Long Beach
Community
Inspiration
Lifestyle
Fall 2020
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It’s safer to be online. We make it safe to be on board, too.
Your university has put procedures in place to keep you safe this semester. LBT is just as committed to moving you through safely for all your essential trips around Long Beach. Please follow these safety measures when riding with LBT: Face coverings are required on board. Skip a Seat or Skip a Row to keep your distance. Board from the rear doors. For a complete list of ways to stay safe while riding the bus, visit ridelbt.com/basics.
Moving you through. 2
LB INSIDER 05 06
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Editor’s Note
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Fresh Take A Virtual Campus
Nature Is Calling The Beauty of Waterfalls
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Q&A New Professors Bring Fresh Perspectives
Mind Your Health Calling CAPS
FEATURES
Brighter Than A 20 Shine Diamond
BY DELANEY TRAN
The Shining Jewelettez are CSULB’s first all-black dance team, a sisterhood for empowering diversity who just want people to see them for who they are.
Love, Justice, & Art 24 BY GRACE WIDYATMADJA
Throughout Long Beach, murals have popped up on boarded windows to express solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests happening across the United States.
BYTheJOEYNextHARVEY Generation 36
Meet Long Beach’s next generation of leaders and activists, all of whom are exploring new frontiers, challenging social norms and creating more inclusive communities.
BYReport Card 42 JACLYN LIM
We rate the latest and most popular mobile games that you should download.
BYFrosty’s Ice Cold Flow 30 PAULA KILEY
Rooted in activism and conscious rap, Frosty uses her tracks and influence to create a “shift in consciousness” and keep the movement toward equity active. 3
WHO ARE WE?
DIG MAG is the insider’s guide to Long Beach for the CSULB community, inspiring readers to immerse themselves in the Long Beach lifestyle through in-the-know stories about the latest in food, arts, entertainment and culture; in-depth features about people and trends on the campus and in the city; poetry, fiction and literary journalism written by students; and beautiful photography and design. Published by the Department of Journalism and Public Relations at CSULB, it is produced entirely by students.
Editor-In-Chief
Digital Director
Senior Editor
Online Editor
Features Editor
Assistant Online Editors
Anika Ljung
Alejandro Vazquez
Reina Esparza
Erika Paz
Joseph Harvey
Danielle Broadway Matt James
Art Director
Gabby Gobaton
Graphic Designer Mijin Kim
Photo Editor Jaclyn Lim
Faculty Advisers Robin Jones Jennifer Newton Gary Metzker
Paula Kiley
Social Media Editor
Grace Widyatmadja
Staff Writer
Multimedia Editor Niyah Maldonado
Assistant Social Media Editors Sabrina Gobaton Kyle Do
Web: digmagonline.com Instagram:@dig.mag Twitter: @digmag Facebook: @digmagazine TikTok: dig.mag Submissions: digmagonline@gmail.com Advertising: Carter Magee advertising@daily49er.com 562-985-1740 California State University, Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., LA-4 203, Long Beach, CA 90840-4601 Š DIG and 49er Publications Board 2020 DIG MAG is a publication of the DIG and 49er Publications Board.
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INSIDER · EDITOR’S NOTE
FALL 2020
DEAR READER, I
present to you the fall 2020 issue of DIG MAG! When we first started this project sometime in early June, I had no idea what the end product was going to look like. But, one thing I did know was that I had a solid team that was passionate about starting the project and getting the semester started. With our first issue of the 2020-2021 academic year finally coming out after months of hard work, I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. Although this is not my first rodeo, it has definitely been the hardest and most rewarding. I am amazed with all of the amazing content we put together. The content in this issue is meant to mirror the times we are living in and provide valuable information to our readers. It is important to let our readers know of all the resources our campus offers for free. It is important to highlight the amazing BIPOC creatives and leaders who are doing great things for their communities. It is important for us to continue to use our platform to uplift and motivate the voices that are around us. It is important for our magazine to continue to be a reflection of the campus voice. With that said, I want to use this space as a forum to invite our fellow classmates to reach out to us and pitch story ideas. I know it is scary to share your writing with others, but we are here with open arms for whenever you are ready. We would love
to hear any story, photo or video idea as well as any personal essay, creative writing or playlist that you have in mind and work with you on possibly getting it published. Thank you to everyone who helped contribute to this issue. From articles, to photos, to ideas, to words of motivation, to advice; thank you! I truly do not know what I would’ve done without the amazing team and mentors I was blessed with this semester. Given that we are all still students it is hard to find a balance between work and school. But, we have all managed to collaborate in a new workspace while getting adjusted to the concept of virtual learning, which has been a challenge within itself. Lastly, I want to give an extended thank you to my partner-in-crime, Anika Ljung, for being the best digital director ever and making sure the website is always up to date with the best content this magazine has to offer. Aside from that, she has been my rock throughout this process and an overall amazing person <3. I hope you all enjoy this issue and continue to check out our daily web content at digmagonline.com. We hope to hear from you all soon!
LOVE ALWAYS,
Alejandro Vazquez (EDITOR-IN-CHIEF)
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INSIDER · FRESH TAKE
A VIRTUAL CAMPUS 6
FALL 2020
PHOTO BY ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ
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INSIDER · MIND YOUR HEALTH
WHO YOU GONNA CALL? STORY BY ERIKA PAZ ILLUSTRATION BY MIJIN KIM
If you’re all alone, pick up the phone. You can always call...the CAPS hotline! Look, we are all feeling it. It’s been a hell of a year so far, and it would be difficult to say it’s getting easier. It’s the season of change, but sometimes too much change can take a toll on us, amiright? As the degree of uncertainty begins to rise, so does our stress and anxiety. So how do we help ourselves? Who do we call for help? We hear it all the time as CSULB students: CAPS— Counseling and Psychological Services—is our resource for all things mental health. It’s free for all students, and you can call anytime. But reaching out for support doesn’t come easily for some. Maybe it’s cultural taboo, maybe it’s a previous experience gone wrong, maybe it’s fear of the unknown. For those of us who are feeling overwhelmed with life and need a little help, CAPS director Bongjoo Hwang, Ph.D., gave us the official rundown on how CAPS is helping students with their mental health. Keep in mind that every appointment is held online until the campus is fully open again.
