The Black Public Sphere

Counter-Publics and Differences – Week 3

“The term “public sphere” refers to a set of physical or mediated spaces where people can gather and share information, debate opinions, and tease out their political interests and social needs with other participants” (448). -Catherine R. Squires

Thirty years is a long time and a lot can happen within that time period but in terms of the black public sphere, has anything really changed?. Looking at the year 1989, when Marlon Riggs’ film Tongues Untied was released, and comparing it to modern day society in 2019, have the public spheres changed? Are gay black men socially and politically equal to straight white men or even black men for that matter?

Catherine R. Squires states that there are two types of publics (450):

1. “The dominant public sphere, a province of white, middle and upper class males.”

2. “Subaltern counter-publics that are populated by historically oppressed— what I refer to as “marginal”—groups, such as women and African Americans, that have been excluded from the dominant public sphere by legal or extralegal means.”

Catherine explains how the counter-publics (African Americans) need “separate spaces” to discuss their opinions and interests without the disruption and objections from the dominant groups. She states,

“In societies structured by inequalities, members of dominant groups have many advantages because they have set the spoken and unspoken rules for public speech. Even if access to public arenas is theoretically guaranteed to all, all will not necessarily be equal within those spaces” (450).

I find this statement extremely important as I feel that it can be applied to today’s society when thinking about not just gay black men but African Americans as a whole. What I believe Catherine is trying to illustrate is that the dominant public sphere (white males) has a lot more influence and power in society than the counter-public sphere (African Americans both male and female) as a result of social and political inequality. This is not something that is new in our world. For many years there has been racism, sexism, homophobia, etc., between many different cultures.

On the other hand, what about the straight black men?

After watching this video, I was able to gain a different perspective on gay black men and the struggles they face as it is not just the dominant public sphere that overrules and discriminates them, but also the counter-public sphere. This means that gay black men are part of a subculture that is a counter-public within a counter-public, as the straight black men within their culture have different ideas and opinions than them as well.

Marlon Rigg’s film Tongues Untied (1989) was created nearly thirty years prior to the first video yet they both portray the same relevance and issue : struggling to find community Gay black men back then, and even so now, cannot peaceful share their ideas and opinions to straight black men even if it is their own family. So not only are they oppressed by their community but from their own blood as well.

“Brother to Brother” – Tongues Untied

This phrase to me is short yet so powerful in meaning. When I think of “brother to brother” I think of men, regardless of the race, sticking together. So why can’t straight black men support gay black men? Now yes I understand that I cannot speak for the entire race as there are many homes and communities, especially in present day, who are acceptant of the gay community but to me it is not enough. Being a white heterosexual, I cannot even begin to imagine what it is like living as gay person, especially of colour, and the struggles that come with it. I can go on for hours about this topic, but all in all, my goal is to try and demonstrate that racism and homophobia, have and continue to be an issue in our world. Ultimately, looking at the last thirty years, I believe the public sphere has definitely changed but there is room for a revolution.

Catherine Squires, “Rethinking the Black Public Sphere: An Alternative Vocabulary for Multiple Public Spheres,” Communication Theory 12.4 (Nov 2002): 446-468.