Cheryl’s corner

Hello Beloved Community,

Yes, I’m using that term, widely popularized by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  However, let me share a little history for those of you who may not be in the know.  This term was first coined, in the early 20th century, by the theologian/philosopher Josiah Royce who was one of the co-founders the “Fellowship of Reconciliation”. A quick google search gives more information about the Fellowship of Reconciliation.  Most of you may even know some of the more activist members of the Fellowships: A. J. Muste and Byard Rustin.  But that is not what I’m going to talk about today. 

King’s philosophical concept of the Beloved Community is being/ has been applied today, right now, right here in Santa Cruz County. I’m thinking of the coming together of the City of Santa Cruz, Abi Mustafa and Santa Cruz Equity Collab’s symbolic creation of belonging, the Black Lives Matter mural.

The 2nd defacing of the BLM mural.  And before anyone gets any idea that I may be intimating that some retaliatory violence may erupt due to this hate-incited incident and the mention of the Beloved. No, not even. The concept of the Beloved Community that resonates with me is the intolerance of hunger, homelessness, poverty, and racism/ racist harms Let’s be clear the City of SC approved of this sociopolitical art installation. And We, Black people, in Santa Cruz County are here, we belong, our lives matter and we are not going to flee in fear because of symbolic acts of hate. I personally would like to see a tangible concrete response from the city and the County of Santa Cruz that clearly represents reparations, belonging and inclusivity.

To get a fuller picture, please check out the Instagram account of the Santa Cruz Equity Collab [@scequitycollab] for their statement.

My cofounder, friend, director of Santa Cruz Black, accomplice and partner in crime (when he is not moving around boxes of classified documents - LOL) Chris D., has also succinctly stated some of the ugliness that has surfaced once again in Santa Cruz County, so I will not reiterate.

Oh, and one other thing, it’s time, it has been time to stand up, show up for our Black gay + trans members of this society.  I’m talking about Uganda, Nigeria, Jamaica and especially right here in the United States. O’Shae Sibley had a life ahead of him and was shamefully stabbed to death during an argument as he and his friends were dancing at a Brooklyn gas station. Ye-as. Brad Hoylman-Sigal, a New York state Senator, made this very apropos statement about this incident: Black “gay joy is not a crime. Hate-fueled attacks are.”

Finding Chase

Focusing on Black Gay love and all its nuances, I want to emphatically encourage all that love theatre especially those who want to witness an extraordinary performance love, grief and acceptance. New Canon Theatre Co’s world premiere of Finding Chase addresses all those elements with such a fine cast of actors. Playwright, C. Wright’s authentic dialogue, coupled with the creative artistic way the set was designed, down to the lighting, all convey great theatre.  This piece is told in present time using flashbacks. One thing that struck me was the transitions from present to past and back again, were so smooth again using dialogue and a continuous flow of the scene. I felt as if I was watching a movie.   

This weekend starting on Thursday, Aug 4th is the final run of Finding Chase.  The last day to see this play will be on Saturday, Aug 5th.  I promise you that you will want to see it again.  So quickly click on this link and lock down a date and time to be fully amazed.

Peace, Power + Love

Cheryl M. Williams

Cofounder + Director

Santa Cruz Black

Chris speaks

There are a lot of things I've never done. I've never been to New Orleans. I've never watched an entire episode of Seinfeld or Friends.

I've never voted, nor supported, for someone who was elected President and then thrice indicted (so far). Anyone, in my opinion, even simply charged (as we allow the presumption of innocence until proven guilty in a court of law), of conspiracy to defraud the United States is unfit for the Office of the President. Full stop. I don't think we need to debate that. Just saying.

What I have experienced is racism. I've experienced it in the Midwest where I was born. I've experienced it on the East Coast where I've lived.

And yes, spoiler alert, I've experienced it, right here, in Santa Cruz County.

1. From someone I'd never met before at a work event thinking they were funny and speaking jokingly: "Oh Chris, weren't you the one breaking into the cars downtown recently?"

2. Being told by a person that they couldn't tell that I was Black and only thought I was just "slightly colored" because I don't have "big fat lips." What almost hurt as much was someone saying after the fact that they didn't believe this person was being racist.

That's the tip of the iceberg.

I write this in frustration. Our beautiful paradise loves to shade the reality that racism exists, that it's real, and that people who live here who look like me and live next door to you experience it regularly.

Let me start here. If your reaction to what I just wrote is that, "well I'm not racist," then to you I say—you shouldn't be upset about it being called out as it doesn't apply to you. If you're upset and still don't consider yourself racist, ask yourself why.

For those out of the know, the BLM mural was once again vandalized. Some folks said, "oh perhaps a truck was driving by and a bucket of paint fell off of it." BS. I went to see it for myself, and it's obvious it was an intentional desecration. The apologetics (aka mental gymnastics) need to stop. Someone knows this person shown in the surveillance footage here.

