Video: Interviews @ the "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair"

 

Video link

This is some video footage featuring interviews from book creators, organizations, the organizers of the event, and the owner of Teance. Can we give it up for Peter Limata and Lydia Yamaguchi though? They just bring SO MUCH vibrancy, love, and care to what they capture and who they spoke to at the event!  Please watch and enjoy. If you did not get a chance to attend the fair in person you can still get books from the creators who were there and many others using our website 

LINK to the website

Video link 2

Here is more interviews Peter did leading up to the fair that morning. In this he speaks to Jill Guerra (We are Yoga/Somos Yoga), Christina Newhard of Sari Sari Books (KaliPay, Melo the Umang Boy), Breanna McDaniels (Hands Up), and John Casselberry (Konscious Kids).

Dig this? Check out the virtual 2020 Social Justice Children's Book Fair

6th Annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair

 

Hey fam, it's that time of year! The 6th annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair" is upon us. As one of 5 organizers (Laura Atkins, Alejandra Domenzain, Peter Limata, Janine Macbeth, Innosanto Nagara, and me)  I'm excited to invite local kids book makers to share their latest and greatest books with local families, librarians, book sellers, teachers, organizers, and more. While some cringe at the title I know we're proud to bring together authors and illustrators who are progressive minded to one spot so the folks who actually search for their kind of books can find them all in one event. Board books, picture books, middle grade, YA, comics, and more. Check out the flyer I did :)

For this fair we encourage Bipoc, Queer, and Social justice minded kids book creators to table, sometimes read, or perform., and meet their community. This year it will be held again outside in Berkeley Ca. Please invite your folks to this event and check out these links for more info.

FACEBOOK Invite
EVENTBRITE Invite

Dig this? If you've never been check out some photos from previous years or the online fair we did during the pandemic w/ the help of Lydia and Peter of "Storytime w/ Mr Limata"!

5th Annual Social Justice Children's Bk Holiday Fair"

 

Hey fam, I'm excited to bring you the 5th annual "Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair". Every year a small team of volunteers get together and throw this event to connect you with kids book makers of many stripes. We focus on Bipoc, Lgbtq, and Social Justice minded creators and their books. Although covid is still real af, we will gather in B-Town (Berkeley, CA) masked and outdoors. So, come through, get some books, meet the creators, and spread love.

Date: Dec 5th

Time: 11am-2pm

Location: Teance

Who: Laura Atkins, Ann Berlak, Angela Dalton, Hayley Diep, Alejandra Domenzain, Girls Garage, Michael Genhart, Jill Guerra, Laneha House, Kamaria Lofton, NJ Mvondo/Multiculturalism Rocks, Innosanto Nagara, Christina Newhard, Meenal Patel, James Shields, Robert Liu-Trujillo, Justine Villanueva, PM Press, and more!

What: Not your average book fair 

Why? : Parents, kids, teachers, librarians, bk store owners, etc are hungry for these books and want to meet the people behind them.

Facebook LINK

Eventbrite LINK

If you're in the Bay Area, come through. If not, tell a friend who is in the Bay!

Video: Here's the link from last years virtual event w/ Mr Limata and Lydia Yamaguchi

Photos: Here are some photos from the past 5 years

Enter

 

DC mob, summer protests, idiots in govt. The largest strike in India, theft of $ from the people into billionaire's pockets, pandemic, the shifting of power, victories. It's a lot.

In the past I had a quick art response. Lately I've held back (Anyone else felt this lately?). This is a privilege. Some times it's exhaustion. I'm happy to share others work which speak on it. I've been making protest art for awhile but I don't always have the best quote to contribute. My folks know where I stand but I know some younger artists might be trying to figure it out. Me too. I've gotten hella game from OG artists & activists.

I'm trying to make art about what I'm for (Pro -people's control of the wealth they create, choice, queer, reparations, dismantling the US govt as it exists, free health care, women's rights, right to self defense, so many things, teaching actual history, )  Also trying to make a living.

But, if you're pissed off, if you've been connecting the dots, if you're seeing a lack of work in an area that makes you passionate; get involved. 

Homelessness, rights of trans people, fair pay, universal healthcare, abolishing jails/police, teaching how to grow food. Whatever "it" is, That someone who changes it is you. You can't take on the entire world of course.

But YOU can effect your block, school, church, crew, city, etc. Whatever you choose, get specific AF and find others who about that life. When you see others moving like you on another thing, show solidarity. The hyper specific will change and so will you, not just a headline, vibe, or a hashtag. A movement.

If you get burnt out, change up the pace so it's sustainable. Recenter. Remember to enjoy life and then re-enter.

That thing you're passionate about needs your genius, your heart; you. We all do. Enter. Go.

