This was an excellent video about a little known fact about US and White history here in America. Apartheid. Jim Crow. Basically separate worlds and laws for White Americans and everyone else, especially Black Americans. And this was not that long ago, 50 maybe 60 years ago. For context, I am 46 years old. My mother is 65.
Dig this? Check out the Contract Buyers League
This was a great show from Amanda Seales (Journalist, Comedian, former emcee). What critics of her don’t get is that she is not falling for the bullshit and if half of them really supported icons like Fannie Lou Hamer, Baldwin, Malcolm, etc they would be listening instead of trying to get click bate.
Anyways, I loive how she not only does her own research and analysis for us but she invites others own with knowledge to game us up as well. Case in point, today she had on two Korean American organizers on from Nodutdol an organization whos purpose is:
“We are diasporic Koreans and comrades based in occupied Indigenous lands known as the United States and Canada. We organize for a world free of imperialism, and for Korea’s re/unification and national liberation.“
Nodutdol organizers Jamie and Heath talk about the history of US imperialism in Korea, how South Korea is still occupied by the US, how North Korea is propagandized, and how this relates to Gaza, Guam, India, Puerto Rico and so much untold history. I learned a lot as someone with a parent born in Korea! Starting at the 2:12:00 mark, listen to this interview and get you some game.
Dig this? Check out this short story about Haenyeo or this illustration of a Jeju diver .
Red Nation is a new podcast I started listening to last year. This episode offers a great perspective from the host (a Native American professor/author) on manifest destiny and how it relates to colonialism globally and at home. The words and the images are not by accident and I feel this episode gives some great historical points from the past that relate to Native folks in the US of course but also to people in the global south.
Dig this? Check out this video about the legacy of Native children stolen (colonization) or this illustration I did in solidarity with Standing Rock.
If u support education, read,act. Via @liberated.esc
🍉‼️URGENT ACTION! ALL HANDS ON DECK. Protect Ethnic Studies from censorship, silence, policing and control! AB 1468 is replaced by AB 715 ‼️🍉
Call California State Legislators and the Education Committee to STRONGLY OPPOSE AB 715!
Instead of listening to constituents, educators, parents, and legal advocates, DEMOCRATIC Assembly Members Rick Chavez Zubr and Dawn Addis are doubling down on efforts to police and criminalize Ethnic Studies by introducing AB 715.
This bill will strongly impact educators’ ability to teach Ethnic Studies curriculum without fear of retribution or censorship. Silencing dialogue doesn’t create safety—it shuts down vital conversations about the world we live in!
☎️ ACTION 1: Call members of the Education Committee and urge them to VOTE NO on AB 715. Protect Ethnic Studies from censorship and manipulations!
Al Muratsuchi: (916) 319-2066
Josh Hoover: (916) 319-2007
Dawn Addis: (916) 319-2030
David A. Alvarez: (916) 319-2080
dia Bonta: (916) 319-2018
Leticia Castillo: (916) 319-2058
Robert Garcia: (916) 319-2050
Josh Lowenthal: (916) 319-2069
Dr. Darshana R. Patel: (916) 319-2076
☎️ ACTION 2: Call your California Assembly member TODAY, Tomorrow and every day.
Look up your who your Assembly member is: https://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov/
🚗ACTION #3: go to Sacramento this Wednesday, May 14th at the Bill’s hearing to make a public statement strongly opposing AB 715
SAMPLE SCRIPT:
I’m calling as a constituent (or as a concerned California citizen) to Vote No on AB 715. AB 715, proposed by elected assemblymembers of the Democratic Party to create an oppressive threatening environment for educators will not only stifle and silence necessary Ethnic Studies teachings but also police any discussion and learnings about Palestine and Palestinians. It will create a repressive environment of persecution and fear among educators who dare mention historical facts that put Israel in a negative light. It would not be any different than the those who want to suppress the teachings about Rosa Parks because it makes white people feel bad or uncomfortable to learn factual history.
Dig this? Check out this painting I did supporting ethnic studies
This was cool. I’ve never ever done a school visit in Union City. I met an educator named Roxanne Ramirez at the San Jose Made last year who has been a teacher for over 20 years. Not only that but shes an ethnic studies educator. Anyways, she invited me to her school in the Southern part of the Bay Area and I spoke to a whole bunch of students from 1st grade up to 5th.
They kids were super sweet, curious, and inquisitive so I had fun chopping it up with them, asking them questions, and being silly.
