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
I started working with CLES –the Coalition for a Liberated Ethnic Studies in 2022 and it has been awesome to contribute to the incredible work they are doing to provide resources, curriculum, and advocacy for folks trying to get ethnic studies to kids in public schools, amplify those currently teaching it, and to stand up for those facing attacks because………surprise surprise, lots of reactionary adults are scared of their children feeling uncomfortable. Yeah, the true history of the United States and how it realtes to the world is uncomfortable af, but as a great writer once said :
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
Please follow them on IG and cop some merch, to support their work. If you follow me you know how I feel about ethnic studies curriciulum and why it is vital for young people to get and understand.
Dig this? Check out this painting of a phrase I like to use “Ethnic Studies in Every School”.
This is a really great interview with educator, activist, and dad Art Concordia Nelson about his work in Ethnic Studies. He has been a teacher in schools for over 20 years, was instrumental to the fight for ethnic studies in San Francisco public schools, Ethnic Studies as a requirement for all California high schoolers, and is now working on a program in Santa Barbara.
Some of my favorite topics he brought up in this video are:
Yall, it gives me so much pleasure to share some of the things I’m seeing, hearing, feeling, reading, learning from, and getting inspired by. PLEASE check out some of these people, things, etc and get inspired!!! Here are they are left to right, top to bottom.
1. Snapdragon by Kat Leyh (graphic novel) Witches, Queer identity, etc
2. Eve Ewing (Author/Educator) writes about super heroes, school closures, and science
3. Vamos! by Raul the Third (Picture book) Bilingual literacy, Latinx, kids lit
4. A Tradition of Violence by Cerise Castle (podcast) LA Sheriff gangs, journalism, police brutality
5. Sebastian Mikael’s new EP Phileo (Soul Music) Soul, hip hop
6. Pinocchio by Guillermo Del Toro (Animated film) stop motion,
7. Alvin Irby founder of Barbershop Books (Interview) activism, literacy, black boys
8. I am the Subway by Kim Hyo Eun (Picture book) train, humanity, working class
9. Nala Sinephro’s album Space 1.8 (Jazz music) jazz, experimental jazz, harp
10. Abel Cruz’s fog nets (Water) BBC, World hacks, water crisis, fog nets, peru
11. Sibylline Meynet (Artist) illustration, gouache, artist
12. Afu Chan’s Outer Darkness (Artist) comics, illustration
13. Ovarian Psycos (Documentary) cycling, women’s rights, trauma, women
14. Noni Sessions (Activist) East Bay Permanent Real Estate Coop, coop’s, land, activism
15. Coop Conversations (Podcast) Cooperative housing, podcasts, coop’s, alternative housing
16. Teach the Children the Truth by Marisa Villegas (Podcast) Ethnic studies, Raza Studies, education
In this audio Martín breaks down some really dope ideas about how academia is challenging for first gen college students. He talks about how to empower these students by reminding them of the expertise and knowledge they possess, how to use more multimedia and multimodal approach when making an argument. This involves critical race theory, audio, and story telling!! Listen.
Check out this Oxnard professor’s work here.
Dig this? Check out this interview w/ Laura Briggs