Black Is Beautiful 2023 - Margaret Sloan Hunter

 

Margaret Sloan Hunter was born in Chattanooga Tennessee in 1947. She grew up in Chicago and started a career in activism early. As a teenager she joined the Congress for Racial Equality (CORE). She co-founded a student group called The Junior Catholic Inter-Racial Council to get Black and White students her age to unite. She then joined the SCLC or Southern Christian Leadership Council. She then gravitated towards spaces where women could construct their own organizations free from male domination even within movement circles. She was a driving for for the creation of Ms Magazine (1st national magazine on feminist viewpoints) in 1971 becoming one of the first editors. She spoke around the country and internationally, linking up w/ other Black women who identified as such and as feminists to found The National Black Feminist Organization. She moved to the Bay she helped to found the Berkeley Women's Center and the Feminist School for Girls. She was a mother, a poet, singer, author, and a self proclaimed Black Lesbian Feminist. 

She spoke about coming out as being a Black Lesbian Feminist saying before she identified as a feminist or a lesbian she believed some of societies stereotypes, and the ignorant things people say. She wanted to put some of those preconceived notions to rest and when speaking about popular media that she felt starved for representation of women like her: " I think the future is visual, I think we can read it, see it in our minds". She died in Oakland California in 2004.

Sources: Black Women Radicals, Lesbians-The Invisible Minority, SF Gate, Feminist Majority, Wikipedia, BUST

Dig this? Check out these illustrations of the UK's Olive Morris , Denise Oliver-Velez, and Claudia Jones

Some process shots:

RIP Tony Coleman - Hard Knock Radio

 

Man, I didn't know Tony personally but listening to some old interviews with him and reflecting on the interactions I had with him with movement work and at his shop,; he was always super kind dude. I didn't know he served time or even that he was from Frisco. But I remember seeing him in those meetings, those events supporting community through actions and words. Then later he opened up a bike shop in West Oakland on historic 7th street. I remember reintroducing myself to him and he said "I remember you and you son's mother". I think I was searching for a bike for my son at the time and came back years later during the pandemic to buy a used track bike. I told hella people about his shop because it was dope. Affordable, quality, used bikes for kids, adults, women, and I'm sad to hear about this brother's passing.

link to listen- date of dedicated show is October 11th, 2022

Listen to these audio clips from the Bay's "Hard Knock Radio" a station that definitely contributed to my consciousness and knowledge as a hip hop lover, artist, and supporter of progressive social justice movement. I see on Tony's funeral they requested folks wear red, gold, and white and I know exactly what that means since my own uncle born in SF 1964 just passed away and was a huge niner fan. Rest in peace to this brother and my condolences to his family.

Also, check out this interview he did with JR for Bayview Newspaper

Dig this? check out this piece about the cycling group L&M Tourers or activist Olive Morris 

Inktober 2018 - Berta Cáceres

Berta Cáceres was an activist, mother, and daughter from Honduras. She was an activist because she looked out for the rights of indigenous people (The Lenca) in Honduras, the land that indigenous people were born to, the environment, and queer peoples. Berta was an organizer and co-founded the Council of Popular and Indigenous Organizations which protected indigenous folks and the land in Honduras against corporations who sought to dam it, mine it, and cut it down for profit. Along with many activists and regular people she fought the Honduran military, Chinese and US based corporations/govt involvement in building dams and destabilizing the Honduran government. She received many death threats, then she was assassinated in 2016 in her home even though she appealed for protection. Before she was killed she received an award called the Goldman Prize, a prestigious award for environmental justice. 

I draw her to keep her memory alive as so many other artists have. Salute to her and the activists from the Dakota Access Pipeline to Honduras fighting to protect indigenous peoples and the earth. After all the oil, water, trees, minerals, and land has been used up-will we be able to eat money?