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FALL 2020
OVERCOMING THE STIGMA
First things first: Let’s talk about overcoming the stigma of mental health. If you’ve never given your mental health a second thought, or if you think therapy is not for you, Hwang offered this advice. “You’re trying to find out about yourself, your identity as a person, who you are and who you want to be,” he said. “I want to encourage students to actually be open minded about something that they have never done.” The college experience is all about trying new things and figuring out who you are. Consider mental health support as a stepping stone similar to another new experience. If one form of support doesn’t work for you, simply move on to something else. There are plenty of ways to get the help you need, so it might just take some exploring to find what works best for you.
THE FIRST PHONE CALL
You’re ready to give it a try but don’t know where to start? The first step is to call the CAPS phone number. Make sure to have your personal information (name, BeachID, etc.), ready, and if you need to, find a private place to make the call. If you need to talk to a counselor immediately, you’ll be connected to an on-call counselor. You may have to wait a few minutes if the counselor is seeing another student, but you’ll be able to talk to someone that same day. If you are just curious about what your options are, you can set up an initial consultation appointment for a future date. Depending on availability, your appointment may be scheduled for up to a few weeks later, or as soon as a few days. Due to social distancing regulations, all appointments are held online via Zoom, so keep that in mind when scheduling your appointment.
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INSIDER · MIND YOUR HEALTH
THE INITIAL CONSULTATION
The initial consultation is essentially a get-to-know-you session where you will be able to talk with your counselor about any issues you may need help with. At the end of the session, the counselor will determine a plan for you, which may include additional therapy sessions or referrals to other campus resources or other CAPS programs. On the morning of your appointment, you’ll receive an email with a few documents you’ll need to complete before your initial consultation. This will help the counselor determine how they can help you. You’ll then receive the Zoom invite via email so you can meet with your counselor.
SHORT-TERM COUNSELING
If both you and your counselor determine that you could benefit from counseling sessions, your next appointment will be scheduled during the initial consultation. The hourlong appointments will be scheduled between one and two weeks in advance. During these appointments, your counselor will work with you to help you manage issues that you discussed during your initial appointment. The number of sessions you’ll receive is also determined by your counselor and will vary from student to student.
CRISIS RESOURCES
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COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
CRISIS TEXT LINE (free and available 24/7)
NATIONAL SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE
Brotman Hall, Room 226 (562) 985-4001 www.csulb.edu/caps
Text HOME to 741741
1-800-273-8255
FALL 2020
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES One—on—one counseling may not be for everyone. If you do not wish to participate in the initial consultation process, there are plenty of other options available to students. “We are certainly trying to be creative and extend our options and also our peer programs.” Hwang said. “That way, hopefully students feel more comfortable.”
Drop-In Sessions
“Let’s Talk” sessions are on a first—come, first—serve basis and are not considered a therapy session. Instead, they are single consultations where a student can speak with a counselor on a variety of topics. These sessions are a great first step for students who are curious about therapy but are not ready to go through the short—term counseling process.
Workshops
Workshop events focus on learning coping skills and stress management. They usually run for one to three sessions, and offerings vary each semester. Previous workshops have included “Motivation and Burnout — Signs and Coping Strategies” and “#IAmNotCovid19.”
Support Groups
These groups are open to all students and occur throughout the semester. Some groups include Latinas at the Beach, Sisterfriends, Rainbow Café and International Student Support group.
NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE
NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE
1-800-799-7233
1-800-656-4673
Psychotherapy Groups
These closed groups are arranged by a group facilitator at the beginning of each semester and are only available to students who have already completed an initial consultation or short—term counseling.
Education Programs
If you would like to become a mental health resource for your community, education programs like Project OCEAN and QPR Suicide Prevention Training are great opportunities. 2020 is the year that life decided to get hot and heavy with us. If you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, unheard, lonely or otherwise not great, you are not alone. We’re all feeling it. “If you are particularly not feeling comfortable calling CAPS, then maybe you can reach out to your friends who may have dealt with similar issues,” Hwang said. Maybe all we need is to talk to a friend. Maybe that friend also needs someone to talk to. Who knows, maybe you can both call CAPS together.
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INSIDER · NATURE IS CALLING
THE BEAUTY OF WATERFALLS
STORY & PHOTOS BY RAJVINDER SINGH While the U.S. is on a timeout and other countries get to go outside and play, there’s no question that adjusting to the so-called “new normal” is difficult. Our unique ways of life are minimized in one way, but maximized in the daily monotony of them. You won’t be able to have a few pints at your favorite pub, but the beauty of nature lives on. To alleviate the pressure of information overload and the anxiety of dayto-day life, here are a few hiking trails in SoCal that lead to waterfalls. Although these trails may take you through a Rod Serling-esque hell, they lead you closer and closer to the heavens as you approach the falls. Don’t forget your mask and follow the local social distancing guidelines. 12
FALL 2020
MILLARD CANYON FALLS ALTADENA, CA
(2.5-mile roundtrip)
Millard Canyon is the shortest trail of the list and is enjoyable for even the most novice of hikers. The environment around you gives off a fresh, earthy aroma and the air maintains a stillness even in the heat. However, the Millard trail provides plenty of shade throughout the journey. The sound of the nearby creek, which you can follow to the waterfall, is hypnotic with the minimal noise pollution. The trail becomes gradually rockier, but the flowing waters provide an excellent distraction. The ground can also be littered with giant tree branches and boulders, which is what you’ll cross in order to get to the waterfall. Once you arrive, you can see the beauty of how the rock formation creates the waterfall. Although the plunge pool isn’t swimmable, hikers are welcome to step into the cool water and under the waterfall in order to cool down.
