Director Marlon T. Riggs’s controversial classic documentary chronicles the black gay experience. The stories show homophobia and racism: a man refused entry to a gay bar because of his color; a college student left bleeding on the sidewalk after a gay-bashing; and the loneliness and isolation of a drag queen. Some also affirm the black gay male experience: protest marches, smoky bars, “snap divas,” humorous musicology, and vogue dancing. Poet Essex Hemphill recites his poetry as the film moves forward with Riggs telling his own story of growing up. A socio-political experiment to show the marginalized gay blacks, the movie shocks as it denounces popular stereotypes and takes a slap at conformity. It ends with obituaries to AIDS victims and footage of the civil rights movement alongside of black men marching in a Gay Pride parade. A short film with a runtime of 55 minutes, the DVD has special features: a 1991 interview with Riggs, other interviews, and 7 minutes of deleted scenes and outtakes·
