- Published by
- Bell, Alan, American
- Edited by
- Bell, Alan, American
- Photograph by
- Rockshots, Inc., American, founded 1978
- Illustrated by
- Ebony, American, founded 1945
- Subject of
- Sylvester, American, 1947 - 1988
- Goldberg, Whoopi, American, born 1955
- Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, American, 1988 - 2003
- AIDS Healthcare Foundation, founded 1987
- Minority AIDS Project, American, founded 1985
- Date
- December 1988
- Medium
- ink on paper (fiber product)
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 10 13/16 × 8 1/4 × 1/8 in. (27.4 × 20.9 × 0.3 cm)
- Description
- The first issue of BLK magazine, published December 1988. It is printed in black and white and the front cover features an unidentified shirtless man wearing a Santa Claus hat and faux beard. A black text box, with the letters [BLK] in large uppercase bold letters, covers his pelvic region. To his right, pearls and ornaments hang from the branches of a Christmas tree.
- Inside the issue, there is a [December Calendar of Events], which details one-time events for that month. There is also a section devoted to [Community News], in which three headlines appear: [Brownlie Hospice Opens December 5], about the opening of the first facility of the AIDS Hospice Foundation, [90 Attend ‘Fences’ to Raise Conference $], about a fundraiser by the Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, and [Women’s Committee Needs Volunteers] about the Women's Research Committee of the Minority AIDS Project. The “Community News” section is followed by a full-spread photograph of singer Sylvester, which is then followed by a full-page image of Whoopi Goldberg and an accompanying article about awards the two received at the National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Conference. The magazine also has several advertisements scattered throughout its pages, including ads for a car dealership, pizzeria, chat and party lines and personal classified ads. There are 15 pages in total, all of which are printed in black and white.
- The back cover features a full advertisement for [Midtowne Spa].
- Classification
- Books and Published Materials
- Movement
- HIV/AIDS Activist Movement
- Topic
- Activism
- Black Press
- Communities
- Health
- Holidays and festivals
- Identity
- LGBTQ
- Mass media
- Sexuality
- U.S. History, 1969-2001
- Credit Line
- Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift of Alan Bell
- Object number
- 2018.108.1
- Restrictions & Rights
- © BLK Publishing Company, Inc
- Permission required for use. Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.