STURTEVANT FALLS
ARCADIA, CA
Sturtevant Falls is the most challenging hike on this list. In addition to rocky terrain, Sturtevant has a number of inclines and declines. The initial steps will descend with no shade, but provides a phenomenal view of mountain ranges and burnt foliage from past wildfires. The air is a bit warmer than at Millard, combined with a more minty aroma. A quarter of the way, the visible creek becomes your guide to the sweet ending. The trail will test your ankles; it’s perfect for the experienced hiker and liberating for the novice. The hour-and-a-half hike is well worth it because the waterfall is more plentiful than the one at Millard and just as cool.
(3.0-mile roundtrip)
Here are a few more trails in the area! BLACK STAR CANYON TRAIL (4.5-mile roundtrip) • Trail is open for hiking • Waterfall is dried up (typical for the summer and fall) • Admission/parking is free SANTA YNEZ CANYON TRAIL (2.2-mile roundtrip) • Trail is open for hiking • Waterfall is dried up (typical for the summer and fall) • Admission/parking is free
MONROVIA FALLS TRAIL (1.6-mile roundtrip) • Trail is open for hiking • Requires parking pass ($5) • Waterfall is closed to hikers EATON CANYON TRAIL (3.0-mile roundtrip) • Trail is open for hiking • Reservations are required; a week in advance is highly recommend • Admission/parking is free 13
INSIDER · Q&A
MEET THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF THE BEACH FAMILY STORY BY ALEJANDRO VAZQUEZ
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLAJIDE BAMISHIGBIN
As the new semester starts, there are many new professors who have joined the BEACH family. They have done amazing research throughout their careers and will bring that knowledge to the Beach. We talked to professor Olajide Bamishigbin and professor Azza Basarudin about their road to CSULB and their hopes and goals now that they’re here. 14
Interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
FALL 2020
Professor Olajide Bamishigbin is one of the newest additions to the CSULB family. He received his doctorate in health psychology from the University of California, Los Angeles after getting his bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s in psychology from the University of Miami. He began teaching at California State University, Los Angeles before joining CSULB. His research explores mental health and stress in underrepresented communities. More specifically, his research focuses on Black and Latino fathers and the correlation between cultural experiences and depression. We askedDr. Bamishigbin to tell us a little bit about himself. Welcome to the Beach family! Can you tell me a little bit about yourself, your career journey, and why you decided to join the Beach family?
I noticed that in your research, you have focused on the communities of Black and Latino fathers. What was the most interesting thing you noticed within these communities?
This job opportunity came up to go to Long Beach to really focus on health disparities, which is an area of research that I have done some work in but I look forward to doing even more work in. I am happy to be here. I get to stay in the CSU system. I get to live on the beach, which is nice. I get to really work with a group of other psychologists in the psychology department.
The topic that I focused on specifically is depression among these fathers. What does depression look like, what is the rate of depression in these groups, and what are the different rates of depression at different points in fatherhood. What I found is that there are cultural factors and specific things that predict depression in members of particular groups. [...] We found [the data] and now we are trying to see why that is that the case.
I read that in your teachings, you have an emphasis on going over multicultural psychology themes focusing on the diversity of psychological science. In your opinion, why is it so important to see yourself in your peers, professors and health professionals?
What has been the best piece of career advice you have received and why?
There is a certain level in understanding that comes with somebody sharing certain background characteristics with you. That alone builds a level of comfort. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s say that I am dealing with daily stress and racism, it will be much harder to talk to a white [therapist] about that. Somebody who canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fully grasp it since they've never lived it, in comparison to talking to a black therapist. [...] During my time at the University of Miami, I never had a Black professor. Not one time. I had Black mentors and I knew of Black professors on campus, but I never had a Black professor. That is really problematic. I had hundreds of professors and I never came across one. What is that telling me about what I can do and what I can accomplish? In the classroom and the research, a lot of the research has been focused on white people... their experiences don't represent everybody else's experiences.
The best piece of advice I have ever received is really simple, but it matters. Focus on yourself. Focus on the thing you have to do and make sure that you are completing the task you are supposed to get done. Prioritize yourself and the things you need to do. Learn how to say no. What advice would you give to a student who would love to follow in a similar career path as you? I would say, start getting involved in research with professors as soon as you can. That is what I did in undergrad. I didn't quite know what I was doing, but I joined a research lab with a professor and that set me on my path toward getting my Ph.D. Find somebody who does work you're interested in and work with them and follow the path. I noticed that you will be teaching PSY 378 Health Psychology and PSY 379 The Psychology of Stress this coming semester. Which one are you more excited to teach and why? I am really excited to teach both! This is my first time teaching Psychology of Stress so I am a little more excited to teach that. In both classes I am going to make sure we talk about things like health disparities, health inequities and different types of stress. 15
INSIDER · Q&A
Professor Azza Basarudin is a feminist researcher, writer and educator who received a doctorate in gender studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her research interests include gender/sexuality in Muslim cultures, counterterrorism and national security, transnational feminism, women’s movements, law, and human rights. In addition, she has held fellowships at universities all around the world. We asked Professor Basarudin to tell us about herself. Why did you decide to join the Beach family? The Beach family is appealing to me primarily because in the women’s gender and sexuality studies department, I found colleagues who share my commitment to intersectional feminist praxis that critically examine systems of power and privilege and uplift students as agents of knowledge production and social change. In many ways, the WGSS department and CSULB feel like the intellectual and professional “home” that I have been yearning for. What inspired you to complete your degrees and do your research on women’s studies with an emphasis on Muslim culture and feminism theory? Fragments of my life guided my career trajectory and research commitments. I was raised in an urban middle-class Muslim family in Malaysia. My upbringing and heritage shape my understanding of the world and how I move through it. I was primarily raised by resilient women in my immediate and extended families; this was my lived introduction to feminist politics. The Islam that I grew up with was radically different from the politicized Islam that manifested in laws and public policies. For instance, women believe that legal codes and gender roles are based on the patriarchal distortion of Islam’s ethical tenets of equality and justice. It was the contradictions in women’s lived experiences that have guided my scholarly work, which led to my first book, “Humanizing the Sacred: Sisters in Islam and the Struggle for Gender Justice in Malaysia.” Moreover, I entered graduate school soon after the tragedy of 9/11, where I witnessed the heightened proliferation of Islamophobia and misconceptions of Muslim women as faceless and nameless victims of their religion and cultures. It was that political moment that solidified my interest in pursuing research on gender/sexuality in Muslim cultures. I view my journey as part of an intellectual and spiritual obligation, not only to advance theoretical understanding of an over-generalized and often misunderstood population but also to serve as a resource for these communities.