Some of the things we talked about or did on the first day were:
Some of the things we talked about on the second day were more focused on:
I really had a blast drawing with them and talking with these young minds, meeting their teachers, their principal, and many of the staff members. And I hope to make it back to this school again in the future.
School and Library Visits: I’ve been visiting students as a storyteller since 2012 yall. I started as an illustrator first and then I became an author. I visit many schools every single year. I’ve been all over the Bay Area and Ive read to students in California, Texas, Oregon, Washington, New Mexico, and Ohio. At this point I’ve visited over 100 libraries and schools. Recently I put out the call to visit more cities in Northern and Central California. If you’d like to invite me to visit your school or library in the Bay or outside of it, I’m open to travel! Shoot me an email at info@robdontstop.com
Dig this? I did a picture book workshop for CCA college students in the comics MFA program.
These are the educators who spend countless hours prepping, reading, researching, and teaching our babies. They were kind enough to take a picture with me. Photos by Victor Guzman Benitez and Roxanne Ramirez. Shout out to the Social Justice Academy and the Ethnic Studies educators there. Hella appreciate y’all!
Videos:
Bay Area! All this talk about birthright citizenship has been part of a long legacy of racism, and leaving vital information out of history books. Its a part of why I’m such as advocate for young people learning about ethnic studies.
Dig this? See this podcast interviewing the founders of Eastwind Books (Historic AAPI Bookstore).
This isn’t new. But, because the cheeto is back I’m reminded that it we all must speak up when able. I’m not going to hit every issue, I’m human. But over the course of my life I’m going to try many times.
Why Fuck ICE? “Immigration and Customs Enforcement” is not being used in this current onslaught of raids affecting real people to protect America. They are wielded as a tool like cops and immigration laws to reinforce a harmful narrative, a story. That story says Black and Brown people are the cause of poor and working class White Americans’ problems. Why do they reinforce this BS? To rile up White folks and others so they are emboldened and to distract them from the fact that the billionaire class is robbing them and us blind. Jobs have been going over seas where they can pay them less w/less worker protection for decades. Its about keeping some pointing the finger at migrants instead of realizing who is screwing them over. Its also about putting fear and terror into the hearts of hard working everyday people of color in the US. And it is about good ole white supremacy.
When you need to debate with anyone (Blk, White, Latino, Asian, etc) who is applauding the current raids bring up some things. Talk about the 1% vs the 99%, race, class, what this country will pay for (War/Genocide) and what they pretend to have no money for (universal health care, housing). Seek independent and trusted news sources outside and within social media. Watch and think: Who’s narrative is being highlighted, and who is has a distorted voice or no voice at all?
If you’re an artist, make art. If youre not an artist, share art that informs, engages, etc. Lend your support to grassroots organizations and people working to protect migrants who have legal, civil, and human rights by donating time, money, or other means. Know this is a racist legacy of attacks going back centuries in the US of A. Latinos, Black folks, Aapi communities, Arab, and white allies have fought back and won victories before and they will again.
Dig this? Check out “Empire is Built on Genocide”.
Link to interview with Be a and Harvey of EastWind Books. Last Spring I got the chance to speak and table at an event in Berkeley California supporting a new model curriculum about Ethnic Studies; one of my favorite things to talk about. And while I was there I got a chance to speak to Bea and Harvey. They were both so kind and actually carried one of my books! I regret not going to EastWind more when the physical location was open, but as you’ll hear in this episode they are still publishing and selling books. Their advocacy and work is so freaking important so please check out their work here.
Really enjoyed this episode of “Asian American History 101” which I found through an awesome interview w/ my good friend and fellow kid lit creator Nidhi Chanani. This seems like a really cool podcast to follow and listen to for historic and current perspectives on AAPI in the US! Love the fact that is a father daughter duo too:)
Dig this? Check out this Inspiration Board I made featuring books, art, film, and more.
This is a very informative bit short video about urban renewal. This was the process of taking out entire blocks or sections of neighborhoods to construct freeways , major roads, and other things. Often these were done at the expense of Black and Brown neighborhoods. I live in Oakland California. An example of this is Bart in West Oakland, the former Nimitz freeway, or Geary street in the Fillmore district. File this under systemic racism because it is not just about individual prejudice, its about policy and systems.
Dig this? Check out this purple painting I did about Ethnic Studies
The more you know. This is an interesting short video about the history of broken treaties and reservations for Indians (Native Americans). I wish the true history of this country to be taught so ALL students grow up learning and understanding.
Dig this? Check out this talk by educator Martín Alberto Gonzalez