"Art from Adversity" - short documentary by Robert Penn

One of the many New York City community organizations that formed in response to the AIDS epidemic is a writers group for Black Gay Men. In honor of James Baldwin's signature work, Another Country, the group selected the name Other Countries. It held its first writers workshop on June 14, 1986. Over the next year, it developed a three pronged program of peer critique, performance and publishing. In its 25 years, Other Countries has published three volumes of work by Black gay men and women. The most recent VOICES RISING came out in January 2007. The workshop continues each 2nd and 4th Saturday at NYC's LGBT Community Center from 6 to 9 p.m. Many past and current members have gone on to publish work that "went through" the workshop. Several who developed their craft in the workshop went on to work in publishing, television and academia. Though many of its founding members died twenty years ago, their affinity group continues to nurture and foster creativity and appreciation of the life we have, here and now.

To view the documentary, click here.