One of the most disheartening things about discovering Black stories and history is realizing that many times, we were some of the first to stand up and also lose our lives in major moments of the foundation of this country. 

Black folks have been at the very front of almost every movement for equality in this country since the American Revolution. Let’s look at three people. One more known and the two stagger into lesser known history for some. The first is William Dorsey Swann, the first Drag Queen in noted history and the first American to legally fight for LGBTQ rights in this country in the courts. The next is Marsha P. Johnson. A dynamic figure in the fight for modern day LGBTQ rights. The last but not least is Sister Rosetta Tharpe. One of the most innovative electric guitar players who ever lived and one of the inventors of Rock-n-Roll. 

It’s nearly impossible to know their stories and not be inspired by the bravery  and authenticity they exuded. As we continue to fight for Black Lives, we can’t deny that some feel like they have selected the group of Black Lives that Matter and that’s just not the case here. All Black Lives Matter.  

RSVP here to learn more about these three so we can better challenge the narrative that excludes all Black Lives: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvce-przsrGdZEJlJ8jr5Y-d6LjVVErBQH

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