Ballroom A History, A Movement, A Celebration

by Roberson, Michael; Street, Mikelle

• ISBN13: 9780762489084
• ISBN10: 0762489081
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780762489091
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2025-07-08
• Publisher: Running Press Adult

Summary

A gorgeous, authoritative, and image-filled celebration of pageantry and community created by ballroom culture for Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ people.

The subculture of Ballroom emerged in Harlem in the ‘60s out of a need for safe and inclusive spaces for Black and Brown queer people, in which family-like "Houses" competed at performative balls, allowing members of this marginalized groups to shine. Thanks to shows like Pose and Legendary, it has grown into a global phenomenon. It offers refuge from the threats and violence against the LGBTQIA+ community while also serving as a testament to the radical nature of queer joy with its pageantry and commitment to chosen family.

Ballroom: A History, A Movement, A Celebration is an exhaustively researched tome honoring where Ballroom began and where it is now. It explores how Ballroom has served the Black and Brown LGBTQIA+ community. Bringing both an authoritative and entertaining sweep to this hugely important and influential cultural sensation, this book is filled with photos, interviews, and stories, presenting a captivating, well-documented narrative about not only how to survive but how to do so fashionably, glamorously, and in the company of one another.
 

Author Biography

Michael Roberson is a multifaceted figure in the LGBTQ+ community, serving as a theologian, public health practitioner, activist, artist, and cultural leader. He holds academic positions at C-RRED, The New School University, and Union Theological Seminary in NYC. Roberson is deeply involved in the House Ball Community, having founded four major houses and co-founded  The Ballroom Freedom School. He co-conceptualized the House Lives Matters National Leadership Initiative and edits the "Arts Everywhere/Ballroom Freedom School" publication. His influence extends to mainstream media, having worked as a cultural consultant for the FX series Pose. Roberson's work focuses on uplifting Black/Latinx LGBTQ+ individuals through various platforms and initiatives.