Summersode 11: Queen Marsha

Murderous Roots with Denise & Zelda

After a day of festivities and fun at the Gay Pride Parade in New York City, the body of one of its most notable residents who fought for civil rights for all people, was found floating in the Hudson River on July 6, 1992. Marsha P. Johnson, born Malcolm Michaels, Jr, identified herself as a drag queen and was an outspoken activist for gay rights who first gained prominence during the Stonewall Uprising. We may never know the circumstances of her death, but her work lives on today.

In this episode, her nephew Al Michaels joins us as we discuss Martha’s life, activism, and death. We then learn more about her immediate family—including a tie to one of the earlies mass killings in the United States.
All sources and other information can be found on our website at murderousroots.com