By: Valery Warner, Daylun Armstrong, and Jaden Majewski
February 28, 2020
“How many years has it taken people to realize that we are all brothers and sisters and human beings in the human race?”
Throughout this month, we celebrate Black History (something that should be recognized and learned about year-round). When celebrating Black History, LGBTQ+ History, and Women’s History, Marsha P. Johnson should be a name that you know.
Johnson was a transgender, African-American woman and an activist for LGBTQ+ rights and trans people of color.
She is credited for helping lead the Stonewall riots in 1969, which were held by members of the LGBTQ+ community in Greenwich Village, New York against a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn.
Her life began on August 24, 1945, in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Born to Malcolm and Alberta Michaels, she was the fifth of seven siblings.
Johnson began her liking for “feminane” clothing at the age of five-years-old but was quickly chastised by her father. Around that same time, she recalled that she was sexually assaulted by a boy, who was around the age of 13.
Leaving her rather tumultuous childhood after graduating from Thomas A. Edison High School in 1963, Johnson was off to New York City with only 15 dollars and a bag of clothes to begin her new life.
Even though she moved, discrimination still played a prevalent role in her life, which led her to be such an outspoken activist for herself and the LGBTQ+ community.
Not only did she fight for equal rights, she also helped to create organizations to spark that change and create a support system with resources for the LGBTQ+ community, as well as working to destigmatize sex work.
She also advocated for people who tested positive for HIV/AIDS, getting involved with ACT UP (a group that works to improve the lives of people with HIV/AIDS through direct action, medical research, treatment and advocacy, and working to change legislation and public policies).
In 1970, Johnson joined a friend and colleague Sylvia Rivera (a Latina, gay liberation, and transgender rights activist) in founding Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR). This program advocated for young, transgender individuals and gave them a sense of acceptance with shelter and resources (clothes, food, etc.).
Marsha P. Johnson was an incredible woman, who helped so many, inspired so many, and fought for so many.
July 6, 1992 was a somber day for so many who loved and believed in Johnson’s fight for justice when (under murky circumstances) her body was pulled from the Hudson River. Her death was ruled as a suicide, but many felt that she had been killed.
Even though Johnson is no longer with us, she left a lasting impact on the world.
No matter your race, gender identity, or sexuality, you should always be your authentic self, and you should be respected and loved for every part of who you are!
In the words of Marsha P. Johnson when asked what the “P” stood for in her name, she replied with “Pay it, no mind.”
{Important Information: https://marshap.org/about-mpji/}
THE RETURN OF THE EYE 