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!

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Stay tuned! More photos to follow . . .

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Click here for more photos of B.Michael!

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.

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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!

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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.

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