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I noticed that you have been a part of fellowships and visiting positions around the world. What have you learned from these experiences and how have they helped your research? Learning from and with others is a delightful lifelong process. The people and spaces that I have encountered have woven themselves into who I am and helped shape a more holistic perspective of the world. It reminds me of the privilege of having the ability to pursue my passion. I cherish being in sustained conversations and finding creative ways to engage in collaborative work. Each encounter motivates me to further enhance my knowledge base, which is reflected in the progression of my scholarly endeavors. What has been the best piece of career advice you have received? Never hide who you are or pretend to be someone you are not. Be generous to yourself and others. Work smart, play hard. What advice would you give to a student who would love to follow in a similar career path as you? Find your passion, nurture it and commit to staying the course. Trust your instinct. Be resilient, humble, and resourceful. Forge a solid support network of loyal friends and colleagues, for these become your scaffolding in life. Enjoy moments and celebrate small victories. Above all, laugh, love and live. Never fear the ways in which you are coming into yourself.
FALL 2020
PHOTO COURTESY OF AZZA BASARUDIN
I noticed that you are teaching two classes this semester, WGSS 301 Feminist Research Methods and WGSS 401 Bodies and Borders. Of the two, which are you more excited to teach and why? Feminist Research Methods explores the challenges and possibilities of engaging research projects with feminist commitments, while Bodies and Borders encompasses broad issues under the rubric of feminism and globalization. I am equally excited to teach both courses as I expect
that they will both yield different levels of knowledge production, even as they cross-fertilize. As a feminist teacher, I strive to create a collaborative and safe learning environment in which students can express themselves openly, to raise studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; awareness of the interconnectedness of local and global issues, and to explain complex theoretical concepts in ways that students see as pertinent to their lives. I am looking forward to sharing my classroom practices with a new student body and learning from students. Bring it on, Beach family! 17
A
s we transition to virtual learning, we all have different workspaces. The president of the Shining Jewelettez, Kaylin Jones, shows us that we can have any background of our choosing. No matter your set up, we are all in this together, as we get used to the NEW NORMAL.
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Photographer: Grace Widyatmadja Model: Kaylin Jones Stylist: Raphaella Del-Rosario Make-Up Artist: Kaye Tolentino 19
FEATURES · Shine Brighter Than a Diamond
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FALL 2020
SHINE BRIGHTER THAN A DIAMOND STORY BY DELANEY TRAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE SHINING JEWELETTEZ The Shining Jewelettez are CSULB’s first all-black dance team, a sisterhood for empowering diversity who just want people to see them for who they are. JALAY’SHA Seals, a bachelor of fine arts dance major, was approached by two student residential coordinators in her sophomore year. They asked her about creating a dance team for and about empowering people of color. She felt it was perfect; she had been wanting to build her own dance team. “It was something important to us because it first started by a group of colored women,” Seals said. “We had no diverse dance team to the point where it was really empowering to us to really reflect that. Like: we are here...It was just really trying to uplift and open up those opportunities for more black people and for people of color. And honestly, anyone.” That is how, at 19 years old, Seals founded the Shining Jewelettez in February 2018, the first black dance team at Cal State Long Beach. They welcome anyone to join no matter your sexuality, gender, size, ethnicity or race.
Before they were called Shining Jewelettez, they were Melanin Magic. They started off in the Recreation and Wellness Center by advertising times when they would be there. Their style of dance is something Seals doesn’t like to keep in a box as the main choreographer, doing any number of styles including majorette, jazz, lyrical and hip-hop. Eventually, they took it to the dance center where they currently practice. A little after they were established, Kaylin Jones, currently the president of the Shining Jewelettez, was attending Student Orientation, Advising and Registration (SOAR) just like any Cal State Long Beach student. She learned about the group, but since they didn’t have an Instagram set up at the time, it was difficult to find tryout information. Coincidentally, she got to meet the group again during Week of Welcome, auditioned, and joined in the fall 2018 semester. “At first I was just a member of the team, just like anyone else,” Jones said. “Moving forward, I was always someone [who] stuck around despite everything that happened. I just stuck around because I really saw potential in the team. I really loved it.” 21
FEATURES • SHINE BRIGHTER THAN A DIAMOND
“We’re all different jewels, we all have different birthstones, and we’re all unique...”
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However, throughout promoting for members and finding locations to practice, Seals was also working toward getting the team recognized for two years. If the team is recognized by CSULB, it will be able to get funding, something that they are currently doing themselves. And they would also be able to perform on-campus more frequently. They have mainly performed off-campus, including at the African Black Coalition Conference and San Diego State Diamond Showcase. It has been a stressful and difficult process because, Seals said, it feels like they are still at square one even though she has filled out all the necessary paperwork. At this point, she isn’t sure when they will get recognized. “It’s so stressful, because I’m not just an adult where I am trying to get this team started to where I have a job and after that job I have time to focus on it,” Seals said. “I’m a student, so in between classes I’m running to [the director of club sports and recreation] office. There was a time I missed class, because this is so important to me that I need you to have a conversation with me. I need you to get this process going because I have a group of girls who are wanting to dance and, literally show, honestly show spirit. That’s all we’re aboutㅡ just showing a diverse way of dancing.”
