Olivia McKnight; Brother Outsider Responses

 1. Make notes about BR’s relationship to queer identity.

BR had no apparent  guilt or shame about his queer identity. Calling back to the conversation with his grandmother, her attitude was very casual and understanding that there was no erasing his identity. It was clear to her and to him that he needed to do what he needed to do. Repressing and changing himself was not in the question.  BR had a long term partner but was open with others sexually at times, it seems like he was potentially interested in non monogamy. Further, it was understood he was gay by those he worked with , and ultimately it was these outside folks that pressured  him to keep his sexuality quiet and separate from the movements he was involved in.

2. In what ways did BR’s queerness impact the choices he made in his life?

I do not believe that BR’s queerness really impacted how he made his choices in his life. As discussed earlier it was made a non issue by those he was closest to early in his life. Of course he was living in a time when many took issue with queerness however it is my view that his view towards himself was neutral, it was simply who he was.  His draw to the non violent movement was a result of his moral compass and the same can be said about his involvement in the Civil Rights movement. Others projected their fears onto him about his queerness and choices were made for him as a result. As far as I could tell he worked without fear of his queerness.

3. In what ways did BR’s queerness impact his ability to realize his ambitions?

For most of his early activism he was able to exist as queer and work on the many movements that he was passionate about. The leader of the nonviolent movement disagreed with his choices but did not oust BR for being queer.  However, when he was arrested in California attitudes towards his queerness began to change as it was then seen as documented evidence that could hurt the movement. The arrest record haunted him and MLK himself forced BR to take a backseat in the Civil Rights Movement, because of the fear of his sexuality becoming a scandal. It was not until the march on Washington, and BR’s incredible organizing knowledge and strategy, that it was undeniable that the movement needed him. He was welcomed back into the fold.