A Look at African-American Trans Trailblazers
Living honestly is sometimes quite an accomplishment. Check out these pioneers who dared to be authentic
By Monica Roberts
http://www.ebony.com/news-views/trans-trailblazersThough February has passed, there is never a bad time to get reacquainted with African American history makers- the events that shaped our lives, our heroes and "sheroes." Over the last few years we've been paying closer attention to the accomplishments of Black gay and lesbian people such as Bayard Rustin. But there is another group of African Americans who have shaped our people's history: transgender people.
Transgender African Americans have been active contributors to history, even though they have often been overlooked. Their presence and contributions are not a recent development, but can be traced back through the centuries. Consider the story of Lucy Hicks Anderson, who was born in 1886 in Waddy, KY. She made it quite clear that she was a girl and insisted on wearing dresses to school. The term "transgender" didn't exist at that time, but the doctor who examined her advised Lucy's mother to raise her as a girl.
