Ethnic Studies Purple Pack

 

What up fam? I just made this new pack of Ethnic Studies merch featuring a painting you likely already saw and a new gold sticker. If you follow me you know this is important to me educationally and personally. Know a teacher, student, or colleague who would appreciate this? Send them the pack (1 print, 2 stickers). 

COP IT HERE

What is Ethnic Studies? Ethnic Studies for those who don't know is an organized curriculum of books, films, lectures, music, and culture that explore all that US and American history left out about African Americans, Latin@S, Native Americans, and Asian Americans. It now includes curriculum about Middle Eastern Americans, and sometimes LGBTQ studies as well. I'm a product of ethnic studies and i'm very proud to support ethnic studies curriculum all over the US in EVERY SCHOOL.

Dig this? Check out this podcast w/ an ethnic studies teacher, Maestra Marisa Villegas

Video: Lee & Low Spring-Summer Showcase

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    Its starting to happen! This summer my book "Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco" debuts on Lee & Low Books. Here's a sneak peak at it and many other great books coming out.

LINK TO PRE ORDER the book

Dig this? Check out the cover reveal for my book

Character 167- Rough bboy

 

Just messing around trying to loosen up listening to Lee Quinones. 

Dig this? Check out my last Collage of Characters

Berna Anat - How do I Pick a Bank?

 

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Berna Anat, is doing the damn thing when it comes to sharing financial information and literacy that is quick, funny, to the point, ethical, and aware of how not all financial advice applies to everyone. Especially to Black folks, Indigenous , Asian Americans, Latinos, etc.  I've been following her for two or three years and I have definitely felt informed and smarter after listening to her speak. Check out her new YouTube series!

For example, this is common knowledge to most folks, but for some reason it didn't sink in to me until she broke it down. Using credit cards to make purchases helps you earn points which can be used to buy other things like plane tickets, or whatever you need depending on the card.

Dig this? I wrote about her when I heard she's got a book dropping to break some of this down for young people and teachers. Get her book here

Inspiring Artist - Bea Gifted

 

Just found the website of this incredible artist named Bea Jackson (Bea Gifted). Wow! Stunning digital and traditional illustration. I don't know much about her but I really love how she draws and paints, especially how beautifully she illustrates Black children. Ugggh, so good!

If you're not familiar with her please go check out her website and follow her on Instagram! I'm sure you have seen her art in picture books but if you havent here's one! "Parker Looks Up" :)

Here is an interview with her where she talks about her long career in the arts working in comics, editorial work, children's books, and more. 

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What's this? This is where I share inspiring artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. I just discovered Bea's work but some of the folks I share I've seen over the span of many years. Here are some others to check out:

Cymone Wilder- Typographic artist and designer

Elizabeth Catlett - Sculptor and fine artist

Olivia Fields- Illustrator, cartoonist

Helen Mingjue Chen- Illustrator, concept artist

Wow, as I mentioned above please follow and support her work!!! Again here is her site.

Hidari - Stop motion trailer (samurai)

 

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Juiced to see this one and the growing shorts, films, etc made with stop motion lately. Here's a Catsuka article about the film and here is the link to their Kickstarter to make this film.

Dig this? Check out this inspiration board or the sneak peek of Wendell & Wild

I'm a Virgo - Trailer

 

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Can't wait to see this new series by Boots Riley (The Coup/ Sorry to Bother You). I left the theater going "what the fuck was that?" when I saw Sorry to Bother You. But I have to give him props because I love to see Black/ POC directors do some weird shit I wasn't expecting. Not sure what to expect with "I'm a Virgo" starring Jharrel Jerome, Carmen Ejoho, and Mike Epps but I'm excited to see it!

If you didn't see "Sorry to Bother You" check that out here and if you're unfamiliar with the pen game of Boots Riley, I'd highly suggest listening to The Coup!

Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board

Stills from the show:

College lecture - Modesto Jr College

 

Sup with it fam! On March 29th of this year I will be doing a presentation for college students and faculty at Modesto Jr College! I'm going to be talking about my career, art, kids books, publishing, and literacy! I've visited Modesto and the jr college three times in the past. First for the Latino Comics Expo founded by Ricardo Padilla and Javier Hernandez-the first ever comics con dedicated to Latino Comics writers and illustrators. Second, I visited the main branch of the Modesto Public Library to read to families, children, and caregivers for their story time. Third, I visited for the "Latinx Comics and Arts Fest" founded by Dr. Theresa Rojas , a professor from MJC. 

All of these were really great events or experiences filled with families, community, incredible creators, art, and lots of books and comics. If you're a student at the college or know someone who is please invite them to attend. 

MORE INFO

If you're looking for something to do with the entire family, check out the Latinx Comics and Arts Fest happening on March 17-18th.

Dig this? Check out this interview I did with my bro Farbeon on Feel Good Radio. Also, this is a recent school visit for Prospect Sierra in Berkeley California.

Black Art: In the Absence of Light- Trailer

 

Hey, this doc inspired me today to draw like I haven't in a long time. If you haven't seen it, check it out!!

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Te gusto? Check out my last inspiration board 

Black Is Beautiful 2023 - Charles Johnson

 

Charles Johnson was born in 1948 in Evanston IL. At an early age he showed an interest in drawing. He began his career as a cartoonist in high school drawing as a student of Lawrence Lariar. He won two competitions for his work from Columbia Scholastic Press. An adult discouraged him from pursuing art primarily so he went to school for journalism, continuing to draw, and pound the pavement in NY to get gigs. In that time while working for Chicago Tribune he saw a talk by Amiri Baraka and was inspired to do more cartooning about Black history and to reflect the times. He then worked Ebony and Jet magazine publishing cartoon strips and illustrations. 

I picked up his book "All Your Racial Problems Will Soon End" and was inspired by the drawings he'd done in the 70s. But he didn't stop there. Inspired by a friend he took creative writing and continued his college education earning a doctorate in Philosophy. Johnson would go on to write for papers like the NY Times and the Wall St Journal. But he also began writing novels such as The Middle Passage, King, and Soul Catcher. He became a professor of creative writing at the University of Washington for more than 30 years. He wrote over 20 scripts for TV, he was awarded by the MacArthur Genius Award, Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He's a buddhist, and is still writing as we speak. 

Sources: The Belief Agency, Wikipedia, oxherdingtale.com

Dig this? Check out my piece about Ruth Carter and Robert Sengstacke Abbott

10 Years of Revision Path!!!!

 

Ey, we gotta give big props and credit to Maurice Cherry who has spent the last decade researching, contacting, featuring, interviewing Black designers and artists. I started listening to the show off and on when my friend Qa'id Jacobs was a featured guest(2016). I knew Qa'id from Brooklyn and was astonished at the time to see a podcast dedicated to Black artists and designers like this. It did NOT exist back then. But folks Like Andrea Pippins, John Jennings, Kimberly Bryant, Goldi Gold, Craig Brimm, Gabriele Smith, and Dawn Okoro were working HARD even back then.

If you're interested in architecture, graphic design, illustration, UI UX, etc go to the website and listen to some of these episodes. LINK

Listen to this episode about the history of Revision Path where he breaks down some of the hardships he's faced over the years and some of the triumphs. Thank god he has kept it going! 

Thank you Maurice!!! Who himself is a great designer. This is his company.

Dig this? Check out Black Work Talk podcast or these Business Podcasts

African American Read In week- Tacoma Public Library

This past week myself, Tyrah Majors, Leonard Williams, and Parable Tacoma had a panel discussion about our work, diversity and books, and we read a few exerpts from our stories. You can visit Tacoma Public Library online here. BIG shout out to Mejin Turner, Kelsey King, and Kim Mose who are the librarians who invited us to speak!! I met these folks last summer at the Seattle Urban Book Expo.

Here's the original flyer:

Dig this? Here's a video from a literacy presentation I did with Sacramento's Sol Collective

 

Drawing From Black History- Berkeley Ca Feb 25th

 

Yo! I'm going to be at Berkeley Public Library tomorrow at the central/downtown branch drawing and talking with artists Avy Jetter and Fred Noland. We'll be joined by two esteemed librarians as well. Ms Elaine Tai and Erica Glenn. This is an all ages event so come through with your shorties, your grandma, and yourself. 

