Cheryl’s corner

Hello, Good People,

There are so many intersectional issues that cross the focal points of justice, racial and equity harmony that are playing out in our country in this moment, I honestly do not know nor have the bandwidth to make mention of which topics in this weekly or semi-weekly highlight.  For me, somehow, it always comes down to books, banned books + education and the housing crisis.

Before we dig in, let me state for the record, with regard to the housing crisis, that Santa Cruz Black has just launched our comprehensive centralized housing resource webpage.  This is a guide for renters as well as 1st time home buyers or those who may find themselves in between a living space/shelter or trying to abate eviction. We did not invent any of these resources nor did we create any of the policies that generated these resources.  We simply compiled what we, and by we, I mean our housing advisory committee, Committee on Black Residential Affordable Housing (COBRAH), recommended as useful, already established, resources for those seeking affordable housing options in Santa Cruz County.  Both Chris and I sit on that subcommittee.  We intend to add one or two more features later this month. The link to that webpage is here: https://santacruz.black/housing.  I hope you or your friends/ framily find this resource guide helpful. We’d also be interested in what you think works and/or what additional changes you think might be useful.  Just send an email to: info@santacruz.black with the subject line stating: HOUSING RESOURCE WEBPAGE.

This month is known as BLACK AUGUST month for those who have been active in social justice work in the carceral system, the injustice system.  Black August recognizes and honors the Black Political prisoners, the Movements for Black Freedom struggles and Black resistance against racial, colonial, and imperialist oppression.

For a more comprehensive mention of Black August check out Forbes Magazine August newsletter: https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2023/08/12/why-august-is-such-a-significant-time-for-black-people/?sh=4731edfe3ebd

Dates celebrated or commemorated during Black August

·         August 1: Emancipation Day in Antigua and Barbuda, Anguilla, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Canada

·         August 7: death of Jonathan P. Jackson (d. August 7, 1970) at San Quentin State Prison

·         August 11: Watts riots also known as the Watts Uprising, August 11-16 1965[9]

·         August 14: Bois Caiman: Vodou ceremony that would lead to the first large scale uprising of the enslaved of Saint Domingue and spark the Haitian Revolution

·         August 17: birth of pan-africanist leader Marcus Garvey (n. August 17, 1887 - d. June 10, 1940)

·         August 21: beginning of Nat Turner's slave rebellion (August 21-23, 1831)

·         August 21: death of George Jackson (d. August 21, 1971) at San Quentin State Prison

·         August 23: Uprising of the enslaved in Saint Domingue, beginning of the Haitian Revolution and commemorated by UNESCO as the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition[10]

·         August 30: birth of Fred Hampton, who was deputy chairman of the Black Panther Party at the time of his assassination by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Cabrillo Name Change and 2023 BLM Mural defacement, AGAIN

The Cabrillo name change, and the 2023 desecration of the Black Lives Matter Mural is a topic to which I want to add a bit of commentary. 

Firstly, words have a lot of impact as these are the tools that everyone uses to communicate with each other; that is, those people who can speak or can verbalize. And of course, names convey history, familial lineage, location and so much more.  Now let’s shift our sight toward Santa Cruz county’s only community college which was named after Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo.  A quick google search can tell you quite a bit about this conquistador.

In the 21st century in America, any have become accustomed to land acknowledgments not simply because being accountable to the practical annihilation of the indigenous peoples who stewarded this continent is the “right thing to do” but also because it’s a symbolic way, as I see it, to recognize historical harm and possibly pave the way for some reparative justice (I’m ever the optimist).  Having said that, changing the name of the community college is keeping in line with those principles.  Now I haven’t gone to any of the meetings but the above is one of the reasons I’m in favor of this change. 

Again, the BLM mural gets defaced shortly after it was repainted twice now.  It’s annoyingly frustrating that three words can cause so much distress to motivate, in both incidents, white men to destroy the message.  These are words painted on the street with the permission and acceptance of local governance, community members led by an artist, Abi Mustafa and the SC Equity Collab.  I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, this mural is a symbolic gesture is an opening for conversation, activism, and symbolizing belonging, in my opinion. 

These two situations, that is the backlash + defacement of public property serve, in my mind, as a temperature check for Santa Cruz City and Santa Cruz County in terms of anti-racism, racial justice.  Their behavior is very revealing. I’m going to reiterate, those three words are symbolic of honoring the moment, the movement for Black Lives that culminated in the nation during 2020.  And the Black residents of Sant Cruz along with our allies, accomplices and co-conspirators and anybody who realizes that this is just a continuum of Black Liberation struggle since we got here.  And that historical moment was so impactful even in this predominantly white environment the Black led/ Black focused organizations emerged out of the activism to create tangible social changes.

