Black BDSM History
Contrary to what many may believe, even in the early days of the organized BDSM Scene, there were African-Americans involved as leaders and educators. The Eulenspiegel Society (TES), established in 1971, is the oldest BDSM support and education group in the United States, known internationally for its emphasis on education and outreach. Yet, not many people know that they have had only one president in their history and that he was a Black man, as well as a Leatherman. His name was Jack Jackson and he was the President of The Eulenspiegel Society starting in the mid-1970s, shortly after the organization was founded, until his untimely passing in 1983. He was way ahead of his time in that when the BDSM community was very much underground and secretive, he was open about his lifestyle and fostered outreach to change public perception. He conducted interviews with Hustler and SCREW magazines and gave lectures at Columbia University. He was even called as an expert witness on rope ties by the NYPD Sex Crimes Unit when they were dealing with crimes with BDSM overtones. He could tell them if the person was an amateur who wasn’t a part of the established BDSM community or someone with knowledge of ties. He was instrumental in educating about consensual power exchange relationships to both those within the BDSM community and those outside of it. There are many Black Dominant males in the community who see Mr. Jackson as a pioneer and icon. During a seminar at Columbia University in 1977, Mr. Jackson was quoted as saying, “There are no class, educational or ethnic lines in S and M… We’re the last minority”. His presence in The Eulenspiegel Society in a leadership capacity was revolutionary for its time and it attracted other People of Color to the organization, including a great Queen...
