23: William Dorsey Swann and the Origins of Drag

William Dorsey Swann hosted the first documented Drag Balls in the United States. The House of Swann was a safe space for queer Black people to dance, sing and cultivate community. That is until police raided the ball and arrested the attendees for what was called, “the most horrible and disgusting offenses known to the law.” But William didn’t go down without a fight.

This is their story...

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Welcome to Black History Moments! This podcast is all about Black history and the stories we've left untold over the years.

Produced, Edited and Hosted by Shaakira White

We strive for accuracy in our storytelling. Sources used can be found below:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-first-self-proclaimed-drag-queen-was-a-formerly-enslaved-man-180982311/

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/william-dorsey-swann-from-enslaved-to-queen/18722/

https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/stories/slavery-voguing-house-of-swann

https://www.businessinsider.com/first-drag-queen-born-into-slavery-william-dorsey-swann-2023-6

https://rediscovering-black-history.blogs.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2021/02/Feb-19-William-Swann.pdf