Rev. Dr. Sir Wayne Murillo III reviewed Harvey Milk by Lillian Faderman (Jewish lives)
Review of 'Harvey Milk' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
Harvey Milk lived many different lives before becoming the first openly gay politician in California:
"There were seemingly many Harveys as he drifted for years through various stages, fumbling to find the niche from which he could fulfill the high, vague aspirations of his childhood. There was Harvey the supermacho college jock and navy deep-sea diver. Harvey the high school math teacher and earnest mentor to young people. Harvey the buttoned-down Wall Street securities research analyst and cheerleader for the protolibertarian presidential candidate and darling of the right wing Barry Goldwater. Harvey the long-haired, bead-wearing hippie. Harvey the actor, associate producer, and gofer to a Broadway celebrity. Harvey the businessman and leader of a business community. Harvey the progressive politician and gay icon. Each earlier “life” represented some genuine (if contradictory) aspect of Harvey Milk—and in each transformation he thought for a while that he had found himself. But it …
Harvey Milk lived many different lives before becoming the first openly gay politician in California:
"There were seemingly many Harveys as he drifted for years through various stages, fumbling to find the niche from which he could fulfill the high, vague aspirations of his childhood. There was Harvey the supermacho college jock and navy deep-sea diver. Harvey the high school math teacher and earnest mentor to young people. Harvey the buttoned-down Wall Street securities research analyst and cheerleader for the protolibertarian presidential candidate and darling of the right wing Barry Goldwater. Harvey the long-haired, bead-wearing hippie. Harvey the actor, associate producer, and gofer to a Broadway celebrity. Harvey the businessman and leader of a business community. Harvey the progressive politician and gay icon. Each earlier “life” represented some genuine (if contradictory) aspect of Harvey Milk—and in each transformation he thought for a while that he had found himself. But it was only in his final life, as an openly gay politician, that he discovered who he had wanted to be all along."
"He championed workers, women, racial minorities, the disabled, senior citizens—all who suffered at the hands of the fat-cat insiders. He fought hard for San Francisco’s strong gay rights ordinance; and he fought equally hard for rent control and the city’s divestment from apartheid South Africa. Harvey Milk’s politics were strongly influenced by his gay identity. But just as deep an influence was his Jewish identity, and especially the values that liberal Judaism holds dear."
Harvey Milk might be most famous for his prophesy: ""If a bullet should enter my brain, let that bullet destroy every closet door in the country." Milk would be proud to see the shattered remains of closet doors strewn about America.
If you'd like to know more about Harvey Milk, I suggest Harvey Milk: His Lives and Death by Lillian Faderman (@lillianfaderman).
https://slpl.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1421406116