Queen City Nerve - July 1, 2020

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 16; JULY 1 - JULY 14, 2020; WWW.QCNERVE.COM

LANG VAN

CAN COMMUNITY CURB THE EFFECTS OF COVID ON AN EASTSIDE STAPLE?

BY PAT MORAN

NEWS:

CONFRONTING WHITE SILENCE PG. 4

MUSIC:

REUBEN VINCENT IS WORLDWIDE PG. 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4 BREAKING WHITE SILENCE BY EMIENE WRIGHT White Charlotteans and the fear of challenging racism

NEWS& 8 OPINION

KEEP ROLLIN’ BY RYAN PITKIN Wheels for Equality grew from a squad that just wanted to help

10 HEROES AREN’T HARD TO FIND BY LILLIAN TAYLOR Local labor leaders call on public to support HEROES Act 11 LIFEWAVE A dose of reality

Connect with free arts, science and history experiences for all ages, virtually.

CULTURE

BLOCKS

Find virtual experiences at ArtsAndScience.org/Virtual

ARTS

12 SCREEN THE QUEEN BY PAT MORAN Fall film festivals bring community, charity and advocacy

MUSIC

14 BOYS TO MEN BY RYAN PITKIN New Reuben Vincent EP shows growth in teenage rapper’s repertoire

16 VIVA LANG VAN BY PAT MORAN Can community save an east Charlotte staple?

LIFESTYLE

18 PUZZLES 20 AERIN IT OUT 20 STRANGE FACTS 21 HOROSCOPE 22 SAVAGE LOVE

FOOD& DRINK

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THANKS TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS: PAT MORAN,

LANG VAN

CAN COMMUNITY CURB THE EFFECTS OF COVID ON AN EASTSIDE STAPLE?

BY PAT MORAN

NEWS:

CONFRONTING WHITE SILENCE PG. 4

MUSIC:

REUBEN VINCENT IS WORLDWIDE PG. 14

PHOTO & COVER DESIGN BY: JAYME JOHNSON

EMIENE WRIGHT, LILLIAN TAYLOR, GRANT BALDWIN, AUSTIN DALI CAINE, JENNIFER ISENHOUR, BRIAN TWITTY, JOSHUA GALLOWAY, EDWARD JONES, JAS PHOTO, NUKU MUINGBEH, SAYMA WALEH, AERIN SPRUILL AND DAN SAVAGE.

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

BREAKING WHITE SILENCE

is too great for my family of origin. There’s a strong resistance to it, either by refusing to talk about it or changing the subject adroitly.

My first recollection of racism was on the school bus. I was probably in the fourth grade or so. There

White Charlotteans and the fear of challenging racism

BY EMIENE WRIGHT

“I am terrified at the moral apathy, the death of the heart, which is happening in my country. These people have deluded themselves for so long that they really don’t think I’m human. I base this on their conduct, not on what they say. This means that they have become moral monsters.” - James Baldwin, 1963

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No one is born a monster. It takes propaganda from all sides. Family pressures, biased education, media stereotyping, and fearmongering cooperate in impressive, if disastrous, ways to produce the standard-issue American racist. They’re not so much hate-filled as unseeing, only vaguely conscious of their own privilege and its cost at others’ expense.

But no one is born a monster. They’re made, with a child’s innocence being the first victim.

I spoke with white Charlotteans prominent in their areas of industry, asking one question: When was the first time you witnessed a racist incident and remained silent? Excavating the painful, buried memories of the first time they participated in America’s “other” national pastime left some in tears. Others’ voices shook with the weight of regret.

The first cut is the deepest when creating the kind of moral monsters Baldwin spoke about almost 60 years ago. This conversation is needed now in civic, public and private life, to re-sensitize whites to the consequences of racism, not only for Black Americans, but for themselves.

I challenge readers to think back on your own moments where courage or language failed.

Talk about it, educate yourselves, and commit continuously to fighting in your own way for the freedoms we were all promised.

GREG JARRELL PHOTO BY JENNIFER ISENHOUR

of them, Stevie, was a big, beloved personality. He was popular, but often, racist things were said in his presence, in the context of jokes.

So we’d be riding back home after a competition on the bus, it’s dark, and somebody would say “Stevie, smile because we can’t see you.”

