Obviously, the thing that caused even level-headed people to suddenly not see that two-thirds of the principal characters in Roland Emmerich's "Stonewall" are, in fact, trans POC was that the white fag throws the "first" brick. While I don't want to bank on the possibility that there may be a scene of defiance before this -- although there may well be -- it is worth noting that Miss Major Griffin Gracy -- aka Miss Major -- just told the blog Back2Stonewall that she does not recall seeing either Sylvia Rivera or Marsha P. Johnson at the Stonewall Inn the night the riots began. While this is certainly not proof that neither were there -- others say Johnson was inside celebrating her birthday and was responsible for the "shot glass heard around the world" while Johnson herself says Rivera was not there -- it does show that any "first-person account" is going to have discrepancies. But if Johnson was inside and Rivera wasn't there, where does this leave the thrower of the "first" brick?
What everyone can agree on is that both Johnson and Rivera were very involved in the events that transpired after, which is what ultimately matters. There's a reason it has to be fictionalized after all these years. But if you're looking for more actual accounts -- which may contradict others you've heard -- you might try the documentary "Stonewall Uprising," although the movie poster should upset some of you way more than the fictionalized account's does.
I don't remember anyone saying a word in 2010 about this poster -- featuring actual people from the Stonewall riots ...
Yet this more realistic view of Stonewall's movers and shakers has been branded a "whitewashing."
12 comments:
There were a lot of people there that night .. Do you see everyone when you go to a club?
The bar is tiny -- and you normally see your friends.
Is not that tiny.. And she was celebrating her 25 birthday .. The moment she threw a shotglass braking a glass is so remember that is called " the shotglass heard around the world" because she didn't want to be forced to prove her gender. It was the moment the broke a very orderly raid. The brick was later but everything was thrown that night. The meter was shaken out by a skinny queen not sure who.
http://youtu.be/_I8P6x_Ur78
Exactly the point. So many different and contradicting recollections.
But one thing you are doing is confirming that the trailer is accurate in that it was NOT "Marsha" outside starting things.
I think we can almost safely say that Sylvia wasn't inside the Inn. Marsha was. Miss Major was with her friends and did not see Marsha, but was there too.
The shit that went down outside might have included all three. It would certainly fit with Sylvia to have joined in starting a knockdown, drag-out fight.
None of this changes the fact that this fucking film leaves them out of any major role. That it goes a long way towards destroying our community's peace in face of the racist bullshit going on in the news and on the street. Now was not the time to create a fictional narrative about such a historical event based around a fake white guy. There were plenty of real white men there that night, why not do their actual lives instead?
The best thing about the reaction to the Stonewall trailer is that it has finally discredited the myth of who started the uprising. It was a pretty story, and it was politically convenient to ignore the fact that most of the people there were young white males. To mention that little fact was to be labeled racist or anti-drag queen, so why cause a fuss?
Now some of the self-proclaimed instigators of the riot are known to have given self-contradictory accounts of the raid, and it turns out that at least two of them reportedly weren't even present that night. Photographic documentation shows the true make-up of the crowd, and the extreme response to the trailer has finally caused a backlash among those who aren't blinded by pervasive distortion of events that has been accepted as gospel for far too long.
Did you even read what I wrote and/or look at the movie poster(s)?
The truth is likely somewhere in between, which appears to be what Emmerich was shooting for.
Kenneth... you commented: Did you even read what I wrote and/or look at the movie poster(s)?
The answer is: No.
That's how things are today. Stubborn and ignorant.
I'm glad you posted this. One of the very few that has actually been researched.
It amazes me that everyone who has commented above, speaking with such certainty and historical accuracy, was there and has such vivid memories!! Why aren't THEY being interviewed??
Amaurys Arias said...
"Is not that tiny.. And she was celebrating her 25 birthday .."
Oh dear. The bar is TINY. Even when packed, you knew who was there. And I hate to break it to you, but the riot was in June. Marsha's birthday is in August. Marsha didn't hang out at the Stonewall.
There are credible witnesses placing Marsha in the riots, though. When s/he broke the police cruiser window. Sylvia was probably there in the second night of rioting and later got confused about what night it was. BUT - There are NO credible sources placing Miss Major there. Period. None.
Miss Major showed up talking about this pretty recently. And all the kids are buying it. But Major couldn't just let it rest with claiming to have been there. The story then changed to leading the riots. Now the story has changed to being the ONLY poc gender variant person there. This is sad.
Pay attention friends. Don't let your desire for elders make you gullible. Love to you all.
I'm real sorry to be anonymous for this one. I can't sign this because aggressive young people have been going after anyone who speaks out. I hope you know that and take some consideration. Thanks.
@Must Be Anonymous: Marsha was born June 27, hon.
Oh, thanks.
Do you know if it was brought up in the context of saying she wasn't there celebrating her birthday?
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