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Short Story 36 – A lotta Summer

“This was a summer of alotta stuff. Mama Johnna and Mama Elise got sandwiches, water, masks, and our best walking shoes as we marched from High street and Mac all the way to Frank Ogawa Plaza. To protest again? Ugggh, I’m tired of going. But Mama said it was to protest police taking away our neighbors, our friends, and our family. It seemed like everybody from school was there, Mrs Galeano our librarian, uncle George, even Mr Jason my teacher. The whole city was out and it felt good to shout and smile. Together.”

Me and my family protested ICE this summer and we’ve protested for Palestine recently too. Just wanted to make a short showing a family out in the streets. Shout out to Gallt and Zacker for the nudge to make it.

What is this? This is a short story. They are a way for me to sharpen my skills, to play, and to stretch out by trying new ideas for stories. In 2010 they started off as a way to practice the format of picture books but I’m interested in other formats now too. My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo and my most recent book is Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco published by Lee & Low Books.

Here’s some of my past short stories:

Dig this? Check out my first self published Art Book- 130 pages of sketches, paintings, characters, and more HERE

August 8, 2025
in General, Ilustration
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Characters from “Set it Off” 1996

In between fighting the power and working on my own stories that I write and illustrate doing fan art for 90s films I grew up watching is a balm. I get to play, practice, and reimagine. I painted these using watercolor, a black micron pen, and Arches 140 lb hot press paper. Click on each character to see a few words I wrote about each woman, and read below for my take on the film.

On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday”. I loved it back then and I think it still holds up now. Back then and even now, it’s rare to see four Black women wreck shit in a heist film. It’s action that is centered in a different experience but one most working class people can identify with. I loved all of their characters, how they struggled, cared for each other, and I think writer Takashi Bufford who wrote the screenplay did a great job. I know he’s mentioned there are things that he’d change if he could redo the film (Spoiler alert-he’s written a sequel in a fictionbook). But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, the director, the producer, stunt folks, casting director, stunt people, and all of the cast and crew.

About me: My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I’m an author/illustrator from the Bay Area and my most recent picture book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco” published by Lee & Low. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.

Character 182 – Stoney

Character 181 – Frankie

Character 180 – Cleo

Character 179 – TT

Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 80’s film The Last Dragon or the 90’s film “Mi Vida Loca”

July 25, 2025
in Character Design
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Character 182 – Stoney (Set it Off)

This is Stoney played by Jada Pinkett Smith in the 90s film Set it Off. There are four main characters in the film which I’ve painted here : Frankie, Cleo, and TT. But, the film centers around four friends but the story is really Stoney’s as she was the heart of the film, her brother, relationship, etc. Jada did a phenomenal job in this classic film.

On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday” with Ice Cube, Nia Long, and Chris Tucker. I loved it back then. You never got to see 4 Black women wreck shit in a heist film back then so I was excited. I loved all of their characters, how they struggled, cared for each other, and I think writer Takashi Bufford who wrote the screenplay did a great job. I know he’s mentioned there are things that he’d change if he could redo the film. But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, and all of the cast and crew.

About me: My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I’m an author/illustrator from the Bay Area and my most recent book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco”. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.

Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 90’s film Mi Vida Loca

July 25, 2025
in Character Design
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Character 181 – Frankie (Set it Off)

This is Frankie, played by the incredible Vivica A. Fox. Frankie in the film Set it Off was brave, traumatized, enraged, strategic, and fierce. She had lead her team, with her own flaws, and a comradery for her girls that was inspiring to see. One of Vivica’s best performances. The captain, the ring leader, the one to set it off.

On the film: I saw Set It Off when it came out. I think it was shortly after F. Gary Gray did “Friday” with Ice Cube, Nia Long, and Chris Tucker. I loved it back then. You never got to see 4 Black women wreck shit in a heist film back then so I was excited. I loved all of their characters, how they struggled, cared for each other, and I think writer Takashi Bufford who wrote the screenplay did a great job. I know he’s mentioned there are things that he’d change if he could redo the film. But I think it still stands up today. Shout out to Jada, Latifah, Vivica, Kimberly, and all of the cast and crew.

About me: My name is Robert Liu-Trujillo. I’m an author/illustrator from the Bay Area and my most recent book is “Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco”. Get it at your local public library or independent bookstore.