LINK FOR MORE INFO

From the library: 

February 25, 2023 - 3:00pm-5:00pm 

Central Library

Join Bay Area artists Rob Liu-Trujillo, Avy Jetter, and Fred Noland for a creative celebration of Black art and Black history. We will begin with an artists' panel, where each of these artists will share about their professional artwork and process, and show a brief demonstration. This will be followed by an art activity where kids (K-8), teens and adults can learn from these artists and express their own creativity!

• Artists' Panel and Demo at 3PM
• Art Activity at 4PM

This event is for grades K-8, teens, and adults. All materials will be provided. It will take place at the Central Branch on the 5th Floor, Art and Music. Sponsored by the Friends of the Berkeley Public Library. 

Dig this? Check out the art of Fred Noland and Avy Jetter

Black Is Beautiful 2023- Dr. Muriel Petioni

Dr Muriel Petioni was known as the "mother of medicine" in Harlem. Born in 1914 in Trinidad she migrated to the US with her family. Her father worked hard to bring his family to the US, attended school, and became a doctor. She followed in his footsteps becoming a practicing physician for over 40 years with a degree from Howard University. She worked at various hospitals throughout the south before returning to NYC to start her own private practice which involved caring for poor and working class families in Harlem. She saw patients and made house calls, often addressing the entire person's health, not just one ailment. She started the Friends of Harlem Hospital and helped to get 2 million dollars for it. She was on the board of the greater Harlem nursing home. She helped mentor others through the Dr Susan Smith McKenney Steward Medical Association. She was awarded by the Harlem Hospital Center, the NYC Coalition of 100 Black Women, CUNY, The Schomburg, and by her alma mater Howard. Dr Petioni passed away in 2011 at the age of 97. 

Sources: NAACP, Harlem Cultural Archives, NY Amsterdam News

Dig this? Check out this one about Dr Dorothy L. Brown or Alice Augusta Ball

Black Is Beautiful 2023 - C.R. Patterson & Sons

 

Check this out. Did you know there was a Black owned automobile manufacturing business? I didn't! C.R. Patterson & Sons was founded by Charles Richard Patterson. Born in 1833 into slavery this brother escaped and made his way north to Ohio. There he began working as a blacksmith honing his skills to make horse carriages. In 1873 he linked with J.P. Lowe started a joint horse carriage business. In 1893 they parted ways and he renamed the company C.R. Patterson and Sons which he ran with his son Frederick (1 of 5 kids). They repaired carriages and cars at first then debuted their first car in 1913. Between the years of 1893 and 1939 they would make coupe's, trucks, busses, and at one point had 28 types of horse carriages. C.R. passed away in 1910 his son Frederick kept the business going. They had several employees and a thriving business but could not compete with larger companies such as Ford, and once the depression hit they were one of many small companies to fold. Imagine what it would be like if they had the resources to continue?! Although there are no intact C.R. Patterson and Sons vehicles left they were pioneers from from Greenfield Ohio.

Sources: BlackPast.org, Wikipedia, The Big Car Channel

Dig this? Check out these pieces about race car drivers Cheryl Linn Glass and Willy T. Ribbs

LLAG Radio - Art Nelson Concordia interview

 

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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:

• Ethnic Studies going from the margins to the center and the attacks that come with that
• Why Ethnic Studies and Critical Race Theory are under scrutiny and threat
• How race was invented to divide people
• The path of inquiry to understand systems
• The experience of working with young people and the responses or questions they have
• Anti Oppression/ Anti Racism
• Sorting neighborhoods into workers, managers, and owners

There were more gems but heres a good quote: "Ethnic Studies is history from the perspective of racialized communities of color"

Dig this? Check out my last Ethnic Studies in Every School painting and the Coalition for Liberated Ethnic Studies

Reflection Press Crowdfund- The Gender & Infinity Book

 

Hey, my folks Maya and Matthew of "Reflection Press" just launched a new kids book project! It's called the Gender & Infinity Book and it's a story/guide for all children.