His strategy was to laugh it off and play along, probably his way of coping with the racial stress. It became a kind of passive acceptance of that. They wouldn’t be nasty like using slurs, but they would still be making racist jokes. There was a general acceptance of that behavior from students and adults. Nobody ever defended him or confronted the white students who were participating, and I was certainly laughing along. No one said we needed to think about what was happening. I was a participant but I should have known, or had someone push back.

By the time I was in college, I had learned and been exposed to more ideas.

I still didn’t have a great understanding of racism and anti-racism, but I had seen enough and come along enough that I knew passivity wasn’t OK. Racism needed to be challenged. I was at the dinner table and my grandparents were over, which was uncommon because of how far away they lived. My grandmother said something, I don’t recall her words exactly, but it was along the lines that my cousins needed more white friends.

This was a grandparent you didn’t challenge.

She was the matriarch. She carried the weight

was a comment made; somebody was upset with one of the Black kids who’d just gotten off the bus, and they encouraged the driver to hit the gas while the kid was walking in front of the bus. I remember clearly the student saying, “We need to make some black-top out of this kid,” clearly referring to his racial identity.

I remember knowing that what I heard was really wrong, but not knowing how to speak adequately to it, and being scared to speak up, whether my words were adequate or not.

I remember sitting silently thinking I knew something inappropriate happened but I had neither the courage nor the words to respond to the situation. I didn’t talk with anybody about it — I just kind of sat with it. The other white A history of silence kids were laughing and going along. I knew it was wrong but I was outnumbered or scared.

Greg Jarrell In high school, I played saxophone in band; Reverend, Christian church it was a big, performative experience. There Hometown: Raleigh were a handful of Black teens in the band, but My family’s strategy for dealing with the band was whiter than the school, which uncomfortable situations is to pretend it didn’t was 25-30% black. Out of 70 of us, there were happen. The pain of talking about race and racism only about four or five Black kids in band. One ERIN TRACY-BLACKWOOD

and strength of the family, emotionally, and she’d withhold her affection as a way of maintaining power. At that moment, I had the courage to speak up. I knew that I was right, that I was standing on moral high ground, but she wasn’t pleased. She held onto that grudge for the rest of her life, another seven or eight years.

I think the memory of being silent and of being complicit within that silence worked on me. Part of the way that it continues to work on me is my awareness; I know it’s present in me, even now. I know it can be tempting at times to remain silent, especially as the lesson from my family of origin is to let [racism] slide; don’t raise a stink. I still feel that voice within myself at times. So part of my struggle is to make sure that voice doesn’t win. It’s deeply rooted in me that I’ll have to struggle with that for the rest of my life. Particularly within my family of origin, I have to not remain silent but keep poking and prodding and risk some of those relationships knowing it can be costly, but it’s worth it. For my family to have healing from the ways whiteness has scarred us, you have to keep pushing at that process.

Passing trauma along Erin Tracy-Blackwood Restaurant owner Hometown: Jacksonville, FL When I was in first grade, my best friend was a boy named James. We were inseparable at school.

One day, James asked if he could have my number. I had just memorized it, so I gave it to him proudly. He called me that night, I guess, because my dad came in my room and started screaming at me. I had no

PHOTO BY BRIAN TWITTY

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE idea why. He kept asking about the boy who called me, then asked what color his skin was. I said brown and he beat my ass. He told me I was only allowed to be friends with white people. I was stunned because I had no idea I’d done anything wrong and was totally unaware race was a thing.

The next day, James asked me for a hug when we were putting our coats in our cubbies ... I told him I couldn’t be his friend anymore because his skin was brown. So that may have been his first experience with racism too. We were only 5 years old.

This is one of the worst stories of my life. Now my dad’s married to a Black woman, but I had to traumatize James and my dad had to scar me for life.

James and I never talked again. He wouldn’t even look at me after that and I was terrified of my dad, so I didn’t push it. The thing that’s always stuck with me, once I was old enough to realize the situation, is how I definitely traumatized someone who just wanted to be my friend and show me love.

I had a situation where I was silent about racism in sixth grade and I am so fucking ashamed of it I’m not sure I can tell it. My best friend then was a girl named Carrie.

We walked to and from school together every day, and we often stopped in at my grandmother’s who lived along the way.

