Breaking Silence

Abstract

The coauthors of this chapter write about having obtained a grant from the Arcus Foundation to conceptualize a radical project to advance the equality of black GLBT students. They titled the project: “Facilitating Campus Climates of Pluralism, Inclusivity, and Progressive Change at HBCUs.” Writing about their vision of it in this chapter, the coauthors share the historically groundbreaking plan for the work they began together in 2006 to challenge “historical black colleges and universities” (HBCUs) in the United States to eradicate heteronormative and homophobic ideas of black identity. As an “introduction” to the aim and goals they sought to accomplish, these two esteemed black feminist scholars in women’s studies connect their project to Walker’s womanist concept of love for all LGBT black “Folk.”