Sources: Democracy Now, Guardian UK, Wikipedia

Black is Beautiful (2018) 8 - Claudia Jones

Claudia Jones was an activist, journalist, and organizer from Trinidad. She was born in 1915 and moved to the US at the age of 9. Upon moving to the US she faced the struggles of the great depression and racism in NYC, but she also benefitted from the Black cultural happenings of Harlem. She was a great writer and student who studied journalism and wrote a lot. She joined the Communist Party and quickly rose through the ranks as a writer, editor, then as a speaker and a rally organizer. She made so much noise in fact, they arrested her and deported her. She was surveilled and put on the FBI watch list as well. She was not allowed to return to Trinidad because of her great political knowledge and organizing power. So she was sent to the UK, where she also encountered racism. Even in the communist organizations there she was met with resistance. So, she saw the different caribbean peoples in the UK ( from former UK colonies) struggling and decided to start a newspaper called the West Indian Gazette in 1958. Blacks were migrating to the UK and being threatened, discriminated against, and in some cases killed. When riots started to break out and folks were struggling with how to organize she with leaders from several communities founded the Nottinghill Carnival. This still happens today and was credited with affirming Black beauty and bringing together people from Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, St Martinique, Grenada, and so many more countries. She struggled with many illnesses and died of a heart attack in 1964. In addition to standing up for Black rights, she was anti-capitalist, anti nuclear war, and the rights of working and poor people to dismantle their oppressive governments.


Sources: Sons of Malcolm TV, AfricanHeritage.com, BlackAgendaReport.com

Inktober 14 - Lydia Cacho

Lydia Cacho is a journalist, writer, and activist born in Mexico in 1963. She became a journalist as a young woman and growing up she had parents who I believe encouraged her question things and to champion the rights of women. She began reporting on individual cases of violence against women.  Sexual assault, rape, and murder. This lead to discovering a much larger problem at hand and beginning to expose individuals and those in power who either condoned it, ignored it, or were complicit. Because of her reporting she herself was sexually assaulted. But kept going and helped found a center in Mexico for women who were the victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

She kept investigating in her own country and later internationally. She was the first woman in Mexico's history to take a case implicating mayors, district attorney's, and other powerful people to trial. This charged that these folks were protecting this the sex trade, sexual tourism, child pornography, and violence against young women. And many were connected to trafficking in other parts of the world. She wrote about this in articles and eventually in books such as Slavery Inc-the untold story of international sex trafficking, Los Demonios de Eden, and many others.

Having been spent time all over the world investigating these instances of abuse, being attacked, threatened, jailed, and awarded several international journalism awards she has become a shining example of how journalists can uncover the truth. But they must be protected. Journalists who get too close or speak truth to power are being threatened and murdered constantly in Mexico and worldwide. Follow her work!

Sources: LydiaCacho.net, Gesprek Op 2,

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Inktober 13 - Adam Beach

The first time I saw Adam was in Smoke Signals. An amazing film by Sherman Alexie. Although I have only seen a few of Adam's films (Wind Talkers, Suicide Squad, Four Brothers) Adam has acted in over 80 TV shows and films. In fact his career began almost a decade before Smoke Signals came out and he's still acting today. That is nearly 30 years. He's been nominated for and has won several acting awards. And In addition to acting Adam has been vocal about many issues affecting people of color in the film industry and some time ago founded a film institute to bring in native and aboriginal youth. Through this institute young folks can learn about how to make films and hopefully get them distributed.

Sources: Imdb, Wikipedia, ABFI

Want this original drawing? $60 or Print? $20 (includes shipping)  
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Character 118 - Antoine Dancer

Antoine Hunter! Founder of Urban Jazz Dance and Bay Area Int'l Deaf Dance Fest!

Kindred Journey 23 - Margaret Cho

Born in San Francisco in 1968, Margaret Cho is one of the greatest comedians to do it. She has written books, starred in plays, shows, and films, recorded music, and done some amazing comedic performances. One of the things I admire about her is her ability to merge political and hilarious. Margaret started performing as a teen. She went on to be one of the first if not the first Asian American lead in an Asian American specific Tv show called "All American Girl". She had a broadway show called "I am the one I want". She has toured all over the world performing stand up, and she has been nominated for many awards like the Grammy's, Emmy's, and she has won awards from the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) and GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation). Beyond doing comedy Margaret has been an advocate for LGbtq rights, she has stood up against bullying, and has lead commentary to political issues. She is still performing and inspiring today.

Sources: MargaretCho.com, The Rubin Report, Broadly

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Kindred Journey 18 - Geena Rocero

Geena Rocero is a trans activist and model from the Philippines. She was born there and migrated to the Bay Area to join her mother as a teenager. She worked as a clerk in department stores and later went to NYC to pursue a career in modeling. Before coming to the US Geena was part of a very visible group of trans models or pageant competitors in the Philippines. When she got to NYC she did not immediately tell her full story as a trans woman. In fact, only her close friends knew. Recently she decided to come out by giving a well received TED talk. In addition to coming out and continuing to model, she also went on to found an organization called "Gender Proud" which produces media highlighting the stories and lives of trans folks.  In addition to this, she has spoken at the UN, and many other places fighting for the rights of trans folks who are often ostracized, bullied, discriminated against, or murdered. Her work inspires young people to be themselves and to fight for their right to exist, live, love, and work.