If they are recognized, their name would be owned by the school. During the recognition process, Seals was told that the name Melanin Magic did not indicate inclusivity. She felt this didn’t make sense because melanin is found in everyone. Seals brought this up to the women in the team at the time and, with universal agreement, they brainstormed a new name. That name was Shining Jewelettez. “We’re all different jewels, we all have different birthstones, and we’re all unique,” Seals said. “We took that and we ran with it. Even now we love that name as well. It kind of helps us, because most of our costumes are shiny materials and very loud. We’re very loud. When you hear of Shining Jewelettez, you can kind of expect people to hear shining, so something better be popping. We always come ready for that.” Although they are still fighting to get recognized, they continue to dance wherever they can. When they initially started, they performed at basketball and homecoming games. Most recently, they performed at ASI’s Culture Fest.
“That’s all we’re about, just showing a diverse way of dancing.”
FALL 2020
“We are black and we are diverse. And we just want y’all to see us for who we are...” “I want people to know that we are here, and to understand our style of dance,” Jones said. “To know that we are here to just add that extra little flair of diversity to our campus. And to understand and respect that, and welcome it mostly.” The bonds not only between Seals and Jones, but also within the entire team have grown since its beginning. They have group bondings and have created a space where they can lean on each other. Their rehearsals, although they exist for practicing their dancing and choreography, are also a time to check up on one another. For Seals, growing up in a black community, she hid how she felt. She said she just handled it as a Black woman and “you keep pushing.” With her dance team, she calls them her sisters, because they know when she isn’t feeling well. Being that her blood family lives hours away, she rarely goes home. These women are her family away from home. “There’s just so much hard work that goes into our rehearsals, during those three hours,” Seals said. “We’ve had rehearsals where people cry and we all cry. We’ve actually had a rehearsal where one of dancers popped her knee out of her socket and the entire team went to the ER with her. We’ve had rehearsals where we’ve heard good news and we’re all cheering; we’re physically being around each other and it’s just happiness. And even with rehearsals where people cry, we take a moment, we have a conversation and we support each other through it.” Their hopes in the new school year are to continue working to get recognized in order to perform more on campus and show school spirit where it should be. In the meantime, they’ll be doing what they love best: dancing their hearts out. “We are black and we are diverse. And we just want y’all to see us for who we are,” Seals said.
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FEATURES • LOVE, JUSTICE & ART
STORY & PHOTOS BY GRACE WIDYATMADJA THE pursuit for justice in the midst of a global pandemic has led many artists to find solace and support in their creative works. In the heart of downtown Long Beach, artists have come together to bring life to the boarded up windows of the Long Beach Museum of Art, expressing a commitment to unity, solidarity, and justice for Black lives. These photos were taken with a disposable Kodak film camera, and all of these pieces can be found at the Long Beach Museum of Art Exchange at 356 E. Third St., in downtown Long Beach.
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STEVE MARTINEZ @stevemartinezart
In his piece, Martinez acknowledges that the world currently faces two pandemics: Covid-19 and racism. The quote “I can’t breathe” comes from George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police officers back in May. The police officers were seen kneeling on Floyd’s neck and body for eight minutes and 46 seconds, leading to his inability to breathe. The powerful image of the Black fist holding the mask recognizes that the fight to contain the coronavirus is fought alongside the call to end racism, both of which are taking the most harmful toll against BIPOC.
FALL 2020
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MARK ESPIRITU @mspiritu
A stand-alone portrait of George Floyd, a Black man whose life was taken but ignited a revolution, this piece was done with the artist Espirituâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unique style involving colorful streaks to detail portraits.
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FALL 2020
MEGHAN BOSTRENBROOD @mara.bubblegum
The artist is known for her signature use of bright colors in many of her pieces. This mural was done by the artist as a commitment to be more inclusive in all of her pieces in support of the Black Lives Matter movement.
NAT IOSBAKER, MOOK, & KARINA VAZQUEZ @natiosbaker | @reapo.inc | @sleepy.day.dreams
“The mural was painted in collaboration with my friends Mook and Karina. The fancy letters began with Maya Angelou’s quote ‘still I rise’ in mind, but led to the directness that was still needed with the ‘BLM’ for Black Lives Matter. This is all over layers of [Long Beach] port and sea iconography as a distinct stenciled camo pattern inspired by the reaper’s cloak, which is a style derived from Mook’s art. The plants growing around the ‘LBC’ are a contribution from Karina, as well as a lovely mother/daughter combo of volunteers who drove by and stopped to help.” - Nat Iosbaker, artist 27
ARTIST - UNKNOWN Inspired by the Aloe Blacc song “Love is the Answer,” this mural reflects Blacc’s song lyrics and the ultimate message of the song, which is to encourage people to spread love.
LEANNE @lebo143
The artist painted a piece of a universally known quote by the famous musician Jimi Hendrix accompanied by a black-and-white portrait of the musician.
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CATA ELISABETH ROMO @chueca11
Inspired by a quote from Octavia Butler’s book, “The Parable of the Talents”, this piece was a science fiction writer who made strides in literature centering African American females as leads.
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FEATURES • FROSTY’S ICE COLD FLOW
FROSTY'S ICE COLD FLOW STORY & PHOTOS BY PAULA KILEY
Rooted in activism and conscious rap, Frosty uses her tracks and influence to create a “shift in consciousness” and keep the movement toward equity active. 30
FALL 2020
“When I think about community, I think of the suffix: unity.”
