Marsha P. Johnson | stonewall50.sites.uiowa.edu - University of Iowa For more information specifically on STAR, Id encourage you to check out: Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries: Survival, Revolt, and Queer Antagonist Struggle. We're not around right now. Marsha P. Johnson was an African American drag performer and social activist. It largely focusses on where Marsha's death sits within the wider context of transphobic violence across the USA. VideoWatch Newsround - signed and subtitled, Wildflowers fit for a king: Special seeds for schools to mark coronation, County Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. As an African American trans woman, Johnson has consistently been overlooked both as a participant in the Stonewall uprising and more generally, LGBTQ activism. Her devotions were so ardently sincere that, on several occasions, eyewitnesses place her laying prostate on the floor of Catholic Churches around six in the morning and facing away from the altar because she considered it inappropriate to look directly upon, what she believed, was the holy habitation of the Lord. [13], In 2016, Victoria Cruz of the Anti-Violence Project also tried to get Johnson's case reopened, and succeeded in gaining access to previously unreleased documents and witness statements. Podcast unearths earliest known recordings of trans icons Marsha P [36] In 1975, Johnson was photographed by famed artist Andy Warhol, as part of a "Ladies and Gentlemen" series of Polaroids. Upon returning, the medication would wear off over the course of one month and Johnson would then return to normal. LGBTQ people were routinely rousted, hassled, and arrested on questionable charges. Marsha P. Johnson was a trans-rights activist who played a big role in important moments for the LGBTQ+ movement, such as the Stonewall protests. [32] Johnson sang and performed as a member of J. Camicias' international, NYC-based, drag performance troupe, Hot Peaches, from 1972 through to shows in the 1990s. Over 162 people arrested. I also want to add that just because I referenced these sources doesnt mean I agree with everything they say. Marsha P. Johnson - Stonewall, Quotes & Documentary - Biography The police ruled her death a suicide, although friends and family cited a lack of evidence supporting that claim. They reclassified her death as drowning from undetermined causes, but the case remained unsolved. Johnson moved to Greenwich Village in New York City after graduating from high school. [11], Johnson was a founding member of the Gay Liberation Front and co-founded the radical activist group Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (S.T.A.R. In the 1980s Johnson became an AIDS activist and joined ACT UP, an organization formed to bring attention to the AIDS epidemic. Johnson said she wasnt afraid of being arrested because shed spent the last 10 years going to jail simply for wearing makeup on 42nd street. "[15], In Pay it No Mind friends Bob Kohler and Agosto Machado talk about Johnson's relationship with Neptune. She quickly became a prominent fixture in the LGBTQ community serving as a drag mother by helping homeless and struggling LGBTQ youth and touring the world as a successful drag queen with the Hot Peaches. While I recommend some of these sources for the information they contain, I dont condone this decision. Soul Poem Written and Performed By Marsha P. Johnson, introduced by Jimmy Camicia Cal Goodin 2 subscribers Subscribe 19 Share Save 591 views 2 years ago Soul: You can count your karma If. The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson - David Frances 2017 documentary. Johnson spearheaded the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and along with Sylvia Rivera, she later established the Street Transvestite (now Transgender) Action Revolutionaries (STAR), a group committed to helping homeless transgender youth in New York City. [image: black-and-white photo of Marsha P Johnson. She was one of the demonstrators during the Stonewall riots in 1969, protesting against police harassment and social discrimination of gay and transgender individuals. Further, she talks about the impact the person on plaque #1 of the Village AIDS Memorial had on her life: Ed Murphy was the one who put me in the Stonewall Car in 1980; he took me from the back of the parades and put me up-front.. [56][57] While the original location of STAR House was evicted in 1971 and the building was destroyed,[54] the household existed in different configurations and at different locations over the years. [6], Johnson's body was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992. It was an "unrelenting wave of attacks. After the NYPD reopened the case, the police reclassified Johnson's cause of death from "suicide" to undetermined. He's like the spirit that follows me around, you know, and helps me out in my hour of need. This is an excellent place to start reading about STAR - its a collection put together in 2012 of a whole host of writings and interviews from the 1970s. This book includes an essay by Glenn Ligon on Warhols portrait of Marsha, and the issues of race and class which are tied up with that. [44] During those moments when Johnson's violent side emerged, according to an acquaintance Robert Heide, Johnson could be aggressive and short-tempered and speak in a deeper voice and, as Malcolm, would "become a very nasty, vicious man, looking for fights". Johnson and Rivera acted as house mothers, guiding and protecting the young people. We hope you and your family enjoy the NEW Britannica Kids. [8] [9] Known as an outspoken advocate for gay rights, Johnson was one of the prominent figures in the Stonewall uprising of 1969. After the funeral, a series of demonstrations and marches to the police precinct took place, to demand justice for Johnson. [5] Johnson waited tables after moving to Greenwich Village in 1966. Johnson also confirmed not being present at the Stonewall Inn when the rioting broke out, but instead had heard about it and went to get Sylvia Rivera who was at a park uptown sleeping on a bench to tell her about it. [41], Though generally regarded as "generous and warmhearted" and "saintly" under the Marsha persona, Johnson's angry, violent side could sometimes emerge when Johnson was depressed or under severe stress. Supporting The Marsha P. Johnson Institute. She was tragically found dead on July 6, 1992 at the age of 46. Throughout her life Johnson suffered from mental illness and was in and out of psychiatric hospitals. Key moments of black history in the United States, Watch Newsround - signed and subtitled. Johnson commented, "How many people have died for these two little statues to be put in the park to recognize gay people? Terms and Conditions In 1970, along with fellow activist Sylvia Rivera, she founded STAR - the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries - which aimed to provide food, housing, legal aid, and other necessities to homeless trans youth. Johnson also took part in Gay Pride parades and events. Marsha P. Johnson was born on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. The Marsha P. Johnson Institute is a fiscally sponsored project of Social Good Fund, a California nonprofit corporation and registered 501(c)(3) organization, Tax ID (EIN) 46-1323531. Rican trans woman Victoria Cruz. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. How many years [does it take] for people to realize we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race.. [62] Johnson was one of the activists who had been drawing attention to this epidemic of violence against the community, participating in marches and other activism to demand justice for victims, and an inquiry into how to stop the violence. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. [39], In David France's documentary, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson, Johnson is seen participating in a 1980s memorial service and action for those who've died of AIDS, along with members of the Gay Men's Health Crisis. It was the source of a lot of my background on life for queer youth on the streets of New York, as well as containing some information about Marsha. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The fifth of seven children, she was born Malcolm Michaels Jr. to Malcolm Michaels Sr. and Alberta (Claiborne) Michaels on August 24, 1945 in Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 2012 the police, under renewed public pressure, reopened the case. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. 2023 BBC. [75][76] According to Wicker, a witness saw a neighborhood resident fighting with Johnson on July 4, 1992. Our episode on drag queen and activist Marsha P. Johnson is coming out tomorrow! Choosing a name is a rite of passage for many transgender people, and she tried on a few before settling on Marsha P. Johnson. [18][19] After this, Johnson described the idea of being gay as "some sort of dream", rather than something that seemed possible, and so chose to remain sexually inactive until leaving for New York City at 17. If theres anything in particular which I mentioned which youd like to know the source for, feel free to ask! She was seen dropping a very heavy object on top of a police car, among other actions. VideoCounty Antrim pupils record special coronation hymn. Marsha P. Johnson and the Stonewall Rebellion: Crash Course Black American History #41 CrashCourse 59K views 8 months ago L020A Sylvia Rivera, "Y'all Better Quiet Down" Original Authorized. Its about an hour long and includes plenty of interview footage with Marsha herself - recorded in 1992, just weeks before her death - as well as with people who knew her. These cookies do not store any personal information. An eccentric woman known for her outlandish hats and glamorous jewelry, she was fearless and bold. All rights reserved. [58] In connection with sex work, Johnson claimed to have been arrested over 100 times, and was also shot once, in the late 1970s. Two years later on July 6, 1994, Johnson was found drowned in the Hudson River off the West Village Piers. The flagrant disregard for the life of someone who was Black and queer caused outrage in the community at the time, in an early echo of the type of purpose that powers the Black Lives Matter Movement. She chose Johnson because she enjoyed hanging out at the popular eatery, Howard Johnsons. Marsha was devoutly spiritual, confessing: I practice the Catholic religion because the Catholic religion is part of the sangria (blood) of the saints, which says that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.. The particular video which I found useful in getting an understanding of Marsha was this video of people gathered at the memorial created beside the Hudson River in the days after her death. "[73], Near the time of Johnson's death in 1992, Randy Wicker said Johnson was increasingly sick and in a fragile state. That's what made me in New York, that's what made me in New Jersey, that's what made me in the world." Shes said that the town had zero tolerance for LGBTQ people and as a woman assigned male at birth, she left as soon as she could. 'Cause you know, me and Jesus is always talking. Blitz, Michael began reading texts on medicine, and endocrinology. Marsha P. Johnson Sylvia Rivera Historical Events Black Cat Raid, Los Angeles, California, 1967 Black Night Brawl, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, August 5, 1961 Compton's Cafeteria Raid, San Francisco, 1966 Coopers Do-Nut Raid, Los Angeles 1959 Pepper Hill Club Raid, Baltimore, Maryland in 1955. A few other online sources which I used or mentioned were: The 2018 New York Times obituary of Marshawhich was created as part of their Overlooked series. [80] Randy Wicker later said that Johnson may have hallucinated and walked into the river, or may have jumped into the river to escape harassers, but stated that Johnson was never suicidal. After graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1963, Johnson moved to New Yorks Greenwich Village. To learn more about Marsha, check out our podcast! It is important to recognize and celebrate their contributions because People of Color are actively being erased from the historical narrative, and the story of Stonewall is the perfect example: A few years ago, a major studio motion picture with a wide theatrical release received damming accusations of White-washing history, putting at the center of the narrative a young, masculine-presenting, White male and even depicting him as throwing the first brick that began the conflict. The P purportedly stands for Pay It No Mind, a flippant saying she used to dismiss antagonists. Plaque #1: A gay rights activist since the 60s known to many as the Mayor of Christopher Street, Edward Francis Murphy is credited with organizing the celebrations that annually follows the NYC Gay Pride Parade, an event now rebranded as PrideFest that is observed world-wide. On June 28, 1969, Marsha P. Johnson became one of the faces of the Queer Revolution. One of Johnson's most notable direct actions occurred in August 1970, staging a sit-in protest at Weinstein Hall at New York University alongside fellow GLF members after administrators canceled a dance when they found out that it was sponsored by gay organizations.