The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson
14th September 2022|Film/TV
Marsha P. Johnson (1945-1992) was an American gay activist and self-identified drag queen. The Life and Death of Marsha P. Johnson is a 2017 film documentary by David France. In it, France looks at the work and legacy of Johnson, as well as the circumstances around Johnson’s death, which the police initially declared was by suicide.
From Netflix: “As she fights the tide of violence against trans women, activist Victoria Cruz probes the suspicious 1992 death of her friend Marsha P. Johnson.” (source: Netflix)
The documentary shines a light on a key historic, queer, Black role model. As someone who played a pivotal role in queer activism and provided safe-guarding and welfare to others in the community, Ms. Johnson stands as a queer and Black history icon.
