06/16/2026
This month the Black Men’s Union would like to honor LGBTQ+ identities and its intersections with Blackness and masculinity, while celebrating Black men who have helped build a more inclusive future through their voices, stories, and advocacy.
This week, we’d like to acknowledge James Baldwin, a writer who is most notable for his essay collection Notes of a Native Son in which he explored race, love, and belonging in America. He is an activist and influential figure during the civil rights movement.
His novel, Giovanni’s Room, was one of the first major American novels that focused on a same-sex relationship, particularly during a time when publishers would avoid such topics. Baldwin also spoke freely about his experiences regarding sexuality and race, and overall paved the way for future generations who did not see their identities reflected in literature and public life.
