The overlooked history of the black trans community

I came across an article from Ebony.com that detailed a short history of black trans people (link: http://www.ebony.com/news-views/trans-trailblazers). This article mentioned that, “Transgender African Americans have been active contributors to history, even though they have often been overlooked.” I think that this is amazing, prior to reading this article I had no idea that black trans folk had a significant history. I think this is evidence of just how much education has been kept from people. I think it is already incredibly difficult to even come by information of major LGBT icons in history such as Harvey Milk, I certainly didn’t learn of him and his importance until I arrived in college. It is such a sad thing to realize that entire histories of people have been hidden (perhaps in an attempt to erase them) from their own communities and especially from the general public (which in my opinion, SHOULD know about ALL of these people).  The article also mentions that the black trans community also was actively involved in the civil rights movement, orchestrating the first protest organized around trans issues, the 1966 Compton’s Cafeteria Riots which preceded the more famous 1969 Stonewall Riots. In addition to that, trans advocates also, “…stood up against discrimination and struck blows that eventually brought down the odious codes used by the LAPD to harass other LGBT people in Los Angeles,” all of this involvement is testament to power of trans communities and their struggle for equality.