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].
Place made
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, United States, North and Central America
Classification
Books and Published Materials
Movement
HIV/AIDS Activist Movement
Type
magazines (periodicals)
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.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd5632abefa-90eb-427d-9c66-a29d9475a80e

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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