Carrie, who was white, started dating this kid named Jamel. Jamel was cool as hell. I loved him. I loved them both. But somehow my family found out Carrie and Jamel were dating and forbade me to be friends with Carrie. So I abruptly stopped talking to Carrie and I didn’t tell her why because I was super ashamed. And she suddenly lost her best friend out of nowhere, with no explanation.

But my family was so worried I’d still sneak and be her friend, my grandmother started driving me to and from school. And then one day while my grandmother was driving me from school, we passed her walking home alone. My grandmother slowed down, rolled down her window and started yelling “N—r lover!” at her, a 12-year-old girl. And I sat in the seat beside her and just cried but I didn’t even try to stand up for my friend.

I ended up running away from my dad’s and being estranged from that side of my family for pretty much my entire teenage and adult life. And about the time I ran away is when I got real radical about calling out bullshit.

Carrie added me on Facebook years ago and the first thing I did was send her a long apology, which she really didn’t even respond to.

The anti-racist journey is an ongoing choice Jennifer de la Jara Charlotte Mecklenburg Board of Education Hometown: Valdese, NC Valdese, North Carolina, is about an hour and 15 minutes from Charlotte. Growing up there the racism, both overt and covert, was so much part of the culture. It wasn’t an issue of me being silent in the face of racism — more poignantly, I remember the first time someone pointed out to me as a child that I was being racist. It was so ingrained. I’ve come a long way but I have not arrived by any means. I’m on a journey.

JENNIFER DE LA JARA

PHOTO COURTESY OF MECKCOUNTS

There were very few Black people in Valdese in the ’70s and ’80s. I remember one Black family in elementary school and only a few more in high school. No Asians or Latinos, it was very white. My family regularly used the N-word as part of the common vernacular. It wasn’t even in anger, but casually using it to refer to African-Americans.

I was in seventh grade and a new friend moved to town, which was rare. She was from Florida. And here I was at 12 years old using the N-word. She said she wasn’t comfortable with me using it. I didn’t put up a big fight, but I thought “Okayyy, who doesn’t use it?”

Looking back now, I didn’t realize that it was harmful, but roots run deep and words have power.

The idea of Southern pride and cultural homogeny ran deep. You might wonder, with as few AfricanAmericans as lived in Valdese, why there was so

much occasion to use such hostile language. While our town had very few Black people, the town of Hickory is 15 miles away, and many Valdesians worked there. It was a bigger, more diverse town, nearby Morganton too. And mine and other families wanted to preserve the power structure.

There was a lot of pride in the Confederacy and in what being a Southerner meant, from a position of the moral high ground. These vestiges of Southern culture weren’t explicitly articulated, but they were there. It was the idea that we’re different, proud, that we do things the right way, with values, morals, showing respect. We stick to our own. Black folks needed to prove themselves as an acceptable kind to pass.

There was a power structure behind that, and people [used language] to participate in that, even when it wasn’t necessary, even though it wasn’t common to run into Black folk even at the grocery store. We wanted to maintain the order. It’s honestly mindblowing when I think about it.

I can’t say I immediately changed my behavior, but seventh grade was the first time I was put on notice that it wasn’t okay. Prior to that I had no reference points; all my family was from Valdese and everyone we associated with acted the way we did.

It wasn’t until I went to [University of North Carolina at] Chapel Hill, which is still the South and still has a lot of racism, but it exposed me to people from the rest of the world and I realized things were different.

I was from a working class family in a mountain town, and when I went to Chapel Hill it was the first time I experienced classism. I felt the sense of not belonging, of being rejected by rich, privileged students, and somewhere in my soul I knew I never wanted to be like that. I never wanted to make someone feel like they didn’t fit in or weren’t part of the group.

That’s what propelled me to want to be different, to want to not be an asshole, because I’d been on the receiving end of that. My time at Chapel Hill so profoundly impacted me that I made the decision to move to San Francisco after graduation, specifically because of all the cultural diversity. And my life kept going down a different trajectory ever since.

I took the opportunity to educate myself and started learning about redlining, African-American soldiers being denied their GI Bill benefits, and when people talked about undocumented folk I dove into the research and started to learn about the

things we’ve done politically, militarily, the financial interventions in Latin America, all these imperialist efforts. I made the choice to say I need to know why I believe what I believe. It’s important to have knowledge so I could state my case convincingly, not just have a feeling. I needed the knowledge to effectively persuade others.

