Audre Lorde died on November 17, 1992. This event, produced by Melinda Goodman, was one of a multitude of tributes that ensued. B.Michael felt honored to be one of two men, along with Bil Wright, on the program that evening.
Bert began the new year with his sights set on identifying a new teaching environment. City As School in Manhattan would become his professional home for the next eight years, and his final post before his passing.
In 1992, when B.Michael learned he was HIV-positive, discrimination based on HIV-status, or perceived HIV-status, was not uncommon. We learned early on that “confidentiality” through one’s care provider, for example, was not ultimately guaranteed. B.Michael chose to get tested at one of New York City’s Anonymous Counseling & Testing (ACT) sites, where he was assigned a number rather than required to give his name. In this way, he could ensure that only he knew his status and decide if and with whom to share it and when.
In his essay, I Have Come Here to Die, he writes that he received his HIV-positive result on November 18. It is likely that he rescheduled his original appointment with Chauncey slated for November 9. B.Michael had decided to keep the above slip of paper in his calendar book.
B.Michael and Sheilah Mabry performed their individual works — as well as the piece, Cousins, which they wrote together — at the now shuttered A Different Light Bookstore in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Do you remember A Different Light? Send us a message here!
When B.Michael and John decided to cohabitate, at 34 and 27 respectively, each had had ample experience with roommates. It was, however, the first time for either of them to live with a lover.
Romantic bliss aside, there was the business of maintaining a household . . .
. . . and shopping for food . . .
. . . and managing money jointly!
As a community activist and as a high school teacher at City-As-School, B.Michael sought to raise critical awareness about the significance of the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Christopher Columbus.
Here is how he broke it down for students:
How would B.Michael have taught the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the Mayflower in 2020?
These nights, I close my eyes to visit the dead.
They are here,
Donald for strategy, breaking patterns, family love
Bill for
Allan for tall stories
Haffiz for
These nights
(Tonight close yours and say hello)
When I go, close your I and visit men
Attitude — Guilt — Shame — Denial
I mad at you
Visualization
Every day is a new experience
glad to be here
Tears fall
People talking to you — in off, off to the time when
off to the P
Always did like you smile, all them teeth.
Denial
Take this respirator out of my nose
The hospital to die
Ain’t gonna make it
[B.Michael most likely wrote this some time after the deaths of Donald Woods (1992) and Allan B. Robinson (1991).]
In 1988, B.Michael moved into 528 East 11th Street #11 which, according to one newspaper in 1992, just made Manhattan’s top ten list of worst buildings to live in!
But by 1993, it had apparently been rehabilitated, so said the New York Post:
Per B.Michael’s bio, what, pray tell, is an “Editorial Editor”?