THE August sun is at its highest when Frosty walks me through a narrow parking lot in Santa Ana lined with booths selling everything from streetwear to birria y consomé. Toting an ice-cold michelada in one hand and miscellaneous business cards in the other, she tells me about all the people she met along the pathway of vendors: a local painter, a photographer, a lowrider car enthusiast. “When I think about community, I think of the suffix: unity. Unifying as people,” she says, her voice at war with the sound of cars zipping down Bristol Street and the face mask muffling her words. Frosty, 22, steers us to find refuge under the shade of a yellowing sycamore tree. Condensation from her michelada drips down her hand as she adjusts her handwoven bag, a gift from her ex-boyfriend when they visited Mexico just over a year ago. “Community is everyone putting in a little bit of work to create this bigger picture,” she tells me, looking back at the row of vendors. “And it’s beautiful to see that today.” Today, the bigger picture is raising money and garnering support for street vendors at the Day of Unity event, which Frosty opened half an hour ago performing her latest track, “Viaje de Valor.”
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FEATURES • FROSTY’S ICE COLD FLOW
Born to young, first-generation Mexican-Americans, Marissa Frausto grew up in San Clemente, raised by the matriarchs of her family—her great grandmother and aunts —alongside her cousins, whom she considers her sisters. Her father and mother worked several shifts as an electrician and hospice worker, respectively, to pay the bills and
make ends meet. An only child at the time, Frosty became adept at keeping herself busy. “My parents were always working, so I found myself trying to entertain myself when I was home alone, and I found art as coping mechanisms, movies as inspiration,” she said, citing “Selena” as one of her favorite movies growing up.
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She spent her more formative years in Santa Ana, where her family moved when she was 7, leaving the village by the sea along with the women who raised her. Frosty went to Arnold O. Beckman High School in Irvine, where her teachers’ incessant mispronunciation of her surname birthed her nom de plume. “Marissa Frosto?” she said, imitating the way her name was slaughtered on the first day of school. “It’s Marissa Frausto!” A self-defined introvert in middle school and high school, Frosty struggled to connect with her more affluent peers. “I can’t relate to having a family vacation every year,” she said. “I couldn’t relate to a lot of the things people in my school would talk about. So I found comfort and solace just writing in my journal.” Frosty poured into these journals her innermost thoughts, emotions and ideas in the form of poetry, doodles and 2013 Tumblr quotes scrawled in block letters. In a way, the journals contained the seeds for her emergence as an artist. Her words traveled from her mind to the page and eventually to various poetry open mics across Orange County. After bouncing around several venues in the area, including a predominantly white poetry night in which her mic was cut off during her set, Frosty found refuge at the Cool Lab Project on Fourth Street in Santa Ana, which became a “church” for the young poet. “I didn't feel like my work resonated or was appreciated with affluent communities,” she
said. “But when I went to Santa Ana, I felt people understood my message in a different way because they lived through it. They knew what I was talking about.” It was at the Cool Lab Project and other Santa Ana venues that she found a circle of musicians and artists who saw her potential and recognized the musicality and rhythm that were at the heart of her poems. With the support of her community, the introverted poet began her journey to be coming the potent rapper and singer she is today.
"But when I went to Santa Ana, I felt people understood my message in a different way because they lived through it. They knew what I was talking about." When I first see Frosty at the Day of Unity event, she’s exactly where she’s meant to be: singing and rapping on a small, portable stage surrounded by her community. Performing to a sparse crowd grooving under the Santa Ana heat and 6-feet social distancing guidelines, she delivers her tracks with Amy Winehouse swag fused with a ’90s hip hop sound reminiscent of Lauryn Hill. She performs her most recent track, “Viaje de Valor,” hurling the verses in Spanish with a yearning resonance, dreaming of her idyllic world (“The men are made of honey / And the women are powerful”)
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FEATURES • FROSTY’S ICE COLD FLOW
Frosty wrote “Viaje de Valor” just before the pandemic. Translated to “Journey of Valor,” the song, she said, is a metaphor for the reality she dreams to see and the mental and emotional labor it will take to bring those dreams into fruition. “I think that can be applied to a lot of things going on now,” she said. “The dream of racial equality, the dream of, for a lot of very radical people, abolishing prisons, abolishing ICE. That's gonna be a very difficult journey. And people may not agree, but that's where that dialogue and conversation comes into play and where we need to find a middle ground.” Her whimsical lyrics (“Asleep on top of yellow parakeets / they take me to beautiful places, the unknown”) float over a dreamy and romantic acoustic guitar, inspired by Mexican boleros, and grounded with an unlikely beat that tips its hat to G-funk roots. But the track’s marriage of classical bolero strings and G-funk drums was no mistake.
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When Frosty approached Brian to Earth, a fellow Cool Lab Project rapper and friend, she presented him with a playlist brimming with old, forgotten boleros. “It’s really cool to be able to help an artist with their vision,” Brian said. “And Frosty always comes in with a clear one.”
“[Conscious rap] intrigued me because it made me realize that you could rap about more than sex, drugs and money and it could still be beautiful and it can still be validated and admired.” Her first EP, “Frosty,” was released in the fall of 2019 and features songs like “Riding Down the Block” and “Bodybag” with lyrics (“I’m trying to dodge a bodybag/fuck the 12 and fuck the feds/I apologize for my French/but some things can’t be softly said”) that are indicative of her foundation in conscious rap and her roots in activism. “[Conscious rap] intrigued me because it made me realize that you could rap about more than sex, drugs and money and it could still be beautiful and it can still be validated and admired,” she said. Frosty is currently developing her freshman album, tentatively set to release, early 2021, where she hopes to explore and expand her sound as a fresh artist on the scene. The album, Frosty said, is rooted in themes of empowerment: for herself and her community, women and people of color. An extension of her 2019 EP, her new album maintains the same bedrock in G-funk rap and old-school hip hop, calling on the likes of Dr. Dre, Lauryn Hill and SZA for inspiration. “I like to give credit where credit’s due, and I know that hip hop in general is and was created by Black Americans. A lot of Black women inspired me because, although I didn’t see brown dark-skinned women who looked like me in the media, when I did see people like Lauryn Hill or Noname, I admired them,” Frosty said. “If those women can do it, so can I. Black women definitely helped open the door for other women of color, and I thank them and admire them always.”
