BLACK TRANS FUTURES
BLACK TRANS FUTURES
TC and Josh
Left to right: TC and Josh
Traniesa (TC) Caldwell (they/them) is a Black, Trans, non-binary organizer, narrative photographer, and the Community Engagement Director for TKO. They also founded CoffeeHouse Poets, a performance art movement dedicated to people in the community and as a method to organize and educate.
Joshua Baker (he/him) is the Youth Program Coordinator for TKO. A Tuscaloosa-based poet, his passions lie in minority mental health and LGBTQIA+ advocacy. In 2020, Baker was selected as the Editor’s Choice Winner for the Button Poetry Video Contest.
Who do you love in your community?
Josh: “TC, you have to know how much I love you. One reason I identify with them as someone I draw so much inspiration from is because I met them right before I was even out. My prom date was the daughter of one of their friends! And they are the reason, I got my first poetry feature with Out Loud, Huntsville which is a literary arts community. So I get more immersed in that. I get more serious about poetry. I start releasing my own Chapbooks right? And then fast forward, I’m learning about the great work of [TC] and TKO. But not necessarily as an employee, but as a family friend. And then I get to do poetry at some of their events. And then I see all the amazing work they’re doing right now, where I’m an employee!”
TC: I love my nibling Carter, who is seven, who has told their family now that their pronouns are he/they. The most beautiful child I’ve ever seen that is fully coming into themselves because they’re affirmed and now affirming other people right? This is a seven-year-old and that is so inspiring to me That gives me hope for the next generation.
He wore a skirt for the first time down in Florida last week and his older brother who is a teenage boy (likes football, likes girls, all these things) wraps his arm around him and supports Carter. And I know Carter plays a role. Because Carter said, “I'm gonna authentically be myself because my mom and dad said I could, but also because that's just what it is.” Being able to see this baby walking in their power is amazing.
Poetry from Joshua Baker at Selma Black Pride (2022)
Pride
I know you don’t need my pride, but I’m so damn proud of you.
I was witness to the war withering you away.
Rode passenger in the descent.
The salt of your silent tears, still stains my skin.
I held your body, a universe collapsing upon itself.
Gathered your stars, your moons, your black holes.
I told you that we could make something beautiful from the leftovers.
Even when I wasn’t completely sure myself, but you trusted me and you kept trying, and I’m so damn proud of you.
I know you don’t need my pride, but I’m so damn proud of you.
You are a sheep slaughtering the wolves
Daniel in the lions den, you are death defiant.
And even when it has you, it will never have you.
Because you’ve left far too much life behind.
What does “we keep us safe” mean to you?
TC: It’s a collective movement, cause it's not something you can do by yourself. “We keep us safe” is protection, not just physically, but mentally, and spiritually.
It looks like communities showing up in the ways that we should and the ways that we need…from mental health services to fun parties to, simply asking “have you eaten today?” to “what can I take off your plate?”
It is a movement of community folks actually building what it is that we need to, not survive, but thrive in this world.
