School Visit – San Francisco State University
This past month I got the opportunity to speak to undergrad and graduate students in “Ethnic Studies” and the “Department of Latino/a Studies” at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in California. Leticia Hernandez-Linares, a bad ass poet, professor, mama, activist, and my co-creator of “Alejandria Fights Back/ La Lucha de Alejandria” invited me to speak to a room full of students of all ages.
SFSU is the first college I went to straight out of high school. While there I took classes in design, fine art, and ethnic studies before transferring to an art school. I didn’t realize it then, but going to a school so rich in different types of people, and having access to so much knowledge about my culture was a gift. It was once I went to other schools that I realized what I took for granted. SFSU is the first college alongside UC Berkeley to fight for a curriculum that centered Black, Brown, indigenous, and Asian American history in the United States ever! Also know as Ethnic Studies which I talk about a lot here. Learn more about that college HERE.
Short videos about Ethnic Studies
- PBS Origins video about the strike that led to Ethnic Studies in 1968 (10 min)
- Danny Glover on 1968 student strike for Ethnic Studies-History of the Bay (1 min)
- Theresa Montaño on why Pro Israeli groups want to censor Ethnic Studies (1 min)
- Ethnic Studies is Anti White Supremacy not Anti White! (1 min)
- Dr Allyson Tintiangco-Cabales giving a presentation about Ethnic Studies (25 min)
I spoke about:
- A career in the arts
- Benefits/ effects of Ethnic Studies courses at SFSU and how I incorporate it into art
- Public Art
- Freelance Illustration
- Political Art
- Children’s Books
- Solidarity and coalition building
Walls by muralist Juana Alicia (mural by artist above left), was greeted by the mural of Malcolm X by Spie One (above right).
While I was there I took a very brief walk on campus to reminisce about some of the buildings. The quad, the cafeteria, the huge grass field, the murals, etc. As a student I often attended my classes and went back to Oakland and Berkeley to hang with my homies. While I love them and doing that, I built some strong bonds w/other students and wish I would’ve taken advantage of the container of community there.
I spent sooo much time in this building as a student there. Books, food, sleeping, lol. Even met the mother of my first child there, ha!
I had a great time speaking to the students and I’m trying to be honest, forthcoming, respectful, and open minded not only as a visiting speaker but as someone who answers questions about what its like to be a professional artist or to be multi-disciplinary in my work.
Dig this? Check out these other visits to colleges and libraries.