FALL 2020
As Frosty wraps up her set at the Day of Unity event, I notice a little girl in a pale yellow tank top at the foot of the stage. I can’t help but wonder what this means for the young audience member. Today, she has something that Frosty didn’t have—an artist who looks like her commanding a stage. After her last track, Frosty hands her microphone to another member of her community and hops off the portable platform that served as a stage for performers to advocate for Santa Ana’s eloteros, paleteros and fruteros.
“I think that activism started as a way for me to advocate for people that I know and loved: people who are trying to escape poverty, immigrating from another country, people who are queer,” Frosty said. “So being that I was given a platform and I saw people were listening to me, I felt obligated to bring up these topics and at least inform myself a little bit about them because I wished people would advocate for me when I didn't have the microphone.”
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FEATURES • THE NEXT GENERATION
THE NEXT GENERATION STORY BY JOEY HARVEY
Meet Long Beach’s next generation of leaders and activists, all of whom are exploring new frontiers, challenging social norms and creating more inclusive communities.
DANILO BATSON Founder of Spicy Green Book
Social: @spicygreenbook | Web: Spicygreenbook.com
DANILO Batson, 29, wanted to speak to the masses. This led him to creating Spicy Green Book, a national online guide that amplifies the voices of Black-owned businesses specializing in the food and beverage industry. Inspired by Victor Hugo Green’s “The Negro Motorist Green Book,” a guide intended for the safety of Black travelers during the age of Jim Crow in the United States, the Spicy Green Book is a nonprofit organization that provides listings of Blackowned eateries for patrons to support. For the Bellflower native, creating Spicy Green Book was a way to share the stories of these businesses by bringing forth new narratives that diminish the misconceptions of ignorance and racism. “I’ve come to know a lot of these business owners, so as I go back to these places, I get to know more about them and how they started, so you feel attached to these stories.” In order to further expand the platform and create brand awareness, the nonprofit regularly looks for volunteers and donors. In doing so, the support grows for both the platform and the businesses they feature, therefore spreading his philosophy that the more the support grows, the more these establishments’ stories are heard and the momentum of this movement continues.
PHOTO COURTESY OF DANILO BATSON
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Spicy Green Book, a national online guide that amplifies the voices of Blackowned businesses specializing in the food and beverage industry.
FALL 2020
MAYA UMEMOTO GORMAN Photographer & Dancer
Social: @mayamoto_ | Web: Mayamoto.art MAYA Umemoto Gorman’s photography is a reflection of what she wants to see in mainstream media… it’s diverse and compelling. “I feel like mass media does this amazing job by creating their own ideal people or ideal images of what people should look like,” Gorman said. “Usually cisgender, white, heterosexual, female and males.” In addition to the inclusivity found in the 21-year-old’s photos, she displays an emphasis in movement, which is influenced by her background in dance. While being under quarantine, she had a lot of time to reflect as a mixed-race woman of color in the art world. Instead of falling into a creative void, the third-year CSULB student was able to focus her artistic abilities toward activism and innovation. By doing so,
she was able to raise funds for BIPOC organizations by selling her prints and conducting photo shoots through FaceTime. As she continues progressing through her creative journey, she hopes to empower the diverse individuals featured in her photos and also empower creators.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MAYA UMEMOTO GORMAN
Gorman’s photography is a reflection of what she wants to see in mainstream media.
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FEATURES • THE NEXT GENERATION
“What I really want out of these discussions is to [...] help the different Black organizations and Black leaders understand how the people that they are serving are feeling.”
LAURYN WESTBROOK Activist, Community Organizer, & Poet Social: @livelaurynlove IT was after attending two separate discussion forums, one held by the campus administration and the other by Black faculty and staff members, that psychology major Lauryn Westbrook, 22, decided to create a space that specifically served the Black students of CSULB. On July 5, the first virtual discussion forum for Black CSULB students led by Black CSULB students, titled For Us, went live on Zoom. The recurring forum offers students a space to vent their ongoing experiences as Black students while Westbrook and other facilitators discuss topics that further bring attention to these narratives and experiences. “What I really want out of these discussions is to create those spaces and to continue to have those conversations but also to help the different Black organizations and Black leaders understand how the people that they are serving are feeling,” Westbrook said. She hopes these conversations lead to resolutions that offer services and resources for Black students on campus. Westbrook is aware that ultimately, the changes that the group wants to see—institutional and systemic changes—take time, more time than many of these students have on campus or in their lifetime. As more and more of these
conversations are being discussed, even the ones that are off-campus related, the first steps to making these lasting changes is to be accountable and firm on making change, she says. PHOTO COURTESY OF LAURYN WESTBROOK
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FALL 2020
TAHARKA ANDERSON
Activist, Public Speaker, & Founder Of Your Neighborhood Scholar Social: @yourneighborhoodscholar | Web: yourneighborhoodscholar.com WHEN starting his political education platform, Your Neighborhood Scholar, CSULB graduate Taharka Anderson wanted to find a balance between branding himself as an individual while also curating political information that was relevant to Black communities and Black advancement in the United States. To push forward the values of the platform, individuals who purchase merchandise gain full access to resources such as academic journal articles, YouTube videos, and links to organizations that specialize in black visibility. “So that you are truly embodying the principles that you are wearing, if you’re going to be walking around wearing ‘Protect Black Children,’ I want you to have somewhat of an understanding of what Black children are going through,” Anderson said. The platform’s content also vocalizes its views on performative activism. It defines the term as “people using radical/revolutionary moments, imagery, historical figures, quotes and art forms to gain personal clout, praise and recognition.” The website continues with examples of performative activism, as well as resources that aid readers to support these causes without being performative.
Anderson will be working towards his Ph.D. in African & African Diaspora Studies at the University of Texas. While in Texas, he hopes to share his insight and the values of Your Neighborhood Scholar. Ultimately, he hopes to continue to share neighborhood narratives while putting together quality content and political information on a global perspective.
