B.Michael’s Photo Albums (Mostly 1970s-1991)

Think old-school, three-ring binder (11.5″ x 11″ x 3″) with a glossy, gold-trimmed cover. Inside are removable, double-sided, cardboard inserts with light adhesive to keep photos in place beneath fold-over plastic sheaths. B.Michael had two, the earlier one coffee-colored, the latter the color of cabernet.

Each block of photos below is an album page that was curated by B.Michael. His rich, joy-centering life wove family of origin with chosen family, commuting readily between his multiple roles of son / brother / nephew / grandson / uncle / cousin / godfather, together with friend / lover / brister / classmate / organizer / activist / community member.

The latter binder includes a dozen or so blank pages that he didn’t get around to populating. N.B. The pics are not necessarily in chronological order, and the dimensions of an image in this digital setting sometimes vary from the actual size of the corresponding print image that appears in the album.

Click on each photo for more context. AND, more importantly, if you know who/when/where/why details about an image, we encourage you to contact us here!

#1

#2

Stay tuned! More photos to follow . . .

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

#7

#8

#9

#10

#11

#12

#13

#14

#15

#16

#17

#18

#19

#20

#21

#22

#23

#24

#25

#26

#27

#28

#29

#30

#31

#32

#33

#34

#35

#36

#37

#38

#39

#40

#41

#42

#43

#44

#45

#46

#47

#48

#49

#50

#51

#52

#53

#54

#55

#56

#57

#58

#59

#60

#61

#62

#63

#64

#65

#66

#67

Click here for more photos of B.Michael!

A (Mostly) Black Gay Workshop

B.Michael was a participant in this gathering along with Ronald K. Brown, Craig Harris, Rod McCoy, Len Richardson, Steve Williams, Donald Woods, and What I Miss? contributor, Robert E. Penn, among others.

The workshop was most likely creative in nature, though the venue, date, and names of the other participants are not known at this time. We do know that B.Michael was present since these photos appear on the same roll of film, in his possession, that contains images from another retreat that B.Michael also attended. The latter retreat took place circa 1990-91. If you were in the room and can shed some light on the details, please let us know!

The Booty Commission

There is much to say โ€” and even more to keep under wraps! โ€” about this extraordinary gathering of Gay Men of Color activists (nicknamed the Booty Commission) in upstate New York, which took place some time between 1990-91.

B.Michael took these black & white images, which represent only some of the Native, Black, Latino, and Asian retreatants. Click each photo to put names to faces, and kindly let us know if you recognize those brothers whose names are omitted.

Other attendees not pictured, besides B.Michael, include Charlie Fernรกndez, and What I Miss? contributor Colin Robinson.

Michael Griffin ~ Rest In Power

B.Michael often volunteered, or was asked by others to do so, to be a community point person for information, communication, and coordination. During the late 80s and early 90s, he would play this role when people died, as with his friend, fellow Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) member and community co-conspirator, Michael Griffith. Michael appears above, at right, wearing a GMAD tank top on Pride Day, June 26, 1989, in New York City (somewhere along the M10 bus route), together with B.Michael, whose t-shirt identifies him as a volunteer marshal for the march.


Did you know Michael Griffin? Please leave a remembrance or send us an email.

Cornelia Street Cafe ~ Reading

Dwayne H. McKinley ~ Rest In Power

B.Michael attended Dwayne’s celebration of life and would have known him through Gay Men of African Descent and other community networks.

Did you know both B.Michael and Dwayne? How else might they have known each other? Send us a message here if you’ve got the T!

Other Countries – 1991 Spring Workshop & Performance Schedule

During the first half of 1991, the gifted brothers of Other Countries took turns leading the weekly Saturday afternoon workshop. The roster is packed with brilliance and culminated in the Summer Solstice performance on June 8.

B.Michael took the April 13 slot (see page 2 below). Other contributors to What I Miss? also led sessions: Colin Robinson (January 12), Robert E. Penn (March 9), and Allen Luther Wright (April 20).

Some of the writers/performers listed here died of HIV within a couple years, including Craig G. Harris, Roy Gonsalves, Sabah As-Sabah, Jr., and Assotto Saint.

Multicultural Diversity Coordinator

One of B.Michael’s first jobs after leaving IBM was with the Church Avenue Merchant Block Association (rebranded officially as CAMBA the way KFC no longer refers to its Kentucky origins).

Within two weeks of submitting his first report below, as B.Michael told it, the day before the end of the end of his three-month probationary period, he was called into the office of the executive director, a white woman who, according to the CAMBA website in 2020, is still in the position 30 years later. He had been receiving subtle messages that his vision for the program was not well-received and that he was not a fit. As he suspected, he was informed that he would be let go. Without missing a beat, B.Michael conveyed something to the effect of, “What’s your offer (to have me go away and not file a discrimination complaint with the NYC Human Rights Commission)?”

Multicultural Meeting

All we know about this dynamic convening of LGBTQ advocates in New York City is that it took place on a Tuesday and that Bert was the first to sign in. Present were Bert’s close friend and fellow community organizer, Craig G. Harris, and his eventual domestic partner, John Manzon, in whose storage this attendance sheet was found.

The gathering included a cross section of folks from NYC public schools, NYC and NY State government agencies, youth-focused organizations like Hetrick-Martin Institute and Project Reach, health organizations like GMHC, as well as the Lesbian and Gay Teachers Association, PFLAG, Queer Nation, and The Loft: LGBTQ+ Community Services Center located upstate in White Plains NY.