The New Black made its Chicago premiere on Oct. 7 and 8 during screenings held at The Logan Theatre and the Chicago Urban League. Guests also heard from speakers with Illinois Unites for Marriage, along with panel Q&A following each screening.
The speakers Oct. 8 were the film's producer Yvonne Welbon; Kim Hunt, executive director of Affinity; William McNary, co-director of Citizen Action Illinois; and Bishop Carlton Pearson of New Dimensions Chicago. The previous night, speakers included Chicago Urban League's Roderick Hawkins, Welbon, McNary and the Rev. Jamie Frazier of The Lighthouse Church of Chicago.
Flashback to Election Day 2008, when voters in California elected the country's first Black president while denying same-sex couples the right to marry. Exit polls reported an overwhelming majority of the state's African-American voters decided "yes" on Proposition 8, enraging LGBT activists and supporters nationwide—many who quickly noted the dissonance and blamed Blacks.
Although new data soon invalidated the widely cited poll, the perception stuck. And a new appeal to align gay rights with the Civil Rights Movement was borne of an emerging, yet hotly-contested phrase: "Gay is the new Black."
Shocked and angered while witnessing the divide from San Francisco on election night, filmmaker Yoruba Richen decided to explore the marriage issue in the Black community, soon embarking on a three-year filming process that culminated in this summer's premiere of The New Black.
"I felt angry that African-Americans were being scapegoated ... and that the campaign didn't work well with communities of color and then the blame was put on the Black community," she said.
Richen—the film's writer, director and producer—said she also wanted to find out why white and Black LGBT communities were being placed at odds. As California headed towards another potential referendum on same-sex marriage in 2010, Richen sought to understand how the relationship was being repaired and efforts to include more African-American voices.
But proponents failed to get it on the ballot. Months later, a federal judge issued the first in a string of court rulings that would ultimately strike down Proposition 8 and legalize same-sex marriage in California. After more than a year of filming, Richen set her sights on Maryland as a battleground for marriage equality in the African-American community.
"People were blaming Black folks in California, which is crazy because Black people are only 7 percent of the state," said Yvonne Welbon, the film's producer. "But Maryland was an actual opportunity to see if the [Black] vote was actually going to matter." According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Blacks account for 30 percent of Maryland's population.
The New Black follows African-American advocates on both sides of the 2012 campaign for Maryland's Question 6, a referendum launched by opponents of the state's same-sex marriage bill. Richen profiled Black organizers, ministers, public figures and groups supporting marriage equality, including Sharon Lettman-Hicks, executive director and CEO of the National Black Justice Coalition.
After following Lettman-Hicks and her organization's work, Richen said she soon understood their efforts to promote understanding of LGBT issues in Black communities.
"I thought the focus would be on looking at white LGBT groups and what they weren't doing," said Richen. "The focus soon became looking in our own community and how we were handling LGBT issues."
The New Black also recalls footage of scathing criticisms from activists and ministers such as gospel singer Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Eddie Long and the late Fred Shuttlesworth, all of whom decried LGBT issues as matters of civil rights.
As a filmmaker, Richen felt it was important to include voices of Blacks who oppose marriage equality.
"I always wanted to include the other side," she said. "I think it makes for a more complex understanding of what's happening in the community around this issue... and challenges us to consider the arguments of the other side."
The presence of various voices in the film extends to discussions within families, which the film identifies as a key focal point in understanding how African-American opinions are shaped on LGBT issues.
"The issue of family for the African-American community has been a contested space for us given that we weren't allowed to marry and have family. Family has been a refuge from our experiences of racism and being an oppressed group within society," said Richen. "Being able to film those discussions and debates around family gives people a real intimacy with what's going on... and ultimately, the political is personal."
Ultimately, Maryland voters decided in favor of same-sex marriage. And, after making the film, Richen understood "the new black" as a phrase with multiple meanings.
"In the end, the young activists who have dedicated their lives to pushing for LGBT rights, they are the 'new Black,' she said. "I came to realize that it's the youth who are pushing the issue and have made this a part of the conversation."
Although the marriage issue still remains to be decided in the Illinois legislature, Richen hopes the film provides a space for dialogue.
"Have a conversation with people in your family and people in your community," said Richen. "If we want to create more fairness for folks, then we need to understand each other."
For more information including upcoming showings, discussion guides and details for hosting a screening, visit thenewBlackfilm.com . "The New Black" will broadcast on PBS in 2014.
To read about the Oct. 8 showing at the Chicago Urban League, visit www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Panel-discusses-African-Americans-and-marriage-push/44721.html .
See related story at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/The-New-Black-Film-looks-at-marriage-issue-in-Black-community/44819.html .