“So [...] if you’re going to be walking around wearing ‘Protect Black Children,’ I want you to have somewhat of an understanding of what Black children are going through.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAHARKA ANDERSON
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FEATURES • THE NEXT GENERATION
“At the end of the day, I just want to be a part of a community who is thriving and well...”
J. NYLA
Early Career Research Scientist, Poet, Musician, Cultural Worker, Educator, & Community Organizer Social: @mx.lifestyling Web: mxlifestyling.com J. NYLA does it all. They’re a scholar, a polymath, a spiritual healer, a queer and trans health researcher, a musician, a skate ambassador belonging to multiple skate collectives, and a newly published poet. To say the least, the work that they do is a reflection of their identity and the multiple communities that they represent. After navigating the complexities of academia, the CSULB alumni is embarking on a journey to fulfill their Ph.D. in workshops, reading, and building relations with multiple mentors to further expand and nourish their growing knowledge and connectivity to the world, all without entering an institution. With a degree in psychology and as a former student who paved a career in STEM, J. Nyla sought for alternative learning that correlated to the communities that they’re a part of. In those higher academic settings, they experienced racism and a lack of commitment from administrations to making institutional changes. In the process, they were able to raise funds to aid their academic journey. Moving forward, J. Nyla would like to use their knowledge and network to provide free higher-education level content to individuals that the higher education system often excludes. “At the end of the day, I just want to be a part of a community who is thriving and well … and
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PHOTO COURTESY OF J.NYLA be able to exhibit joy without shame or guilt … and be able to eat … that’s it, those are everyday struggles of mine and my friends and my family and it’s sort of ridiculous what has to happen for those things to be fulfilled, but I really want to develop strong practices in creating queer families. I want to imagine safe and beautiful queer, trans futures … and to make sure like if I do have children that they do feel comfortable being around any kind of human being that exists … and continue to mirror that and reflect that as it’s given back to me and my community.”
FALL 2020
Q.O.W.S
(Queers Obliterating White Supremacy) | Community Organizers & Activists Social: @Q.O.W.S THE founding group members of Queers Obliterating White Supremacy (Q.O.W.S) have been working to radicalize queer spaces. In doing so, they also want to align themselves with the growing movement
For the past two years, the founding group members of Queers Obliterating White Supremacy (Q.O.W.S) have been working to radicalize queer spaces. and uprising that continues to bring attention to the racial injustices and systematic oppression of Black communities. On June 28, the group hosted a rally and march with Black Lives Matter of Long Beach. The event was also held to commemorate the 51st anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots. Byron Adams, 30, is one of the core members of Q.O.W.S. He wanted to remind queer folk of the roots of these festivities in a way that was both authentic and honest. He mentioned that oftentimes, queer events such as LGBTQIA pride festivals fail to include the BLM organization and instead choose to organize these pride events with law enforcement. However, many of these event organizers often forget that the origins and stepping stones of pride were ignited by Black and trans women of color rising up against the police. At the event, Adams was one of the many individuals to speak to a crowd of over 1,000 people at Bixby Park. “To be in this moment right now, especially in the original organizing of the march, watching people jump in and figure out a way to be involved or create connections and
watching people unlearn their own biases and also watching people be down for the cause in a way that was so magnified... to me, it feels like a dream come true.” He continued to say that although it’s unfortunate and ultimately scary that individuals such as George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade have become catalysts to these radical movements, essentially these movements are necessary.
PHOTO COURTESY OF Q.O.W.S
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FEATURES • REPORT CARD
REPORT CARD: MOBILE GAMES
STORY BY JACLYN LIM
A+ A A-
The mobile games you should be checking off your list to download.
PUBG Mobile
PLAYERUNKNOWN’S BATTLEGROUNDS (PUBG) was initially released on mobile in 2018. As much as it is still alive on the PC version, the game has enticed many players with its availability on iOS, Android and the Google Play Store. PUBG is based on the popular multiplayer game genre battle royale, which makes players strategize through survival instincts in order to win the game. Unlike Fortnite, PUBG offers a more realistic game experience.
Clash of Clans
Not only is Clash Of Clans one of the first games SuperCell released, it is one of their most successful and highly rated. In this thrilling strategy-based game, players have total control over their base and decide what to do in order to upgrade and refine it. Clash of Clans brings together players to form clans, who then work together to defeat other clans, donate troops and earn trophies. There are many strategies a player can use to defeat the enemy, making the game strategic and fun to play. Overall, Clash Of Clans is a very well rounded game with good graphics and an addicting game experience.
Call of Duty®: Mobile
Although not as popular as Clash of Clans, Call of Duty is still popular among mobile gamers. Call of Duty falls into the battle royale game genre, but it also has a zombie mode, which is a fan-favorite in the COD realm. The game offers multiplayer and single-player modes and is similar to other battle royale games in terms of graphics and the interior design of the maps.
Brawl Stars
B+ B42
Brawl Stars is one of the games developed by SuperCell that was released in 2017. It’s an animated shooting game that requires players to be more strategic as they level up and their opponents become more and more competitive. The game maps and modes alternate every day, so players do not get bored of repetition. It also gives players the option to team up with friends or play solo in matches. The more trophies a player earns, the more rewards they receive, such as opening up bigger and better boxes that potentially have new brawlers that the player has not yet unlocked. As you progress through the game and unlock new rewards, you will find that it is very addictive and hard to not want more.
Pokemon Go
Pokemon Go is an augmented-reality mobile video game that was part of a worldwide trend when it first came out in 2016. Pokemon Go taps into players’ nostalgia as they are greeted by Pokemon, who they may recognize from playing the original video game when they were younger. The game is location-based and the goal is for players to find “hot spots” where players have a higher chance of catching Pokemon with treats. Players can battle each other with the Pokemon they have already caught, trade Pokemon with friends and even evolve their Pokemon. Though it may not be as popular today, there are still lots of players who walk around with Pokemon Go on their phones trying to catch them all.
The Official Credit Union of Long Beach State Athletics
2250 N. Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach 43
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