Sources: TED, Girl Boss Radio, Rappler.com

Black is beautiful (2017) 8- Miss Major

I learned about Miss Major first through the incredible artist Micah Bizant. He drew Miss Major and I wrote down her name thinking I need to know something about her too. Miss Major is a trans woman and activist originally from the south side of Chicago who came out when there were no terms like "trans" for who she was yet. She was born in 1940 and after dealing with bullying and abuse by community members found a small community of fellow trans folks in Manhattan. She was there the night of the Stonewall uprising and participated in fighting back alongside vets like Marsha P and Sylvia Rivera. Later she moved around, eventually settling in the Bay Area. She has over the years been a constant voice and role model for young trans black women because she has spoken out against mistreatment, neglect, and ignorance. She spent time in prison and also advocates for trans prisoners locked in a system that does not understand them. Recently a documentary about her life was made by Annalise Ophelian and Storm Miguel. I am just learning as I go, but as a straight man of color wanted to give some props to Black trans folks who should be an integral part of Black history month! Miss Major is still kicking ass and is the former Executive director of the "Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project". 

Sources: Wikipedia, Major! (doc),  tgijp.org

Inktober 7 Rosa Clemente

I appreciate Rosa. I appreciate her commentary because whether its a political, hip hop, or cultural issue and she's speaking...I want to hear what she has to say. She's sharp, on point, and is proud of who she is.  I know being proud to be Black and Latinx confusing some people still, but the fact that she claims both in her identity signifies a tiny part of a much larger changing tide. If you're not familiar with this scholar/activist look her up. She ran for vice president with Cynthia McKinney in 2008 as a Green Party representative. She has written many articles as a journalist and I love that she loves hip hop and will challenge it. Respect for working on police brutality with the Malcolm X Grass Roots Movement as well. 

http://rosaclemente.net/

Peep this: Roberto Clemente 

Kindred Journey 10 - Peggy Oki

Peggy Oki is a professional skater, surfer, environmental activist, visual artist,  and an advocate for wildlife mammals. She grew up in southern California and began skating at a time when the styles were very conventional. Her style and that of her team was aggressive. She competed and won many competitions. Peggy was one of many pioneering women in skate culture in the 70s as the first girl to skate as part of the original Zephyr skate team . She was inducted into the skating hall of fame and adapted her style of skating to surfing, which she still does today. As she was skating she also went to UC Santa Barbara to study environmental biology and began a lifelong career in advocating for marine life. She created paintings of whales and has lead art shows and installations to speak about the murder of them. To this day Peggy still rides, paints, and fights. She even does speaking engagements such as TED talks where she speaks on her life's work. 

Sources: PeggyOki.com, Skategirl Documentary, TED

Inktober 8- Grace Lee Boggs

Grace Lee Boggs once said in an interview:
"Do something local, do something real however small and don't diss the political things, but understand their limitations. I mean, politics.... There was a time when we believed that if we just achieved political power we would solve all our problems. And I think what we've learned through the experience of the Russian revolution and all these revolutions is that those who try to get power in the state become part of the state. They become locked into the practices. And we have to begin creating new practices."

"I don't see any leaders and i think we need to rethink the concept of leaders. Because leader implies follower. I think we need to appropriate and embrace the idea that we are the leaders we've bee looking for."

check this

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Artist:Activist

Peace yawl, I was asked by the good folk over at the BBC blog to contribute to a magazine about Black Artists and Activists by interview.Sponsored by The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College(SUNY).What an honor!!!!The great poet and homie Tamara Davidson was also featured in this mag along side so many other dope artists. Please check it out and let other folks (especially young people) know what you think. Small steps make staircases, hopefully yesterday, today, and tomorrow this art will make a positive impact in some ones life. It definitely has in mine. Props to Issa, Joi M. Sears, Tamara Davidson, Emory Douglas, Octavia Butler, Nelson Stevens, Lois Malou Jones.Speak from the heart.

Read it HERE