Dig this? Check out my throwback drawings of three characters from the 90’s film Mi Vida Loca

July 23, 2025
in Character Design, General
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ICE out of Dublin Protest

Me and my family took a trip out to Dublin, CA this week to protest ICE and the possibility of them trying to turn a federal detention facility into an ICE concentration camp. And this was lead by Japanese American Families for Justice and a coalition of over 60 organizations including artists, union workers, educators, grandma’s, and babies. Peep the video.

Dig this? check out this poster done in collab w/ East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, Jules Cowan, and Micah Bizant

July 21, 2025
in General
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We Are Sanctuary poster collab

Art by Me, Lettering by Jules Cowan

Back in March, designer Jules Cowan, fellow illustrator Micah Bizant, myself, and the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant got together to collaborate on this poster illustrating information about immigrant rights when being stopped or approached by ICE. The EBSC has been supporting immigrant and migrant families for decades in the Bay Area. Nuff respect. The raids have happened in the past (under Obama and Trump) but they were just ramping up again to what we see now in LA, Chicago, Central California, and other cities.

Art by Me, Lettering by Jules Cowan

If you keep up with me you should know my position on this is FUCK ICE and FUCK Donald Trump. Actually, fuck any politician Democrat or Republican who continues to lie or hide when talking about the real reasons for these racist, xenophobic, coward ass attacks on Brown people. Mexicanos, Central Americans, Haitians, etc are not the reason White Americans are losing $ or jobs. The billionaire class are the reason and these politicians and mainstream media are being paid to confuse folks.

Art by Micah Bizant, design by Jules Cowan

Now, if you reader would like one of these posters or postcards in English or Spanish, please download them here:

DOWNLOAD LINK

Art by Micah Bizant, design by Jules Cowan

If you’d like a physical copy of a poster or postcard (English or Spanish) for your school, library, office, organization, etc please email me at info@robdontstop.com or art@somossantuario.org.

Thankfully, the folks at EBSC have already handed these out to folks on the ground protesting, but we need information like this up in more places so allies and immigrant families can access it and put it to work. No one is illegal on stolen land!

Dig this? Check out the work of designer Jules Cowan, illustrator Micah Bizant, and support the work of the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant!

July 11, 2025
in Ilustration, Resources
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I’m a guest on Early Risers – Minneapolis

This week a new episode of the “Early Risers” podcast dropped featuring Zsame Morgan of Baby Cakes Books out in Minneapolis, Yuyi Morales in Mexico, and Meleck Davis of Minneapolis. I was so honored to be on the show and really enjoyed several of their episodes. I’m just getting familiar with Meleck’s work, but Zsame is one of the first indy bookstores to support my book Furqan’s First Flat Top and Yuyi is an OG in the kid lit world.

LISTEN HERE

Early Risers is a podcast that focuses on early childhood education. Specifically, how to talk to children about race, representation, kids books, and mirrors and windows by Dr Rudine Bishop Sims.

Dig this? Check out this interview w/ Colin Ehara for his show The Paper Planes

July 11, 2025
in Educational Resources, Press & Interviews
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Photos from Storyland Reading @ Kinfolx

This past June I read at a great cafe called Kinfolx in Oakland for a team of story lovers called “Storyland” started by Indya McGuffin and Bean Tupou. They are a new organization trying to bring stories to families.

It was a great event and my brother Eli Jacobs Fantauzzi (Fist Up Films) came through and blessed us with some photos from the event!! This one above is me sitting behind Indya and Bean.

During and after the readings they had coloring supplies and pasta shells there for making necklaces or bracelettes! Activities are always a hit with kids; especially those who have wiggles and want to move their hands, arms, etc.

Here’s a photo of the amazing set up Marcus Books had at the event! In case you didn’t know, Marcus is the oldest Black owned bookstore in the Bay!

Chapter 510 was also there with books created by young people and information about the incredible work they do as a literary organization that gives kids instruction and space on creative writing.

Here are some fotos from my portion of the reading. Eli really captured the work Bean and Indya put into the event because it was packed with families!

This was super fun and a great way to spend Juneteenth reading stories featuring Black families:) The babies had lots of questions and very cute comments to share as always!

That’s it fam. I’ve linked all the folks involved so please scroll back up to learn more about them.

Dig this? Check out these fotos from my visit to Alvarado elementary in Union City.

July 11, 2025
in Events, School or Library Visit
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