Posting of allegedly gay black heroes draws ire
By Meliqueica Meadows
Of the St. Louis American
Black History Month is all about celebrating the contributions of individuals like mathematician Benjamin Bannekar and gospel great James Cleveland. But when Mark Rankins, assistant director of the Office of Student Life at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, decided to post The Blacklist in the window of his office, many members of the UMSL community – faculty, staff and students – cried foul.
Compiled in 1994 by University of Delaware teacher Chuck Tarver, The Blacklist is an alphabetical listing of historic African-American leaders and historical figures, living and dead, alleged to be lesbian, gay, bi-sexual or transgendered (LGBT).
Antrell Teen, junior psychology major at UMSL and chair of the campus group Grievance Commission of the Association of Black Collegians, said his organization received more than 100 complaints about the list.
“I got no positive feedback,” Teen said. “It wasn’t just the students, but faculty and staff also.”
“When you look at some of the citations, they are kind of questionable,” MK Stallings, coordinator of diversity initiatives in the Office of Student Life, said of the list.
“We still have to be credible, and until we know without a shadow of a doubt that Benjamin Bannekar was gay, I don’t feel comfortable helping someone else out him.”
Stallings said he was unaware of Rankins’ plans to post the list. Rankins has identified himself as gay.
Several messages left for Tarver were not returned as of press time. However, he did respond to an email message Rankins sent announcing the student forum held on the campus Tuesday where students expressed their scorn.
In the emailed response, which Rankins printed and handed out to students, Tarver said, “The situation at the University of Missouri-St. Louis speaks directly to the validity of the name.”
“The people listed are still of African descent,” said Tarver. “There is no way to change that and, as is too often the case, members of the community have effectively rallied to ‘disavow the contributions, identities or worth of many of people listed,’ as the preamble to the list states.”
Dozens of students stopped by the forum to publicly express their concern. Rankins seemed shocked that the list, which has since been removed from view, drew such consternation.
“I expected only negative reactions based on homophobia,” said Rankins.
“It never occurred to me that there was anything in here that would be perceived as racist or demeaning to persons of African-American descent.”
At the forum, Rankins made a point to acknowledge that an African-American gay man compiled the list. “Maybe he felt comfortable telling it in such a controversial way,” Rankins said.
“It doesn’t matter who produced the list,” UMSL academic advisor Marion Berry said.
“There were no references or citations authenticating the list. Finding something on an internet site and posting it does not make it credible. If you turned that in as a paper, you would get an F.”
Gary Benton, an African-American senior studying education, expressed concern with Tarver’s research and Rankins’ decision to post it. Gospel musician James Cleveland’s inclusion on the list is referenced to BLK Magazine, a publication established in 1988 and aimed at the black gay and lesbian community. The citation fails to reference any specific article that could speak to the late pastor’s sexual orientation.
“The way it was presented makes it messed-up,” Benton said. “My problem is that you’re at a university and presenting information in an incorrect way.”
Others objected to the placement of the list in the context of Black History Month.
“What does a person’s sexual orientation have to do with African-American History Month?” asked Betty Hopkins, student development coordinator at UMSL.
“If we’re celebrating black history, then let’s celebrate the achievements of blacks and not what they do in the bedroom,” said Carl Williams, UMSL student development coordinator.
Rankins said, “During Black History Month, it is important to recognize what contributions persons who are LGBT made to the African-American community.”
Rankins said he had every intention of generating dialogue, but perhaps not the type that erupted from the student body and staff.
“That was not what I intended to achieve. And it’s not what I think the author wanted,” Rankins said.
“This was supposed to offend homophobes and was not supposed to offend persons of African-American descent who are not homophobes.”