The Invisible (+Black) Trans* Man
Pass The “Peace:” On Black Transmen’s Poetry Video &Trans* Consciousness
”So my task was one of revealing the human universals hidden within the plight of one who was both black and American…”
- Ralph Ellison, from “Invisible Man”
If you didn’t know this guy was trans* and you were attracted to him, would you be heading to Grindr right now to connect? Would you change your mind when you discovered he was trans*? Would you even, then, call him “he?”How might your perceptions change, or would they change at all?
For all our postmodern and progressive activism in the LGBTQ community, dissent still arises along the lines of race, gender, class and more, even in “men’s only” or “women’s only” so-called shared spaces. As we work for full equality in real-life and real-time, the conversation surrounding these issues must continue.
This month on the Black Transmen, Inc. Twitter timeline, a tweet came across the ether that demanded attention, reading:
#BlackTransmen Inc – TRANSMEN STAND UP!!!!! http://youtu.be/Weo5EQyqxnM via @BlackTransmen
Once you settle in to watch it, you are immediately taken to another world that’s grounded, centered, fierce, and empowered.
Resonance washes over you as you’re reminded it’s the same world you live in, now. Yet you know, from the minute the poet in it speaks to you, you’ve moved into Xavier’s world as he navigates who and what seems to be misguided on this guided tour.
As he claims his space and launches into “experience telling,” you are forced to think about one man’s life trajectory as a trans* man…he’s not speaking about “the black experience,” or “the trans* experience,” but the course and the work of living, according to one man.
As they say, what’s personal is most universal. This artistic work compels you to harmonize…and frankly,to deal.
Naturally, lived experience for trans* folks articulates in ways that may be challenging to fully articulate, even for trans* folks themselves. The telling of personal stories provides a clearing. A beginning. An open window, door, opportunity. Speaking truth to one’s own power is where power begins and where it lives.
Self-appointed entitlement to create and carve one’s own path is the only language power understands, and it must be claimed.
African American transmen–and trans* people of color–have additional hurdles that they encounter in terms of day-to-day livelihood that cisgendered folks or folks who don’t share the same background or origin might not even be able to imagine.
Black Transmen Inc. creates multimedia work, press campaigns, outreach materials, workshops and creative projects to help invite, welcome and keep trans* men in the conversation, no matter where they are, and to help others to better understand and support our trans* brothers of color.
You must remember–we’re all family.
In the video, a poet named Xavier launches into an avant garde poetic diegesis on what one black trans* man’s experience feels like, and how he embraces–rather than disgraces or dismisses–his pre-transition identity.
As he waxes rhapsodic on the struggle for equality, he shares lines such as:
“You want me to deny my feminine nature…” [He won’t.]
“They have their realities, and I have my own.” [He asserts.]
“I prefer the term trans* before man….this is my reality, and I embrace that…I will do things that suit my reality….” [He notifies you, regardless of your opinion on the matter.]
Going on to explore misconceptions around assumed “gender trickery,” privilege, what it means to “be stealth,” ostracism and ultimately empowerment, you’re compelled to think differently about what you think you know about being a trans* person.
Have a look. No: on second thought, have a “Stop, look, and listen.”
Click here to watch the video, and please share your thoughts and feelings about it.
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( The first draft of this piece was originally created for “Gay Agenda” magazine.)
A note about language: writing the word trans* with an asterisk at the end has a special meaning.In short, the addition of the asterisk is more inclusive. Please click here to learn more about that.
Also, there are many who find the word “transman” or “transwoman” to be dehumanizing or offensive and who feel you should insert a space between each word for this reason. However, the organization Black Transmen obviously articulates the experience of trans* men by writing it as one word in their offiical parlance.
This brings to mind similar linguistic differences reminiscent of calling oneself “gay” versus calling oneself “same gender loving,” (which takes the focus away from sex, but automatically excludes many trans* persons).
Or, articulating queer culture as being “gay” rather than the more inclusive “LGBT” “GLBT,” (people can be attached to the order of the letters as well) or “LGBTQ.” Or, writing or saying “queer” can be an issue (which some folks in the LGBTQ community find offensive).
Many acronymns and terms to behoove inclusivity-focused communication exist (e.g. LGBTQIA-U for “lesbian, gay, trans*, queer, intersex persons, allies and undeclared).
As a communicator, this can make communication, sharing information and mediation seem somewhat challenging, but not impossibly so.Prosaically, I do tend to use terms interchangeably, and it’s likely that will offend some or many—many of these lingual preferences have to do with race, class, issues around privilege, gender identity, a preference not to be labeled, social and hierarchical issues and challenges, etcetera.
Personally, I tend to go by the M.O. of: “I’ll address you respectfully and earnestly in the way you prefer to be addressed. If you don’t give me a heads up, I’ll do my best to honor y/our culture going on what I know, today.”
Many thanks to Ashlea Miyauchi :) for asking me great questions which inspired my revisions (exploring linguistics and experiences a bit more).
Jaye Johnson is a social media & content manager (plus: VA and writer, ‘natch). If you’re looking to connect with an LGBTQ-inclusive editorial assistant and/or manager for content curation (a.k.a. White hat editorial SEO, social shares and ghost-tweeting), PR help, “content massage,” admin assistance and overall good vibes, she welcomes you to get in touch.
