About Black Pride Society

Black Pride Society (BPSociety) is a grass-roots, 501 (c) 3, Detroit, Michigan-based, non-profit organization dedicated to efforts that nurture pride in our community. We do this by keeping a focus on positive and collective works that celebrate our same-gender-loving community via culture, self-empowerment and identity. It is through the efforts of generous volunteers, dedicated community leaders, friends, family and allies, that we are provided the privilege of producing what has become a historic celebration in our community, Detroit's Hotter Than July.

Detroit's Hotter Than July is a grass-roots social project founded in the core principles of Kwanza. It serves as a year round effort promoting collective works to nurture a healthy community through economics, spirituality, networking, education and culture.

We are proud stewards of the Midwest's oldest black lesbian, gay, bi-affectionate and transgender pride celebration. We are also proud to have our efforts serve as a model for other prides across the United States.

BPSociety is a Charter Member of the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBPrides), representing more than twenty-five black L-G-B-T pride celebrations across North America and South Africa.

- BACK TO TOP -

Our History

HTJ!2005 REVIEW | HTJ!2006 REVIEW | HTJ!2007 REVIEW Many summers preceding 1996, Detroit's population of black lesbian, gay, bi-affectionate, and transgender citizens celebrated at the end of each July around annual social gatherings produced by the Billionaire Boys' Club (B.B.C.), Men of Color Motivational Group (M.O.C.) and Ladies of a Current Affair. During this same period many Detroiters were also taking annual pilgrimages to Washington D.C. where black pride celebrations originated - DC Black Pride. The cross pollination around these events planted the seed for establishing a community-focused, grass-roots, black pride celebration based in Detroit, Michigan.

In 1995, M.O.C. initiated the ground work, planting the seeds for what would eventually serve as the foundation in which pride was launched as a community wide event. Community organizers, business leaders, advocates and allies made a commitment to work collectively to set forth on an ambitious mission establishing what is now known as Detroit's Hotter Than July.

In 1996 Detroit celebrated it's first black pride as a community with one voice. Detroit's Hotter Than July was born with the official support of the Baldwin Parker Society, Billionaire Boys' Club, A. Lorde Collective, Kick Publishing Co., Men Of Color Motivational Group, Project Survival, Ladies of A Current Affair and Full Truth Unity Fellowship Church.

Since 1996, Detroit's Hotter Than July has grown into one the most significant black pride celebrations in North America. Currently, Detroit is host to the oldest black pride in the Midwest's. We also serve as proud charter members of the International Federation of Black Prides (IFBPrides) which represents over twenty-four black prides across the continent, including Johannesburg, South Africa and Toronto, Canada.

Today, Detroit's Hotter Than July is produced by the Black Pride Society (formerly known as Detroit Black Gay Pride Inc. or DBGPride Inc.). Members on the board are selected from participating community based organizations, businesses, leaders and individual activist within our community.

In pride, our community grows through collective works, initiated to produce a celebration that nurtures our identity and culture. Through pride we practice the kwanza principle of "Ujima" to empower all same-gender-loving, lesbian, gay, bi-affectionate and transgender people of african descent in Detroit and beyond.

We hope you'll join us in our journey to defend our human rights, fight for equality, to empower our households, and self-identify ourselves with pride.

- BACK TO TOP -

Directorship

The Black Pride Society is a grass-roots community organization founded on the collective works of many leaders and volunteers within our local community. BPSociety is honored to have Detroit's brightest and best serve as gatekeepers to the Midwest's oldest black pride celebration. Directors are expected to nurture pride, culture, self-empowerment and identity amongst all black and same-gender-loving people in Southeast Michigan.

The BPSociety is currently under the stewardship of the following individuals:

DIRECTOR	TITLE/COMMITTEE	YEAR
Hank Millbourne III	President - Director	2000
Kimberly R. Jones	Vice President - Director	1999
Michelle Brown	Treasurer - Director	2004
M. Nkosi Figueroa	Secretary - Director	2006
Johnny L. Jenkins Jr.	Co-Founder - Director	1996
Charlene Roseborough	Hospitality - Director	2003
Robert Clark	Entertainment - Director	2004
Crystal Witt	Pride Festival - Director	2004
Corliss Jasper	Pride March - Director	2007
Sherry Bolton	Hospitality - Director	2007

Periodically each year the Black Pride Society accepts nominations for directorships which serve at least one three year term. Candidates are interviewed by the current board of directors for final determinations.

If you have a talent or skill to be considered, or merely want to develop your leadership skills, we invite you to complete the nomination application and submit your information to info@hotterthanjuly.com.

[ Download Nomination Form ]

 

- BACK TO TOP -