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An Archive of Hope: Harvey Milk's Speeches and Writings
Harvey Milk was one of the first openly and politically gay public officials in the United States, and his remarkable activism put him at the very heart of a pivotal civil rights movement reshaping America in the 1970s. An Archive of Hope is Milk in his own words, bringing together in one volume a substantial collection of his speeches, columns, editorials, political campaign materials, open letters, and press releases, culled from public archives, newspapers, and personal collections.
The volume opens with a foreword from Milk’s friend, political advisor, and speech writer Frank Robinson, who remembers the man who started as a Goldwater Republican and ended his life as the last of the store front politicians” who aimed to "give 'em hope” in his speeches. An illuminating introduction traces GLBTQ politics in San Francisco, situates Milk within that context, and elaborates the significance of his discourse and memories both to 1970s-era gay rights efforts and contemporary GLBTQ worldmaking.
The volume opens with a foreword from Milk’s friend, political advisor, and speech writer Frank Robinson, who remembers the man who started as a Goldwater Republican and ended his life as the last of the store front politicians” who aimed to "give 'em hope” in his speeches. An illuminating introduction traces GLBTQ politics in San Francisco, situates Milk within that context, and elaborates the significance of his discourse and memories both to 1970s-era gay rights efforts and contemporary GLBTQ worldmaking.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
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About the author
Harvey Milk
4 books26 followersHarvey Bernard Milk was an American politician who became the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. On November 27, 1978, Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated by Dan White, another city supervisor who had recently resigned but wanted his job back.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 10, 2013
This is a collection of speeches, letters and columns by Harvey Milk. Before each selection, Black and Morris provide a context. As such, this is a scholarly reading.
This is not going to be a traditional book review because you probably already know whether or not you want to read this. And for most people, the answer will be no (thanks in no small part to the fact that this IS a scholarly reading).
But this is an incredibly important piece of history. Harvey Milk was murdered two years before I was born. His assassin used the "Twinkie defense," which was more literal than I had assumed. He said that junk food caused him to go on his shooting spree, one that left Milk and the city's mayor dead. So that was two years before I was born. Now, 34 years later, gay people can get married in the state where I live.
Is it fair to put all the praise for that on Harvey Milk's shoulders? No. But he was out at a time when no one was out. And as big a deal as it was when Ellen DeGeneres came out, it was so much more brave to do it when Harvey Milk did. Ellen risked losing her livelihood; Harvey risked losing his life (and did).
Harvey Milk's life and politics serve as a call to arms for all of us, but especially for those of us who are gay. It's still not 100% safe to be gay (it's not 100% safe to be any minority because there are always going to be prejudiced people) but every time someone stands up and says they're gay, it gets a little easier for everyone else.
And that was Harvey's point. Every time you tell people who you are, it becomes harder for them to discriminate against you. I have friends who I know vote Republican but I also know they love me. And I know that maybe every time they have a chance to vote, maybe they picture my sad face every time they vote for a politician who's anti-gay. Because they now know someone who will be affected by that person's policies. Is it naïve of me? Maybe But I also know for a fact that people's hearts can change based on the fact that they know and love someone who's gay.
And Harvey Milk was brave enough to be one of the first to stand up and be counted---not just in front of his family and friends, but his coworkers. And then a community. And then a city. And then a nation. You can't overstate the bravery and importance of that.
Highly recommended.
This is not going to be a traditional book review because you probably already know whether or not you want to read this. And for most people, the answer will be no (thanks in no small part to the fact that this IS a scholarly reading).
But this is an incredibly important piece of history. Harvey Milk was murdered two years before I was born. His assassin used the "Twinkie defense," which was more literal than I had assumed. He said that junk food caused him to go on his shooting spree, one that left Milk and the city's mayor dead. So that was two years before I was born. Now, 34 years later, gay people can get married in the state where I live.
Is it fair to put all the praise for that on Harvey Milk's shoulders? No. But he was out at a time when no one was out. And as big a deal as it was when Ellen DeGeneres came out, it was so much more brave to do it when Harvey Milk did. Ellen risked losing her livelihood; Harvey risked losing his life (and did).
Harvey Milk's life and politics serve as a call to arms for all of us, but especially for those of us who are gay. It's still not 100% safe to be gay (it's not 100% safe to be any minority because there are always going to be prejudiced people) but every time someone stands up and says they're gay, it gets a little easier for everyone else.
And that was Harvey's point. Every time you tell people who you are, it becomes harder for them to discriminate against you. I have friends who I know vote Republican but I also know they love me. And I know that maybe every time they have a chance to vote, maybe they picture my sad face every time they vote for a politician who's anti-gay. Because they now know someone who will be affected by that person's policies. Is it naïve of me? Maybe But I also know for a fact that people's hearts can change based on the fact that they know and love someone who's gay.
And Harvey Milk was brave enough to be one of the first to stand up and be counted---not just in front of his family and friends, but his coworkers. And then a community. And then a city. And then a nation. You can't overstate the bravery and importance of that.
Highly recommended.
March 21, 2017
Academic and pleasurable
I found myself thinking constantly that Harvey and I could be friends as I turned the pages of this book. He gave me the words I was needing to hear, to speak up before its too latex to make myself present. As the title does mention, he gave me hope.
Now mind you, this was my first exposure to Milk of any kind and I'm not disappointed. Though some might find the compilation a bit too academic, it was just right for me. Enough historical context was given, and when not I would do a quick search.
I found myself thinking constantly that Harvey and I could be friends as I turned the pages of this book. He gave me the words I was needing to hear, to speak up before its too latex to make myself present. As the title does mention, he gave me hope.
Now mind you, this was my first exposure to Milk of any kind and I'm not disappointed. Though some might find the compilation a bit too academic, it was just right for me. Enough historical context was given, and when not I would do a quick search.
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December 6, 2022read for class, also it’s a collection of speeches so feels weird to rate it
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews