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Black and White Men Together records

 Collection
Collection number: ahc.MSS903

Scope and Content

The collection consists of: a full set of monthly BWMT/Atlanta newsletters; newsletters of the National Association of Black and White Men Together and of affiliated chapters from around the country; papers regarding steering committee business and special projects undertaken by BWMT/Atlanta; convention materials, reports and correspondence generated by the National Association and its regional conferences; miscellaneous flyers, brochures, and publications from outside organizations involved in related gay, minority, and/or interracial issues.

Dates

  • 1982-1996

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. All requests to publish, quote, or reproduce must be submitted through the Kenan Research Center.

Administrative/Biographical History

Black and White Men Together/Atlanta (BWMT/Atlanta) was founded in late 1981 and published its first newsletter in February 1982. It is affiliated with the National Association of Black and White Men Together begun a year earlier in San Francisco by founder Michael J. Smith. The organization’s Statement of Purpose reads: “BWMT is a gay multi-cultural organization committed to fostering supportive environments wherein racial and cultural barriers can be overcome and the goal of human equality realized. To these ends, we engage in educational, political, cultural, and social activities as a means of dealing with racism, sexism, homophobia, and other inequities in our community and our lives.” Activities of the organization include publishing a monthly newsletter and hosting potlucks, social outings and rap groups. BWMT/Atlanta has also undertaken special projects which involved the larger Atlanta gay community: The Atlanta Anti-Discrimination Project, 1983-84, which discouraged local bar owners from requiring multiple IDs and extra cover charges from people of color; The AIDS Education Committee, 1985, and The National Task Force on AIDS Prevention (NTFAP), 1988-1991, both of which gathered data regarding the prevention of AIDS in minority communities. BWMT/Atlanta also joined other NABWMT affiliated chapters for the 1993 March on Washington, resulting in its photo being published on the front page of the Monday, April 26, 1993 edition of the Atlanta Constitution. A number of local activists in the larger Black gay community were first nurtured within Black and White Men Together, including Hubert Alexander, Melvin Ross, Duncan Teague, and Kenneth A. Johnson.

Extent

4.5 linear ft. (9 document cases; 1 oversize folder)

Language

English

System of Arrangement

This collection is arranged in chronological order.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, 1996

Description Control

This collection was processed in 2013.

Title
Black and White Men Together records
Author
Finding aid prepared by
Date
January 2013
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Kenan Research Center at Atlanta History Center Repository

Contact:
130 West Paces Ferry Road
Atlanta GA 30305
404-814-4040