I was at a book club on Sunday and we were asked when we first realized racism was a thing. One woman said her father used derogatory language, then immediately followed up with “Oh, but he wasn’t a bad person.” At my turn, I said I’d grown up in a really racist household, too. My parents were good to me, but whether or not they were good people is not a distinction I’m willing to make.

More white people need to process that. If someone is not being good to others and I value the acceptance of all people then I must go beyond acceptance and actively strive to be anti-racist. And if they’re not on that path they’re not in my good category. It’s a distinction I’ve come to realize helps me to understand. It’s one of the reasons white folks are having such a hard time. “Grandma is so good to my kids, I don’t want to think of her as a bad person!”

But is grandma good to others? That’s a different question.

The end goal isn’t to think of people as good or bad. Ibram X. Kendi’s work on anti-racism helps shift white people’s focus from that binary. It’s usually not that someone is or is not a racist, but sometimes people have thoughts and actions that are racist and sometimes they have thoughts and actions that are anti-racist. I may have a thought or take an action with end results that are harmful or cause disparities and was therefore racist in that moment.

It’s a spectrum or continuum, and I can reflect on that and intentionally choose anti-racist thoughts and actions.

I challenged my mom to stop saying the N-word when I was in college. I don’t remember doing this, but shortly after Trump was elected we had a conversation about race. We argued about a lot of things in my 20s. But mom wanted me to know she had changed her behavior. I hadn’t noticed, because you don’t tend to notice what people aren’t saying.

She explained that she’d gotten angry when I called her out on it back then, but was now grateful that I had.

That doesn’t mean my mom is now an antiracist! But I use that story to encourage people to keep doing the work. And she thinks Trump is a lunatic.

For her to stand up and say he’s unfit to be president is a big deal; she lives in Trumpville. Baby steps. It can happen.

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE Stop letting racism slide

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Brandon Lunsford University archivist Hometown: Salisbury, NC

of bitched out and tried to de-escalate. I got chased off from where we wanted to be because my friend wasn’t welcome. It stuck.

I started to get “woke,” listening to Rage Against the Machine and a lot of hip-hop.

At the time, I thought my white friends weren’t racist but I see them on Facebook and they’re racist now.

They’re like, “I don’t see color” and I realize now that they must’ve always thought that way. I had known most all of them since kindergarten and thought I had a really BRANDON LUNSFORD PHOTO BY AUSTIN DALI CAINE great high school experience.

I never heard of anyone my Black friend there for the first time, to have that getting bullied or beaten up, or experience. it seemed to be a rare occurrence. But I realize the I never told Jeff about that. But I felt like I failed Black kids that I was friends with probably suffered to defend his honor or stand up for him. I just kind all kinds of racism. People around me would say,

There were five public high schools in Salisbury.

Most of them were overwhelmingly white, three of them were redneck, and one was preppy with a lot of wealthier kids. My school was 70% Black, and my best friend was a Black guy named Jeff Baldwin.

I’ve always had Black friends without even thinking about it, since kindergarten, but Jeff was a transfer. He came from a rich private school. I never met his parents but I assumed they had money. He’d hung out with white kids his entire life and had “white” mannerisms, but Jeff had an edge. He was a class clown and everybody knew him, because Jeff was hilarious.

I used to shoot pool a lot in a dingy pool hall in downtown Salisbury. I normally went with one or another of my white friends, it just worked out that way, but this time Jeff came with me.

It was the first time I brought him there, and I started setting up for us to play two older white men. I guess they were rednecks. They weren’t wearing rebel flags or anything but they were country. They looked over at Jeff and told me, “We’re not playing with him. We don’t play with people like that.” I knew what they meant. They didn’t say it in front of him, but they saw who it was.

Instead of making a big deal about it, I went over to Jeff and made up an excuse to leave. I knew he’d experienced that kind of thing plenty in Salisbury already, but I didn’t want to hurt him by telling him what they said. Later I thought I should’ve challenged those dudes. They’d have probably beat us up, but ... it was just so casual, so strange. I didn’t hang out with rednecks. The only time I really came up against them was at the pool hall. And I had just brought PROTESTERS IN CHARLOTTE FOLLOWING GEORGE FLOYD’S MURDER.

“Well, why don’t Black people get better jobs or stop going to prison?” And when I was younger I’d say, “Well, why not?”