-Rob

Older post to read: Brutality through the years

Black Lives Mural w/ Binta Ayofemi painted in 2020.

Video: Panel w/ Mr Limata (Soc Just Bk Childrens Bk fair)

Hey folks here's a panel video leading up to the 4th annual Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair!

Here Me, Laura Atkins, and Innosanto Nagara discuss how the fair started and why this year is important with educator and storyteller Mr Limata (Follow him on FB, IG, or YT).

Check out the video and heres the facebook invite for the event coming this Saturday Dec 12th at 10:30am!

LINK!!!!!

 

Kindred Journey 37 - A4BL

I remember beaming with happiness and pride when I saw a group of young Asian Americans chain themselves to a building( Police Dept)  to protest. They were bold and I remember thinking "that's what I'm talking about". Showing up and showing out with direct action. That group was A4BL or Asians 4 Black Lives, in support of Black activists and Black folks being murdered by cops. This was shortly after Mike Brown was killed. After Oscar, Rekia, Tamir, Tyisha, and Trayvon. Anyway, I won't get into the history. I've pasted their statement below. To all my young Aapi's this month I just wanted to share this with you if you didn't know. Solidarity exists. Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage month. Fuck the police. 

We stand on the doorstep of the Oakland Police Department today as a group of Asians putting our bodies on the line in response to a national call to shut down institutions that perpetrate the war on Black people.  It is unacceptable that every 28 hours a Black person is killed by the police, security or vigilantes.

As Asians, we recognize the ways in which we’ve been used historically to prop up the anti-Black racism that allows this violence to occur. We are an extremely diverse community.  Some of us have been targeted, profiled, and killed by U.S. government institutions.  Many of us came to the U.S. as a result of the devastation and displacement caused by the US military and its “partners” in Asia, only to find a country uses police to devastate and displace black communities.  However, we also recognize the relative privilege that many of us carry as Asians living in the US. 

Many of our Asian brothers and sisters around the country have made powerful statements in support of ending the war on Black people and shown up to protests.  We hope that Asian communities will join us in reflecting on and continuing to practice an intentional Black-Asian solidarity, as we work toward the vision offered by organizers in Ferguson:

“We are striving for a world where we deal with harm in our communities through healing, love, and kinship. This means an end to state sponsored violence, including the excessive use of force by law enforcement. We are committed to an America that comes to terms with the trauma of its painful history and finds true reconciliation for it. Mass incarceration and the over criminalization of black and brown people must forever end, leaving in its place a culture that embraces our histories and stories. This means an end to racial bias and white supremacy in all its forms.

 Our dreams are directly linked with those resisting militarism, war, and state repression around the world. We will achieve this new beloved community hand in hand, step by step, in global solidarity with all people committed to lasting peace and full justice.”

We understand that our liberation depends on the liberation of black people, and echo the demands that have come out of Ferguson.

Source: https://a4bl.tumblr.com/

Did you catch the last one of Rocky Rivera?
Did you see this one of Bambu?

3rd Annual Social Justice Children's Book Holiday Fair

What up family, this is the third year we've done the "Social Justice Children's Bk Holiday Fair" and the venue, date, and some of the guests are above. Please bring your children, families, teachers, librarians, friends, and activists to come meet some of these kids bk makers and hang out. The following is a list of some of the authors that will be present!

Laura Atkins

John Casselberry

Madeline Connor

Angela Dalton

Michael Genhart

Maya Gonzalez- Reflection Press

Daria Leavitt

Kamaria Lofton-Like The Moon

Janine Macbeth-Blood Orange Press

Innosanto Nagara

Beth Reichmuth

Lourdes Rivas

Matthew Smith-Reflection Press

Justine Villanueva- Sawaga River press

Khalid White

Here is the facebook event LINK please rsvp and share, share, share!

This year we're back at Chapter 510 in Oakland.

The Bull Horn Blog- Kenneth Braswell

Yo, so many months in the making, I finally got a chance to interview Kenneth Braswell of Fathers Incorporated. Please check it out on "The Bull Horn Blog"

LINK

The Bull Horn- Formerly M is For Movement

So the blog I've been writing for for over the past year and a half is now "The Bull Horn"!! Why? Read about the changeand help us shape the direction of the new blog HERE.

There are some new posts up as well about writer Carole Lindstrom and librarian Laura Gonzalez. Please follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram as well.  

Throwback- TYS Collective in Sac 2015

Power California - Cultural strategy

Hey folks, just got news that this new repost is out. And its designed by my wife (who did the cover illustration). It features some great resources for groups, organizers, and political activists on using artwork and cultural strategy in tandem with political or organizing work. You can download the report here. And here is a link to more information about Power California who I illustrated this poster for recently.

