I fell in love with you, Ball culture, in the Summer of 2018. Through Pose and Paris is Burning, I discovered a whole new world, a world founded on the transformation of pain to empowerment, a world which I am in endless awe of.
Enslaved Black people, forbidden from owning their own bodies, found a way through the suffering and created spaces dedicated to the celebration of who they are. The Queen William Dorsey Swann, the first to do it, fought for queer rights a century and a half ago, for Black queer people to dance, dress, and live as they please. Even though the taboo persisted another century after that, Black and Brown queer peoples tossed to the margins of society, abandoned and disowned by their families, created their own, led by a Mother and/or Father, who welcomed them into their House. House of Xtravaganza, House of Labejia, House of Ninja, legendary and iconic, among many others made a home for those in need and slayed the house down in The Ball.
Out of pain and suffering emerged the most unapologetic, uninhibited, glamorous, and joyful celebration of beautifully creative Black and Brown queer bodies. The voguing, the walking, the fashion, the fierceness and the boldness; creative and artistic expression at its core.
Even though I watch from a distance, and I observe and I cheer from the sidelines, I live for it all. As a dancer and a fashion enthusiast, I recognize and revere the talent, the passion, and the grind that it takes to make such intricate work seem so effortless and stunning.
I have yet to receive the honour of attending a Ball, and I dream of the day. Until then, I write you this love letter and conclude it by saying a simple and heartfelt “I love you”.
FYI
Refinery29 - Pose Was Based on NYC Real Ball Culture Drag Scene
Understanding Ballroom Culture and its Incredible Impact
YouTube - William Dorsey Swann: The First Queen of Drag
CBC - America’s First Drag Queen Was a Former Slave and LGBT Rights Crusader