It wasn’t until I started working at Johnson C. Smith University and studied the communities around there that I began understanding the structural roots of racism. I bought a house in Enderly Park that was built in 1958. The deed had stipulations like no fencing within 10 feet of the street, no loud noises, and buried at the bottom, no one of the Black race can live here ever, unless they’re a servant. I was like damn, I moved into a racist house! But it’s not uncommon, even in Charlotte, and lots of white people don’t know stuff like that exists and how it runs in cycles, perpetuates poverty and destroys families and communities.

Then they look at Black people expecting amazing citizens, demanding amazing citizens, but how? You did everything in your power to make sure that can’t happen.

The more I studied, the more I thought, why doesn’t everyone see? I’ve been working 20 years at an HBCU [Historically Black College or University] so maybe I see more than most do, but they know

PHOTO BY AMANDA DELGADILLO

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE better. I used to make excuses for individuals: “They don’t know any better, they’re just ignorant.” But you can’t let people slide anymore. That’s what happened to get here, people have been letting it slide their whole entire lives. But you can’t let it slide anymore.

I used to date this girl who didn’t like that. We brought a friend of mine with us to a party and the other people weren’t being blatant, they weren’t calling him the N-word, but they weren’t being cool, either. They were mocking him. He heard more than I did, but I caught a look and drifted back to where he was. I could tell he was bothered. They were just clowning him. He said “Let’s get out of here,” but I went in: “This is my friend, eff y’all.” And there was a record skip moment and we left.

The girlfriend blamed me for causing a scene, and said people don’t change. “You think they won’t do it again?” she asked. And maybe they will, but isn’t it worth it? I’ll call someone out 500 times if they’ll change that 500th time. Plus, there are repercussions now. They can get fired, they can lose friends. Whatever it takes. I think it’s working. I don’t think it’ll change racist behavior but at least they’ll

shut up and not broadcast it.

The only thing that bothers me is I don’t stand up to my dad as much as I should. We had a good conversation over email last week, which works best for me and him because he tends to talk over you, not listen and insert his point. I was writing, telling him what I’ve seen and learned about desegregated schools and the prison industrial complex and stuff he probably doesn’t believe in.

He’s always been a subtly racist person. He’s one of those people who are amazed when they meet a smart Black person, and I pointed that out to him.

My dad used to be a superintendent of schools; he’s right-leaning but has always been liberal about education. But he must know that education is a huge structural issue. He wrote back and said he felt I had learned a lot working at an HBCU. He thinks I’m like this super brave person who’s put myself in a dangerous environment — I’m surrounded by African-American students and scholars! He calls me their affirmative action hire. He doesn’t get it.

I’m not doing anything brave. Honestly, I feel conflicted. I don’t have the right to tell the history and stories of some of these folks. But when I meet them and talk to them, they see I’m genuinely interested. Because they’ve been promised so many things, it’s about building trust.

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These could be sad stories of communities being ripped out of place, but everyone I’ve met has been a builder and rebuilder; sharp older ladies and tough-as-hell gentlemen. And I was completely humbled in the face of some of these people. They were determined not to let injustices defeat them.

Another thing [my dad] said that pissed me off was that Black people were explicit in their own enslavement in Africa. I guarantee Africans were not the reason the slave trade didn’t collapse earlier. The only reason people came up with an excuse like that was to make themselves feel better. Just apologize.

But I was proud of myself for standing up to my dad.

Usually I don’t engage him on anything where we’d disagree politically.

This is the first time as an adult that I’ve felt something is changing. I feel empowered and inspired. For a long while I didn’t want to step on anybody’s toes. Now I realize you do have to. You have to show solidarity. It’s not enough to say I’m supporting you. Stand by them and say it loudly to other people. I’m writing to city councils and mayors and senators. I used to say it didn’t make any difference, but if enough of us do it will really change.

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

When I first arrived at First Ward Park on Wednesday, June 17, I found Martinez laying down on a rock on the northwestern side of the park, resting up between his day job delivering sandwiches by bike and his unpaid night job as the unofficial leader of the Bike Squad. It was about 7 Wheels for Equality grew p.m., and Martinez knew most protesters wouldn’t from a squad that just begin to show up until closer to 8, so it was a good wanted to help time to get in some R&R. By that time, Martinez had already ridden

BY RYAN PITKIN countless miles over a two-week span, including a seemingly endless night on June 8 when protesters It was only a mile or so into my two-mile ride did their usual laps around Uptown before going from NoDa to First Ward Park that I began to think to the center of NoDa and back, logging what he maybe an immersive approach to this story wasn’t estimated to be about 14 miles in a night. the right idea.