Every time the mural gets defaced -and it will sadly-, that action may cause hurt and may harm some sensitive souls.  My unsolicited solution is that the City of Santa Cruz take on the clean-up and repair of the damage. If the artist and SC Equity Collab wish to lead the repainting efforts, by all means let’s have another celebration of resilience and joy. But the city should foot the bill.  If they want to pass the cost onto the perpetrators, please do so. I believe I’m advocating for defendants who are found guilty of some crime to pay retribution, a realistic amount. 

I’m also wondering if a coating of some kind can be applied after the repainting.

When I think that it’s been about 158 years since emancipation and this low-level type of violence is still happening, I just can’t help but become a bit infuriated.  I don’t want be shame or guilt generating, but really.

So how do these two situations relate to books, banned books, education and the housing crisis. Maybe next week I should just compile a list of books.  The key words are education and history, but not what’s being purported as history in the great state of Florida.

Peace, power + Love

Yours,

Cheryl M. Williams

Chris speaks

This edition's piece is a combination of what I wrote for last week (unpublished) plus some of my latest thoughts on the shenanigans going on in these United States.

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I tend to write my words in one fell swoop.

Finding Chase - New Canon Theatre

As a Black gay man who's struggled with acceptance (not necessarily only with my parents), but also with a wider berth of family, my experience with this singular, yet universal story was impactful and at times overwhelming. Our world now talks a lot about representation. I'd never felt more seen nor represented on stage before this production. I had the fortune of being able to see it twice. I think it's important for me to say this: when I walk out my front door, I'm instantly reminded that my existence and presence around others is connected to my identity as a Black man. I can leave the gay part out as that's not what people see initially when they see me. I say this because (feel free to message me otherwise) I can't believe that those who identify as white experience this as often as I do (unless you're on vacation in Mexico—or insert any other place that isn't predominately white.) It's a feeling that I think those who don't have to (or want to) or don't need to think about often don't understand.

And if you feel like my prior words don't apply to you, then to that I say you shouldn't feel targeted or called out. I've never understood why folks say things such as "well I'm not racist/homophobic/antisemitic" and are upset about the notion about calling a spade a spade. If it doesn't apply to you, it shouldn't bother you (in my opinion).

Finding Chase left me with bloodshot, exhausted eyes. Thank you New Canon Theatre Company for sharing your beautiful production with us and so many others. I wish you the best and in my heart know that this show will grow and be seen as it should be.

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Cabrillo name change meeting

I'm going to keep it simple and just share below what I said in the public comment portion. This is a discussion that will continue even though the simple choice is clear to me.

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I'm a long-time Watsonville resident. I like to say, I'm not from here, but I get it done here.

Santa Cruz County, progressive—yes. Often unfortunately performatively so. We have indigenous communities asking us (—you) to do better. Full stop. A Cabrillo student said in a Lookout article, "when you know better you do better."

The backlash says otherwise to me.

The direct analogue to this issue is the renaming of military bases named for those Confederate generals who chose supporting the perpetuation of chattel slavery instead of expressing the promise this nation was allegedly founding upon.

The federal government can do it, but somehow we can't, or shouldn’t?

I imagine most here in this so thought beacon of acceptance and liberalism support not honoring Confederate generals. I see no difference here.

One member of the [Cabrillo] board said "this is the hardest decision I've ever had to make."

The underserved person, the marginalized person, the unhoused person, the disadvantaged person would be so lucky to say the same.

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That's it for now. I'm off to the mountains for a much needed vacation and look forward to coming back to further indictments and who knows what else. Til next time.

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Fast forward one week, and Georgia is on my mind. I was mid camping trip, had reception for maybe 15 minutes and saw what I knew would likely come down the pike while I was off the grid­—Georgia vs. Trump et al. (aka indictment #4) (aka "unprecedented") (aka when is enough enough?)

45 (former occupant of the White House) by the numbers

2

• number of times so far chosen as the Republican national candidate for Presidentnumber of times impeached by the House and acquitted by the Senate

3

• number of Supreme Court justices appointed and have confirmed by the Senate

4

• current number of indictments delivered by grand juries

• number of counts under 2nd federal indictment

18

• number of indicted co-conspirators in Georgia

30

• number of unindicted co-conspirators in Georgia

77

• current age of 45

91

• number of current criminal counts outstanding

450+

• number of years possible as penalty under conviction

0

• number of other persons elected President of the United States to be under indictment after leaving office

Fit for office? You tell me.

In community,

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.

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