This beautiful space (occupied on stolen land) is that. It's also a space where it's possible to be vegan and racist. Performative liberalism is as insidious as overt bigotry.

Those of privilege, mostly white, don't want to be made or feel uncomfortable. That's what's causing the moves to rewrite history (see Florida re: slavery). Our lives matter more than mere discomfort. We just want to exist. We just want to be.

Lastly, I invite you to go attend/watch/sit Finding Chase in Carmel which closes Saturday night. Message me or Cheryl directly if you want to know our thoughts on it. We are trying to show up for the Friday show in force. If you can go, you should go.

Be kind,

Chris

Upcoming Community Events/Opportunities !

Uplifting and amplifying opportunities to build and strengthen community!

Morehouse at Dominican!

Source: Dominican Hospital Family Residency Program

The Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program in Santa Cruz, California, was established in 2022 to address health equity in our local and global communities. We will be interviewing medical students in the Fall 2023 and welcome our first residents to start our 3-year program dedicated to training full spectrum, culturally competent family physicians in July 2024. While ‘new’, our program is well-grounded as part of graduate medical education that was started at Morehouse School of Medicine in 1981 and CommonSpirit/Dignity Health, who sponsors GME programs which have served communities for more than half a century, currently training more than 2,000 residents nationally.   

Take the Black Census!

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SANTA CRUZ BLACK NEEDS YOU!
HERE’S HOW CAN YOU HELP US GROW.

Santa Cruz Black started as a group holding community meetings during the height of what mainstream media has called the racial reckoning, right after the murder of George Floyd.

Our Vision: To bring Black people, residents of Santa Cruz County, together in the spirit of resilient joy, creating visible community as we organize for equitable access to housing in this county which now has one of the most unaffordable rental markets.

Executing the Vision/ Answer: In addition, many Black residents experience high levels of isolation and economic marginalization. We have developed three core programs, that focus on youth development, housing access, equity, and intergenerational community building. All of which are crucial to improving the quality of life for Santa Cruz County’s Black residents.

Santa Cruz Black is a pending 501(c)3, ID 88-1413455. Our mission is to empower & sustain a thriving Black community by supporting initiatives that advance equity, health, safety, and well-being. We are working to establish more equitable living conditions; we host events that ultimately celebrate Black Joy. Any monetary support you give is not only welcome but will assist us in scaling up our efforts. We are grateful for all the love that our community has shown us. If you’re as passionate about achieving racial justice and equity as we are, please consider donating. Your support is greatly appreciated, and of course, any amount of support is welcome.

A one-time gift of support allows us to grow our burgeoning grassroots efforts to amplify the Black community in Santa Cruz County and build community programming and community assets. A one-time or monthly donation of ANY size sows the seeds needed for our emerging organization to thrive.

For example:
$100 will allow us to print and distribute our organizational informational collateral
$250 supports building and maintaining our IT infrastructure and needs
$500 enables us to provide transportation for our cohorts in the Melanated Makerspace program to events county-wide.

If you’re able to support more, consider joining our leadership level circles:

Grace Lee Boggs/Yuri Kochiyama at $1000
Your name will appear on the prominent banner displayed on event day and be mentioned in online advertising and event releases. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program and will appear on SCB’s website and e-newsletters thanking donors in 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked in 1 social media post.

Ida B. Wells at $2500
Your name – and if a business, your logo – will appear on a prominent banner displayed on the event day and will be mentioned in online advertising and event press releases. Your name will also appear on our website as well as on printed collateral thanking sponsors for the 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked in 3 social media posts. This level of sponsorship will also receive an SCB t-shirt. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program.

London Nelson at $3750
Your name – and if a business, your logo – will appear on a prominent banner displayed on the event day and be mentioned in online advertising and event press releases. You will receive an SCB t-shirt. You will be thanked in 4 social media posts. Your name will also appear on our website as well as on printed collateral thanking sponsors for the 2023-24 FY. You will be thanked as a sponsor during the emcee portion of the program.

Carter G. Woodson at $5000
Your logo and name will be featured on a prominent banner displayed on event day, on all promotional materials including print and online advertising. flyers, in event press releases and announcements, in a minimum of 5 social media posts, will be mentioned during the emcee portion of the ceremony, and will appear on SCB’s website and in all e-newsletter acknowledging donors throughout FY 2023-24. You will also receive a Santa Cruz Black t-shirt. This level of support is the only sponsor tier whose logo and name will be the most prominently featured on all event collateral and to be offered tabling space at the event.

We welcome you to support us by donating what you can. We are passionate about the work that we do and we believe that with your support, we can and will continue to make a positive impact on the lives of Black residents in Santa Cruz County. We invite community feedback around our priorities and programming and your support in our endeavors.

Follow @santacruz.black on Instagram and visit our website, Santacruz.black for more information about Santa Cruz Black as we as other local events and community news.