History
Willmer Broadnax. Gayes, ever heard of him? Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Willmer Broadnax, also known as “Little Axe”, was a leading gospel quartet singer during the genre’s Golden Era. Assigned female at birth, Broadnax lived his life as a transman, his identity came to light after his passing.
Broadnax earned his name “Little Axe” due to his small stature compared to his brother William Broadnax, “Big Axe”, who towered over him. As a legendary gospel quartet singer, Broadnax was known for his high, powerful tenor.
Broadnax performed in the nation’s biggest gospel quartets such as The Spirit of Memphis, Fairfield Four, and the Five Blind Boys of Mississippi. By the 1960s, gospel quartets lost commercial favor and declined. Regardless, the esteemed singer enjoyed a highly successful gospel career spanning from the 1930s to 1980s, even forming his own group during his years of performing.
In 1992, Broadnax’s life took a tragic turn for the worst. During a heated argument, Broadnax was stabbed by his girlfriend, Lavina Richardson. In his autopsy, it was revealed he anatomically possessed a female body. Although this was a major revelation, especially considering he was a public figure, little documentation or news attention was given to his discovered identity let alone his murder.
Oddly enough, a similar discovery was made in the case of jazz musician Billy Tipton, a white transgender man. Tipton died from an untreated hemorrhaging peptic ulcer, and paramedics discovered that he was female bodied. Although both artists performed different genres, Tipton’s career did not reach the same level or magnitude as Broadnax.
Yet Tipton’s death received immense national media coverage. Tipton’s posthumously discovered trans identity inspired prolific works including literature, plays, novels, and biographies, all centering on his life and trans identity.
Beyond the salient factor of race, sociological research suggests the difference in coverage could stem from two disparate versions of masculinity. Tipton represented the archetypal form of masculinity-white, suburban, married with (adopted) children, and middle class. In contrast, Broadnax represented an “alternate” form of masculinity-Black, urban, unmarried, childless, and emotionally expressive.
Regardless of the difference in recognition, Braxton’s long career and life stands as a testament to the presence and success of Black trans men, and ultimately Black trans people as a concrete part of Black history.