‘My Gender Is Black’ Review: A View Of Black Joy

Terry Blade’s short film My Gender Is Black, discusses gender norms for Black men showing experimental ways in which, Black men of all shapes, sizes, and hues exist in joy through music, dance, and personal history.

The film opens up with Christian Chigbolu discussing how he’s always known he is trans. Growing up, he knew he was a boy, and there is something so radical in that level of self awareness and acceptance at a young age. To say that out loud is revolutionary. At least that’s what I thought to myself. Revolutionary feels inaccurate. To say that out loud should be encouraged and NORMALIZED.

The thematic connection is an examination of the intersection of Blackness, gender and sexuality, and what it means to perform maleness. Why is it taboo for a Black man to cry?  And when he does, why is THAT labeled a feminine act? Why can’t Black men exist in the form they were created? As a Black woman, it’s the kind of thing I’ve heard and seen from other Black people. I always push against it but I find myself always outnumbered when stating men should be allowed to feel how they want without judgement if it isn’t harming anyone.

Big Sexy, a gay man adds three other pieces to the puzzle and that is fatphobia, femininity, and colorism. Imagine the struggle for a darkskin, fat, gay man in society, who is considered feminine. Sexy talks about how the vitriol comes from all sides particularly other Black gay men. Often, Black men are forced into a box where they must choose their Blackness over their gayness. Society has labeled blackness with the specific type of masculinity and when one deviates outside of that, it’s seen as a violation of Blackness. These people cannot separate their sexuality from their race. Being queer is a part of who they are. Asking them to separate the two is like asking for someone to cut off a limb.

I did struggle with the structure of My Gender Is Black. The talking head points are broken up by music and dancing. I understand what purpose this serves, but it is drawing every time there’s a shift that takes me out of the experience. Don’t get me wrong, these bits are entertain as well. The music, the movement, is engaging to view. However, there were points where it felt like I was watching two separate films where both would work as their own stand alone thing despite not always meshing as well together.

My Gender is Black brings up a lot of great questions about the way Black men are treated and viewed based on where they exist on the spectrum, and why they bear the weight of this burden.  Shouldn’t their happiness be paramount? Happy people that are poured into make for a better society and community. There needs to be a full length documentary because it’s time for people to  sit down and listen to what Bklack men, straight and queer. Feel about masculinity, femininity, and having to perform these roles that society has forced them to be something they aren’t. Just let these people exist. Damn!

This is a short piece of a much longer conversation that needs to happen sooner, rather than later.