Here is a sample page with my artwork paired side by side with Oree Originol.

Lil Radicals - Brooklyn

What up? Furqan's First Flat Top will be in this exhibition. Go check it out if you're in Brooklyn.

Lil’ Radicals: Multicultural and Social Justice Publications for Kids in the 21st Century
April 6 - May 31, 2019
Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Saturday, 12-5pm 
Opening Reception: April 6, 4-7pm

Contact: Monica Johnson, 
monica@booklyn.org 
Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @booklynart 
718-383-9621

Lil’ Radicals​ is an exhibition and celebration independently published children’s books with a focus on multicultural affirmation, social justice education, and empathy development. For reading ages 3-12, these books were either self-published or published by small and independent presses throughout New York City, across the U.S., and in parts of Canada and Europe. Works on view present a dynamic range of stylistic and narrative approaches to children’s publications that will affirm, teach, and comfort children; challenge standards; and surprise adult readers.

In recent years we have witnessed a new and exciting wave of storytelling in children’s literature in response to the wide diversity gap in children’s book publishing. Industry publishers have answered the call for diverse characters and marginalized histories, but tend to stay safely within the bounds of a conservative book market. We wanted to know, where are the diversity stories that ​aren’t ​published by the big houses? Well...we found them!

~~~ ​Featuring work by​ ~~~
​Abeni Moreno - Alyssa Dennis - Anthony Tucker - Antoinette Martinez -
Are Not Books - Berns Rothchild & Chris Smith - Blood Orange Press - Callaloo Cultural Literacy for Kids - Double Why - Dr. Artika R. Tyner - Flamingo Rampant Press - Fly Orr & The Lower Eastside Girls Club - Jacinta Bunnell - Justseeds Artists' Cooperative & Radix Media - Katie Yamasaki - Micheline Hess - Nicole Marie Burton - Namiyo Kubo - Phoebe Tran & Nicolette Bull - Robert Liu-Trujillo - Sari Sari Storybooks - Savory Words Publishing - Tim Fite & Daniel Saks - Tomas Moniz & Alicia Dornadic

Books on display include ​A Rocky Start​, ​by South Bronx public school educator and author, Anthony Tucker, who wrote the book for his students about his own experience as a young boy. Brooklyn based artist, Katie Yamasaki’s ​Fish for Jimmy ​tells an adapted version of her own family’s story in Japanese internment camps. The Lower East Side Girls Club in Manhattan brought us a selection of their zines made for and by middle schoolers. Robert Liu-Trujillo, a Bay Area author and illustrator, contributed ​Furqan’s First Flat Top​, a Spanish/English bilingual story of a young boy getting his first flat top haircut at a barbershop with his dad. Finally, ​Justice Makes a Difference,​ by Minneapolis based author and educator, Dr. Artika Tyner, tells the tale of a girl named Justice, who, inspired by freedom fighters, dreams of becoming a changemaker herself.

The exhibition also includes small and independent publishers, such as ​Sari Sari Storybooks​, Bay Area publisher of children’s books in the languages of the Philippines; ​Flamingo Rampant​, a Toronto micropress producing feminist, racially-diverse, LGBTQ positive children’s books; and Savory Words​, a Deaf-centric publisher based in Maryland has two books on view: ​Deaf Culture Fairy Tales​ and ​Friends, ​a story about a deaf boy and a hearing boy meeting and learning to communicate.

The books on display are complimented by a reading tent for kids, filled with a library of books on loan from Interference Archive and other donors, and a unique display of 20th century vintage children’s books. A limited inventory of featured books will be available for purchase in our gallery.

We are hosting Saturday programming for kids and families throughout the exhibition. For the most up to date schedule:​ ​https://www.eventbrite.com/o/booklyn-17272663165. ​We welcome adults and children of all ages, identities, and abilities. If there is anything we can do to support your visit, please email us and let us know: ​hello@booklyn.org​.
Lil' Radicals is organized by Monica Johnson, with research & curriculum by Olivia Siu.

Special thanks​ to Zoe Beloff, Richard Van Camp, Daniel Tucker, Josh MacPhee, Aimee Lusty, and Interference Archive. This exhibition draws inspiration from​ ​Social Justice Books​,​ ​Stories for Free Children​ and​ ​Stay Solid! A Radical Handbook for Youth​.
This exhibition is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo, and the New York State Legislature and additionally, in part, by funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council.

2nd annual Social Justice Book Fair - Oakland

Folks, for the 2nd year in a row I have been able to help produce this amazing book fair with Social Justice minded kids bk creators, authors of color, queer and local authors. We started off in the mighty Chapter 510 space last year and have moved to Destiny Arts, still in Oakland. If you are around, we have many great book makers confirmed and the Grammy nominated group ALPHABET ROCKERS will be in the house performing alongside the kids and doing interactive tings. I will be there as well selling my book, reading, and signing books for families.

Saturday Dec 8th, 10am-2pm
Destiny Arts in Oakland
Social Justice and Diverse Books
Alphabet Rockers and various performers for kids
 Event link

Inktober 2018 - Brown Berets

