Series:

Black LGBTQ+ Legends of Los Angeles

Topic:

African American History

LGBT Movement

Biographical Note:

Black gay sociologist, psychologist, retired social worker, and Army veteran.

Interviewer:

Johns, Byron

Interviewee:

Cook, J. Michael

Persons Present:

Johns and Cook

Place Conducted:

Conducted at J. Michael Cook’s home in West 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:

3 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—Growing up in Omaha, Nebraska—Attending a mixed school and experiencing segregation—Having COVID and long COVID—Attending a youth club for Black students in Omaha—Relationship with his siblings and parents—School life—Starting work at 9 years old at his father’s shoeshine concession—Holding various parttime jobs during his youth— Attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska—Working for the railroad—Experiencing racism in the Army—Moving to Los Angeles—Visiting a gay bar for the first time—Hiding his sexuality around his straight friends—Experiencing racism from white gay men—Attending university in California—Getting drafted into the Army—Being stationed in Texas—Segregation and racism in the Army—Hating his time in the military—Leaving the military and moving back to California—Getting a job in Burbank at Burns Aero Seat Company as a janitor—Getting promoted at Burns Aero Seat Company—Becoming friends with Mabel Meagher at Burns Aero Seat Company

His long-term friendship with Mabel Meagher—Doing commercials—Mabel’s final years—Working as a social services director in Watts—Visiting Bermuda and experiencing being a racial majority—Black pride in the 1960s—Hiding his sexuality and struggling with self-love—Joining Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles—Working for the IRS in the 1970s—Deciding to leave the IRS—Working for the VA—Working as a social services supervisor for DPSS—Enjoying retired life

His experience working for the Department of Public Social Services—Problems with leadership that he’s observed in the various positions he worked—Knowing he was gay from a young age—Hiding his sexuality throughout his life—Falling in love in his 30s and learning to love and accept himself—His long-term partner—Losing friends during the AIDS epidemic—Comparing COVID to the AIDS crisis—Why he decided to do the oral history interview—The loneliness of aging—Acting as the current patriarch of his family—Thoughts on the current political climate in the US—Joining Black LGBT organizations—Racism from white gay men and white gay clubs in West Hollywood—Hoping for intergenerational connections in the Black LGBT community—How he would like to be remembered—Reflecting on the interview process