I hadn’t ridden a bike in quite some time, and since launching Queen City Nerve, even my regular running exercise had fallen by the wayside. And yet there I was volunteering to join up with the Bike Squad, a group of around 30 cyclists, skateboarders, bikers and others who had come together to support and defend protesters during ongoing protests following the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in May. As it turned out, my doubts were unfounded, as Bike Squad is not as physically taxing as I thought — or at least it wasn’t by the time I joined on for the night. I spent the evening riding in front of protesters one block at a time, blocking streets so that they could continue on their path and move on to march another day.

Now, as protests around Charlotte begin to taper off, Bike Squad founder Greg Martinez is asking what he and his crew can do to stay active in the movement. The immediate GREG MARTINEZ RIDES IN FRONT OF PROTESTERS IN UPTOWN CHARLOTTE. need for Bike Squad’s services — blocking roads and supplying protesters with It’s all in a day’s work for Martinez, who sold his food and water — is dwindling, but the fight for car and committed to cycling as his primary mode of systemic change in a racist America is still very much transportation 11 years ago. He formed Bike Squad in alive.

2016 as a way to help during the Charlotte Uprising In June, Martinez and others launched Wheels protests in response to the killing of Keith Lamont for Equality, an organization that will continue to Scott. In 2016, he and others would ride back and forth support the movement for Black lives, be it through from Uptown to the protesters’ base of operations at food delivery, community organizing, mental health Area 15 on 15th and North Davidson streets. support or whatever’s needed of the folks on wheels.

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KEEP ROLLIN’

In 2020, he began showing up to protests on foot early on, watching the unorganized aggression between police and protesters on Beatties Ford Road and then Uptown. He watched as officers would cut protesters off from one another, forming many small groups that were easier for them to quell as compared to one large mass.

After June 2, when police trapped protesters with gas and shot pepper balls at them in Uptown, Martinez decided to get back in the Bike Squad game.

“What I was really doing was watching each night, seeing the interaction between the crowd and the police and how that was, and at the same time asking, how far is it going to go before I decide to raise the flag and make the call?” Martinez recalled.

Street or First Ward Park, but also acting as a buffer between police and protesters.

“When you march toward a line of moto-bike cops or bike cops or riot cops, you get nervous, you get anxious, people make real quick decisions they don’t think through,” Martinez said, “whereas if you roll up and you see a squad of bikes that are on your side between you and the police, you’re like, ‘Oh, they’re protecting us, they’re going to hold that line for us,’ so everybody proceeds peacefully and they don’t worry as much.”

When I joined up with Bike Squad on June 17, police had begun to give protesters space, and rarely were any officers seen in cars or on foot during the

PHOTO BY GRANT BALDWIN

He got a group of fellow cyclists together, some of whom had helped bicycle supplies to protesters during the Charlotte Uprising, and they got to work on a two-pronged mission to support and defend, their answer to the police’s serve and protect motto.

That mission included not only running supplies such as water bottles and snacks to protesters from stocked up spots such as Jail Support on East 4th

night’s march. Instead, the main job of Bike Squad was to block traffic on roads where protesters were crossing through.

That night, the group fluctuated between 20 and a dozen people, with most on bikes but a good bit on skateboards and two on motorcycles.

Trevor Holmes told me he used to ride his motorcycle down from his home in Huntersville and

NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

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then march with protesters until someone explained to him that Bike Squad could use his services.

“Having heavier bikes actually makes it more secure because if somebody wanted to maybe get aggressive with their car, they’re less likely to push a motorcycle,” Holmes explained. “It’s been a mix of us ever since.”

The threat from drivers is real; on the night I rode along with Bike Squad, I witnessed at least two cars aggressively drive through the crowd with tires peeling as they tried to get around them. Each time a Bike Squad member followed and jotted down the offending car’s license plate number so as to check the driver’s info and make sure this wasn’t a repeat offender.

By June 17, the marches had become rather predictable, beginning from First Ward Park and heading directly to the Black Lives Matter mural on South Tryon Street, where protesters could potentially grow the crowd.

