Series:

Black LGBTQ+ Legends of Los Angeles

Topic:

African American History

Community Activism

LGBT Movement

Biographical Note:

A Black gay poet, HIV/AIDS activist, and co-founder of the Minority AIDS Project.

Interviewer:

Johns, Byron

Interviewee:

Smith, Robert Gerald

Persons Present:

Johns and Smith

Place Conducted:

The interview was conducted at Robert Gerald Smith's home in West Adams and at the Minority AIDs Project in Los Angeles.

Supporting Documents:

Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.

Interviewer Background and Preparation:

The interview was conducted by Byron Johns, Psy.D., organizational psychologist and trained facilitator and interviewer. Johns has worked with Gay Men of African Descent (GMAD) in New York City, and on numerous LGBTQ-focused projects.

Processing of Interview:

The transcript is a verbatim transcription of the recording as transcribed by a professional transcribing agency. The interviewee was given an opportunity to review the transcript but made no corrections or additions

Length:

6.75 hours

Language:

English

Copyright:

Interviewee Retained Copyright

Audio:

Series Statement:

The Black LGBTQ+ Legends of Los Angeles oral history project reflects a legacy of Black folks supporting each other in the face of race, sexual orientation, and class-based marginalization. Los Angeles is one of the major US cities that experienced sweeping social and political changes as a result of Black civil rights movements and gay liberation movements from the 1960’s until the present. Likewise, Los Angeles is often represented as a city where integration was established ahead of legislation. However, LGBT histories involving African Americans are limited. These oral history testimonies will fill historical gaps relating to Black LGBT social and political life in Los Angeles.

Note:

Brief mentions of individuals have been redacted to protect privacy.

Self-description—Depression and stopping work—Gentrification in West Adams—Experiences with racism—Seeing Martin Luther King during High School—Family support—A family member's transition—Knowing his sexuality at a young age—Growing up in Seattle in a multicultural community—Family History—Childhood neighborhood—Relationship with his stepfather—Introduction to poetry—Church and Bible study—Holidays—Elementary School—Performing poetry and theater—Listening to music with Jimi Hendrix and Sammy Drain—Influence of performing poetry in high school—Influence of Garfield High School teacher, Parker Cook—Multiracial high school experience—Integration—His sister Jean as a role model for him—Gay bars in Seattle—High school friends—Dating during high school—Moving to Capitol Hill and having a gay community—Moving to Los Angeles—His mother coming to Los Angeles—Finding work in Los Angeles—Volunteering with HIV patients—Racism in LGBT spaces

Clarifying different forms of his name—Golden Horseshoe, a Black gay club in Los Angeles—Racism in gay clubs in Los Angeles—Clubs in Los Angeles—Poems, “The Horizon” and “Richard"—Marriage to Barbara—Poem, “Love’s Lament”— Poetry and poetry group, the Iambics—Separation from Barbara—His partner David passing from HIV— Black and White Men Together National Conference—Poem, Untitled—Inner City Cultural Center—A Face of AIDS in Los Angeles—Racism in the gay community—Play about AIDS— Inner City Cultural Center— Black Gay Men's Coalition for Human Rights—Joe Beam, In the Life—Inviting politicians to speak with the Black Gay Men's Coalition for Human Rights—Picking a name for the Black Gay Men's Coalition for Human Rights—First becoming aware of HIV in 1982—Gay Radio Program IMRU—Meeting Carl Bean

Finding a location for the Minority AIDS Project—Fundraisers for the Minority AIDS Project—First same-sex marriage at the Unity Fellowship Church—Lives lost to AIDS—Going to APLA—Starting a support group for family members of people with HIV—Hosting an HIV support group at his home—AIDS Healthcare Foundation—Working fulltime for the Minority AIDS Project—Black Care Project—Publishing and presenting a paper on Black gay language—Black and White Men Together—Activities with Black and White Men Together— Racism and homophobia in Los Angeles bars and restaurants—Racism in the gay community—Learning he was HIV positive—Doing clinical trials for HIV—Living with HIV

Relationship with Carl Bean—Black and White Men Together—Documenting racism in gay clubs—Marching in the West Hollywood Pride Parade—Documenting his life story—Fundraisers for the Minority AIDS Project—Chosen family and community—Challenges for the future of the LGBT community— Thoughts on the interview process—Remembering people who have passed—Growing old—Vision for the future of the Black LGBT community