TOO BLACK TOO QUEER

–
Tonight I attended, “Too Black Too Queer”, an event which is part of the Brixton Reel film festival and celebrates Queer Experience and mental wellbeing of Queer People of Colour.
As one of the performers aptly pointed out, this is essentially an event celebrating minorities within minorities, and several of the performers expressed how grateful they were for such a space.
The night kicked off with screenings of 6 film shorts all exploring the themes of the night and were followed with cabaret performances from a VIP Drag artist, Poets, Grime Artists, Singers, and non-binary-new-wave-future-goth-warrior-wordsmiths.
The diverse array of acts was ultra-refreshing and to see such established and typically straight male dominated genres of performance such as rap and grime being queered, was all the more exhilarating.
My personal favourites of the night were – “Travis Alabanza” who poured hyper sharp truths from their blue lips to bass and beats, all whilst having a humorous dialogue with God about black gay love and speaking of their experience of racists in the bedroom.
And “Karnage Kills”, the final act, who tore the stage to pieces with their ridiculously quick and sick, original queer grime and Stormzy remixes; citing heartbreak, shit opinions from people who think they know stuff, and self affirmation. Karnage was carnage in all the best ways – a stunning gender mash of fury and clarity spitting on fleek!!
I was truly blown away by this finish of the night and left the venue physically buzzing.
I hadn’t forgotten some of the quieter performances however, and I was particularly taken by the vulnerability of peoples words. I do not have experience of being a person of colour but I do have experience of being queer and of suffering with mental health illness and I was humbled and gained so much from hearing everyones experience on all fronts.
Further to this, there was plenty of information given as to where assistance could be received if someone is currently suffering from mental health difficulties as well as a reassuring emphasis placed on looking out for one another.
So not only was “Too Black Too Queer”, a powerful performance and film night, it was also a queer family gathering celebrating togetherness and promoting care without stigma.
I feet privileged to have been a guest at such an event and would highly recommend it to anyone and everyone.
If you missed it this year, catch it next year!!
DO IT!
–
Written and recommended by Ted Rogers “Artpornblog”
xXx