BOSTON, MA (JUNE 23, 2021) The History Project (THP), Boston’s LGBTQ community archives, has hired Micha Broadnax as Community Curator Fellow, and slandie prinston as Community Connector, to support ongoing efforts to collect, update, and share the history of Boston’s Black LGBTQ community. 

With the support of a Mass Humanities Digital Capacity Grant, this project will utilize Zoom-based focus groups, develop mechanisms for soliciting feedback and submissions to a timeline of Black LGBTQ history, and create a guide for undertaking community outreach activities remotely. 

“I am so excited to work with Micha and slandie, two community-driven and -minded people on this crucial project to ensure that the stories of Black, LGBTQ Bostonians are preserved and accessible to the community,” said The History Project’s Executive Director Joan Ilacqua.

Micha Broadnax (she/they) is the Community Curator Fellow. They've worked in academic institutions partnering with diversity offices and student organizations to improve the historical record of the college and as a workshop trainer with “Documenting the Now” a national initiative that empowers workshop participants to document and preserve their narratives and experiences. They curated an exhibit on Combahee River Collective founder and Mount Holyoke graduate Barbara Smith in honor of her 50th reunion in 2018, and they are currently Project Manager for the Black Teacher Archive project at Harvard Graduate School of Education. 

“The significant legacy of the Black queer history of Boston is one that I’m deeply excited to aid efforts to document in unique and powerful ways that I hope will resonate far beyond the bounds of the city,” says Broadnax, “I’m excited to facilitate conversations and recollections about Black Boston queer history. This history is one I sought when I was a young adult in the city trying to understand myself, my place, my community and legacy.” 

slandie prinston (she/her) will serve as a consultant and Community Connector for the project. slandie is a Boston-based queer immigrant activist. She uses language to probe, dissect, re-imagine, engender distinct worlds, and empowering realities. Her essays have appeared in L’Union Suite, GRLSQUASH, Boston Art Review, and The Caribbean Writer. Currently, she is working on her first biomythograpy memoir and hopes to teach creative writing as a healing device. She is a 2021 Opportunity Fund Grantee from the City of Boston. In addition to her creative work, she sits on the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accountability in Action Committee at the Cambridge Women’s Center. She runs EMPOWERED edX, a healing platform and coaching house for people at the beginning of their careers. 

“Boston is my chosen home. The place where I healed many generational traumas, understood my place in the world, and converged with wonderful human beings who welcomed my complexity and fluidity. Being involved in this project strengthens my foundation because I am unmasking more of Boston’s hidden faces and helping hatch a guide for younger queers of color and younger queers of color who are also immigrants and undocumented.” Said prinston, “Seeing myself reflected in the community, art, history, and culture is vital as having a roof over my head and enriching foods to eat. This work is about survival as much as it is about teaching myself and each other to thrive.” 

The project kicked off its first outreach activity at the 2021 Trans Resistance March and Vigil on June 12, 2021. Broadnax connected with Black LGBTQ Bostonians and invited participants to add their stories, history, and feedback on a poster. Moments added included Youth Pride, Dyke March, Foster Equality, If you can feel it, you can speak it open mic, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Yes on 3 campaign for trans rights, and “TODAY trans resistance march.” 

Prinston and Broadnax are planning additional community events and outreach. Click here to learn more about the project and get involved.