Celebrating identity: embracing Black queer leadership and history's overlooked figures

By Jessica Hartley, Managing Director at JPMorgan Chase & Co

Jessica shares how her race and queerness intersect, and why it’s important to her to openly celebrate her identity as a Black, bi-queer woman. She discusses how Black History Month provides a great opportunity to inspire young Black queer youth, and to learn more about historical figures who are frequently overlooked.

Black History Month always meant a lot to me as a young, Black girl growing up in the Southern United States. I’m originally from Georgia, so having Atlanta - the birthplace of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - within driving distance of my hometown was a major catalyst for my family’s pride and connection to our Black heritage. As a student, I typically had papers and presentations to prepare and present to my class, along with broader Black History Month programs for the entire school with special speakers, performances and sometimes even culturally-inspired food.

We studied some of the more well-known Black historical figures such as Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman and Jesse Norman, but it wasn’t until I reached high school and college where I had the opportunity to learn about the historical Black figures who were less celebrated, including those who identified as part of the LGBTQ+ community. While their names may not immediately ring a bell, they were equally as impactful  for their contributions to civil rights.  

As a leader, I’ve continued to evolve and become comfortable in celebrating my bi-queer identity. With that elevation has come an acknowledgment of the intersectionality between Black and Queer identities when it comes to culture, fashion, food and music. We must go beyond the traditional recognition of Black-American identities and binary genders to recognizing folks from across the African diaspora, as well as folks with disabilities, gender expansive identities, differing sexual orientations and so much more.  

The contributions of individuals that were considered to be on the margins of society, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community, have often been downplayed or hidden. Some had to hide their LGBTQ+ identity for safety and security, and have only had their sexual identity revealed in recent years, while others were present, yet made invisible, with their labor and legacy used and abused.   

We often celebrate those prominent LGBTQ+ folks such as James Baldwin, Audre Lorde and Bessie Smith. But for every Malcolm X, there was a Ma Rainey. For every Rosa Parks, there is a Ron Oden. For every Thurgood Marshall, there was a Frances Thompson.  

Uplifting more LGBTQ+ folks does not mean minimizing the impacts and contributions of those we celebrate all the time. Rather, we can bring to the forefront others whose accomplishments were equally as groundbreaking. Black and queer folks have always been here supporting the collective movement. When we celebrate this, we can ultimately provide encouragement and inspiration to today’s queer Black youth around the globe.   

In my role as an executive leader, but also in my full authentic identity as a queer, Black woman, I believe it is our shared responsibility to find and amplify these intersections in our identities. So as we celebrate Black History Month, let’s join together in lifting up the Black LGBTQ+ community and shining a spotlight on their myriad of contributions to a more equal and just society for all.