York City. In the above photo, (L-R) Michael Seltzer (standing), Don Kao, Mitchell Karp, B.Michael, Lidell Jackson, Ralph Tachuk, John Manzon-Santos (standing).
Artists G. Winston James and What I Miss? contributor Jacquie Bishop generously donated their time as special guests.
Below is the same post-event scene as above, snapped a millisecond later, enough time for B.Michael to cock his head slightly; also B.Michael with Steven Birnbaum, one of the evening’s guests, a new contact brought in by Don Kao.
Enter: Goddaughter Adunni
Although B.Michael and Adunni were on the same earthly plane for just a few years, their connection was deep and everlasting. The deal was sealed by their shared left-handedness.
This photo (and photo box) was gifted to B.Michael by Adunni and her mom.
This birthday card was among the mementos that B.Michael treasured.
Brother Dear,
B.Michael was a fierce champion of the Astraea National Lesbian Action Foundation, now known as the Astraea Lesbian Foundation for Justice.
In 1996, he joined dozens of other queer men who donated $500 or more as inaugural members of Astraea’s Founding Brothers Circle. Beyond writing checks, he co-created unique events that raised funds as well as honored community sheroes in both 1996 and 1997.
Astraea invited B.Michael and his domestic partner, John, to share some reflections on why they supported Astraea (see front page newsletter article and photo below).