Founded in the 1960s, the Brown Berets are a community founded organization from California who organized around issues such as farmer workers rights with UFW, in solidarity w/ African Americans against police brutality, for access to education, retrieving stolen land, and to gain political power . Inspired by the Black Panther Party (Oakland) they formed a unit if mostly Mexican American high school and college students. They're part in the movement for Brown people's rights was in response to decades and hundreds of years of theft, murder, exploitation, and more by police, the US government, and by their local city officials who would of loved to sweep their righteous demands under the rug. The group still exists and were extremely powerful in organizing Brown people and for calling folks trying to deny their African and Indigenous blood (in order to look and be more white) to be proud of their heritage and identity. Their work moved beyond the voting ballot and they still work for the people today.

Sources: Chicano! Documentary, Wiki, Life, 

If you dig this check out: Berta Caceres  or 

My character collage for 2018-2017

Audio - Panel discussion w/ Akonadi Foundation

This is an artist where I was invited to speak on by the Akonadi Foundation in Oakland. The panel was about Racial Justice, Artwork, making it as an artist, and more. It was moderated by Hard Knock Radio’s “Davey D” . listen

LINK

M is for Movement- Bldg power by Janine Macbeth

Yo, this is a recap of the most recent Social Justice Book Fair in Oakland at Chapter 510 featuring a bunch of authors, illustrators, The Alphabet Rockers, Two Mamacitas Pop up kitchen, and DJ XCairocitosX.

LINK TO READ

M is for Movement 2017 booklist

I finally got a chance to contribute some book recommendations for kids book in an official blog post kind of way. Please go check out the picture books, comics, and middle grade/ya books myself and many other authors and illustrators recommend. Just about every book has some hint of social justice in it, which is why the "M is for Movement" blog exists.

HERE

M is for Movement-Interview

Here is the link to the interview about kids books

Visions for a Strong California

This past winter, in addition to working with MIV creating artwork to learn about what is what in the system of voting, I also had the chance to create some work for some of their related campaigns. Such as this one , which includes a coalition of folks who are fighting for a California that respects and values the rights of immigrants within the state. That means access to healthcare, fair and just treatment in the courts and legal systems, civil rights, investment in public schools, and more for all immigrants living in California. 

The coalition of folks working to make this a reality is strong, some of the folks involved are:

Just Cause/Causa Justa, Asian Law Caucas, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Familia-TransQueer Liberation Movement, National Immigration Law Center, United Farm Workers Foundation, Undocumented Students Program-UC Berkeley, Priority Africa Network, and more.

Here are some of the original illustrations, please follow the link to download a copy of the Visions in 6 different languages.

Download the statement

Big shout out to Reshma from ACLU, Jidan, Suguey, and the whole MIV team!

CultureStrike-"Visions from the inside 2" Illustration

LINK bit.ly/csvisions

This is the second time around working with the homies from CultureStrike and it is truly a blessing to learn. I learn every time I work with them. If you are not familiar with CultureStrike(CS) , they are an organization of artists from various disciplines taking their fight against injustice to artwork and culture. Instead of always telling folks what "not" to do they are showing what we can do to change the narrative around issues or people. 

In this case, its the narrative around immigrants and how they are treated. This is the second letter I received from someone who is going through or has gone through the immigration process here in the US. Many of these places are backed by private for profit corporations. Many times in the narrative of the media the conditions that these folks are facing are #$%&*( up. Last time I got a letter from a child. This time CS sent artists letters from men and transgender folks going through it.

Please check out my piece about a man who is a prime example of how some one could be injured by the guards/the system and receive little to no support. Many people die in us jails and prisons, I wonder if the practices carry over to these for profit centers processing immigrants mostly from Central America and Mexico.

Check out some of the process shots and follow Culture Strike for media interviews about the many other letters and artists involved in redefining the narrative around detention centers here in the US. It is important for people like me who are just learning about this, or folks who know nothing at all to be informed visually about what is happening. Some folks don't read, so share the artwork that CultureStrike is creating because there is a movement of folks trying to get folks free from the detention centers and to help reconnect families who've been torn apart.

Do not believe the hype about latino immigrants and stealing American jobs. American corporations specifically and explicitly started to take away jobs here because they found out they could pay people in other parts of the world a fraction, therefore making more billions for their CEOs.