Go to the campaign with THIS LINK

All the good info you need to know about the project is on their site, but I';; just say that these two have been doing pioneering work to develop stories, art, books, curriculum, and games for all people to enjoy, but especially for gender fluid and Queer kids and those who support them. Feel me? 

Right now you got mayors, governors, etc actively trying to criminalize young people who identify outside of Boy or Girl, or who are Queer. For no more than fear and ignorance. So this work is serious for those kids and families who are going through it and looking for more tools to reflect with and to share. 

Again, check out their project HERE and spread the word to open minded people.

Dig this? Check out this organization that is putting more Lgbtq/Queer stories into schools

Virtuous Con- Virtual convention Feb 25-26th

 

Hey folks, I'm going to be a virtual vendor at the third "Virtuous Con". I'm excited to participate, check out the panels, and to interact with attendees. Once you register for this event you'll be able to virtually interact with the different creators and vendors. More info and registration here.

What is this?
Virtuous Con is a company created by Cerece Rennie Murphy that produces and hosts virtual events, as a vehicle for independent science fiction, fantasy, and comics creators to grow an audience for their work. Each event venue creates an authentic experience for attendees including virtual “booths” for vendors to interact live with attendees about their products and live panel rooms to interact in real-time discussions. Murphy created Virtuous Con out of a need to help many of her BIPOC creative colleagues and friends whose businesses were disproportionally impacted by the COVID-19 shutdowns.

Dig this? Check out this virtual panel I did as one of the organizers of the Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair

COVER REVEAL for my new book "Fresh Juice/ Jugo Fresco" !!!!

 

Yoooo! I can finally share it. Here is the cover for my newest picture book "FRESH JUICE" which debuts on July 25th through "Lee and Low Books". You can preorder it today in English or Spanish. https://www.leeandlow.com/books/fresh-juice Juuuuuuiicccced!!!

This is a father and son story about fruits, veggies, ginger, health, and community. Please share!

From "Lee and Low Books": Today we're celebrating the gorgeous cover for our upcoming picture book, Fresh Juice by Robert Liu-Trujillo—available in English and Spanish (as Jugo Fresco) on 7.25.23! Both editions are available for pre-order now (bit.ly/3RMiy6A).

About Fresh Juice:

What makes a great juice that keeps everyone healthy? Art and his dad discover it takes carrots...collards...cayenne...and community!

When Art's father can't get over a cold, Art knows exactly what his daddy needs: some delicious sick-fighting juice! After looking through the fridge and cupboards, they discover they're missing a key ingredient--ginger. But finding some ginger will take them downtown, to the farmers' market, to the food co-op, to the West African grocery ... to an unexpected encounter that brings everyone together, and results in a tasty celebration.

Author-illustrator Rob Liu-Trujillo's warm and vibrant watercolor illustrations are a celebration of mixed families and the many individuals who help make a neighborhood feel like a community. Fresh Juice is a delightful, kid- and community-centered picture book that will leave you thirsty for more!

Dig this? Check out the announcement from 2019!

Shout out to editors Cheryl Klein and Kandace Coston, Art director Chad Beckerman, the whole Lee and Low Books team, and my agent Marietta Zacker!

Inspiring Artist - Cymone Wilder

 

Thank god for Maurice Cherry who has done so much work to highlight Black designers, artists, and creatives with his work. I just came across Cymone or "Simon and Moose". Wow, what a breath of fucking fresh air it is to see this person's work. She is Amazing. 

What's this bruh? This is where I share artists that have been inspiring to me in my work sometimes directly and other times indirectly. Check out Cymone Wilder's website here. You can see the many clients she work with , her personal work, merch, and more. Wow is what I keep saying to myself.

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I haven't highlighted that many type artists or designers who work with letters but I will do that more because I pull inspiration from them as much as I do illustrators or muralists. Cymone is someone you should watch and follow. Like now, do that now. Here is her IG.

You can read an interview she did with the Nashville Voyager (where she's based) and get a sense of what makes her do what she does. Stay tuned for more.

Did you catch the posts I made about these other amazing artists?

Bisa Butler

Elizabeth Catlett

Mira Nair

Victoria Ying

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Creative Mornings presentation!!!

Dig this? Check out my last inspiration board here.