Ode to Joseph Beam And Arnold Jackson...

Ode to Same Gender Loving Black Brothers Arnold Jackson And Joseph Beam…..


By Brother Tracy Gibson...


I had the delectable honor of being goods friends with two of Black Philadelphia’s finest Black Same Gender Loving (Gay) activists. They were Arnold Jackson, who hosted a TV Program on alternative Public TV about the HIV pandemic and was a member and former officer of the Black SGL Support group Adodi in Philadelphia; and Joseph Bean who edited and wrote for the first Black Gay anthology ever known to history ``In the Life’’. He was also an early organizer in the Black SGL movement in the Philadelphia area. They were both extraordinary men in their own right. I loved them when they were alive and I love, maintain and uphold their memory here.

Arnold I once interviewed and found him to be authentic, real, friendly, open, caring, concerned, honest and loving as well as politically active and on target with the issues. Arnold was also known to star in minor theater productions as well as anchor his own TV program. He was on the front lines in the fight against AIDS / HIV and was a believer in condom use early. He felt the injustices that stemmed from our federal government were many. He was an extremely attractive man who I had the honor of filming nude once at a beach in New Jersey. (We did this totally legally and with the permission of the State Police of New Jersey who looked on and made sure we went by the book at the time). Arnold had a big smile and would do anything for his friends. At the same time, he didn’t like to be used or hounded by people. But he loved progressive politics. He was a staunch Democrat and was probably known to vote for parties left of the Democrats from time to time. He is one we lost in the battle, but he will be forever remembered for what he did to help Black people, the left out and Gay and Bisexual men, specifically. If there was a gay rights march to attend, he was there. If there was organizing to be done for a new Black Same Gender Loving organization, he was there. If there was support needed for the existing Black gay organizations at the time, he could be counted on. He will not be forgotten for his efforts or for his bold honesty and forthrightness.


Another Brother, Joseph Beam, was basically a writer. He didn’t dabble in this and that—he loved to write and that was what he did best. We would meet at a certain Center City watering hole for drinks in the mid 80’s and complain about the latest horrible thing Ronald Reagan had done to Black people and or Gay people. By this point in Joe’s life, he had gotten tired of meetings and discussions and even lectures. He was about writing about all the crap that was happening and he used clear and concise words to express every sentence and paragraph. I learned a lot from him. He wasn’t fearful of using a big word here and there to help you broaden your vocabulary either. Joe was also a very funny person. He had a great sense of humor and would always talk about what the latest goings-on were. His mother is carrying on his work and may well be putting together another anthology in his name. ``In The Life,’’ was a good seller and led the way for a score of other such books to come years later. I had an autographed copy of the book that got away from me. Joe said I wasn’t qualified to write for his book which made me hit the roof at the time. But he was right; I was still too busy trying to change the world than to realize that my writing was my best weapon for doing so. Not necessarily street action and organizing—some of which I still stubbornly do. I was a scrappy street activist and an editorial assistant for TV Guide Magazine at the time of his departure. Joe was a good friend who will never be forgotten for his contributions to humanity and the ``cause’’ for Black, Gay and the underserved of humanity. He also, died much too young. He would have been a great writer along the lines of James Baldwin or Countee Cullen if he had lived. Believe me, this I know.

Both of these brothers are sorely missed members of the community who, with every step, forged ahead for their race and their kind. They knew the injustices intimately and worked to correct them. They didn’t let the flashing lights of TV, Bling, Bling, movies, sex and other distracting factors take them off their course. The work was there and they wrapped their lives around it in the best way they could. They were effective activists who cared about you and me and they laid their lives down for what they believed in. They were REAL American heroes to me—not police officers, FBI Agents and the COPS you see on TV and in the movies, but REAL American heroes who will most likely NOT have a movie made about their work or go down with much of a paper trail. But there are thousands of other Philadelphians, along with myself, who will not forget them—ever!! Thank you Brother Joe and Brother Arnold for what you have done to bring truth to light!! If you had both lived, Philadelphia would not be so much of a provincial and backwards little town it can sometimes be right now. You were gorgeous, attractive, intelligent and educated Proud Black men. A mix that is still dangerous in Black men as far as the Status Quo in America is concerned—even in the Obama era. I often wonder what you would have thought of our First Black President. I am sure you would have been proud, but had your criticisms also. But, like I say, and I’m sure you will agree, thank GOD we don’t have that stupid John McCain in that White House!! GOD bless you both and keep you always in our righteous memory.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++