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Charlotte Heads
In the midst of the AIDS crisis, the revolutionary poet and activist Essex Hemphill thrived within the D.C. art scene. Known for his famous poem ‘American Wedding,’ Hemphill beautifully portrayed the unique experience of a black gay man in the 1980s. Almost thirty years after his premature death, he still is an inspiration to queer people of color around the world.
Within such a close-knit community, Hemphill had many companions. The partner he was survived by, Dennis Carney, is now the Chair of the Black Gay men’s Advisory Group in London. During the AIDS crisis, community was an essential backbone of the black and queer communities, and Hemphill often referenced its importance on both a smaller and larger scale.
In his poem Better Days, Hemphill describes both the instinct and environment that drive him in his everyday life. The challenges of being both black and queer alienated him from each individual community, so the intersection of the two was even more valuable. After the death of author Joseph Beam, Hemphill completed Beam’s book brother to brother, later nominated for a Lambda Literary award. The book is now considered one of the most influential modern pieces of queer literature.
Sometimes I give in
to the pressing
call of instinct,
knowing the code of my kind better than I know
the National Anthem
or The Lord’s Prayer.
Aside from publications, Hemphill was a regular attendee of readings in local cafes and theaters. Known for his lyrical and captivating readings, he was considered as not just a poet, but a performer. His work may have been buried and overlooked overall, he was recognized as an incredible artist and activist on a smaller, local scale. Hemphill was a friend to many, all of whom have recalled his kindness and electric personality.
He was a close friend of Frances Goldin, who passed away in 2018. Goldin had been Hemphill’s literary agent in the 1990s, and was the person who took care of him throughout his struggle with AIDS. After his death, she memorialized him by publishing an anthology of his work, including a few never-seen-before poems. Other memorials included documentaries, a scholarship, and readings of his poetry by old friends.
The ideas that Hemphill discussed in his poetry are acknowledged even more today- including mental health, objectification, and the impacts of capitalism in marginalized communities. However, he was only one of the many queer artists of color who history has overlooked.
Photo credits to Rotimi Fani-Kayode
Elwood Watson, 10/10/2012, Essex Hemphill, Black Past
Sarah Kaplan, 7/3/2013, A poet who spoke to the black gay experience, and a quest to make him heard, Washington Post
Essex Hemphill, Poetry foundation
Zócalo Poets, 5/29/2013, Essex Hemphill: “We keep treasure any king would count as dear”: Poems of lust, poems of tenderness, Zócalo Poets
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