“The Black Lives Matter mural is Checkpoint One in that so many people are out there taking pictures of it; it is an attraction that draws people so, early in the evening, it allows us to go and be seen,” Martinez said. “We stop by there, and the idea is that people can see us and if they’re inclined to, they can join the march.”

That Wednesday night marked the fifth anniversary of the Charleston church shootings, in which nine people were killed by a white supremacist during a prayer group. A friend of one of the victims spoke to the crowd as it stood on the mural before he and march leaders with the Million Youth March of Charlotte (MYMC) read off the names of each victim. The entire group then took a knee in silence for nine minutes to pay tribute to the victims.

Since the Bike Squad started, the presence of MYMC leaders like Will Johnson, Demarco Blair and Mario Black have made things a bit more stable, keeping confrontations with police to a minimum and allowing for people to discuss solutions rather than strategy.

Martinez said he’s aware that some people in Charlotte believe things became peaceful too quickly, that more confrontation was needed to get the protesters’ points across, and he doesn’t argue that viewpoint, though he believes that the protests have followed a natural progression and that the movement is in a good place.

“That’s one of the big questions that everybody is asking is, ‘Did Charlotte do it too fast?’ Did we do it too quickly, as far as getting peaceful?” he said.

“If you ask me did we do things too fast, as far as

aggressive action, which is justly deserved perhaps, but at the same time … because we have this peace and we can hear each other talk, that’s why we need to open the conversations. Then we need to help each other, because we all come from different backgrounds, so we all have different resources. So how do we tap into the resources we have, put them on the table, dump them out, and then start sorting it?”

For Martinez, that means the formation of Wheels for Equality, a new organization that he and others with the Bike Squad have launched as a way to extend their services to the community — not just protesters.

As protests have died down, Wheels for Equality has answered the call in different ways, including in response to the shootings that took four lives on Beatties Ford Road during the third night of Juneteenth celebrations on June 22. The group was requested at a memorial for victim Kelly Miller on Nations Ford Road on June 25, and was there to help supply artists and feed attendees at “The First Step Ford” event on June 27, at which three local artists painted a “Beatties Ford Strong” mural on the side of Nikki’s Food Shop near the scene of the shootings.

Looking forward, Martinez wants Wheels for Equality to get more involved in the community, potentially launching a free food delivery service for Black-owned restaurants in the area, serving as an alternative to costly delivery apps like Grubhub and DoorDash.

Local chef Ryan Allen came up with the food delivery idea, as he’s been out riding with Bike Squad whenever he can and thought it was a good way to continue to serve the community.

“My biggest thing is how can I give back to the community that made me a chef? It’s my turn to give back, I’ve done a lot,” Allen told me as we rode alongside each other on June 17. “Kind of taking my passion for riding bikes with the friends that I’ve had through bicycles, and supporting the Blackowned businesses, and trying to cut delivery fees because I know firsthand how expensive Grubhub and Postmates and things like that are. So instead of us doing a bike ride from Common Market or something like that, why couldn’t we do it as a delivery service for a restaurant?”

Early before our ride on June 17, Martinez was concerned that not enough people would show up for a march, as turnouts had been steadily declining since the June 8 march to NoDa that took place during a Charlotte City Council meeting at which CMPD was forbidden to buy any more tear gas in 2021.

Martinez had no need to worry that Wednesday,

however, as eventually Johnson, Blair and Black showed up, then Feed the Movement CLT came out with food for the nearly 100 people that had trickled into the park. And just like that, the march was on.

Still, Martinez knew the marches wouldn’t last forever, and he was fine with that.

“The day we’re not needed is not necessarily a bad day,” he told me that night. “It means we’ve served our purpose and things can continue in a different direction, but it doesn’t end. And should things get set back for whatever reason and things escalate again, we’ll be out there, but I built [Bike Squad] to have a shelf life, and we’re reaching that. And it’s good because look, we’re just sitting here in the park, having a day in the park, having a conversation, everybody knows everybody, and everybody’s getting along.”

When I checked back in with Martinez on June 29, however, it was clear that the potential he saw in Wheels for Equality had changed his mind about that day he had referred to in which Bike Squad would no longer be needed. The marches may have a shelf life, but as long as the movement for Black lives was happening, there would be a place for his team.

On July 4, for example, he’ll be back at First Ward Park for a different sort of march, as the local

nonprofit organization Raise a Child of the Carolinas requested that Wheels for Equality be there for the Charlotte Children’s March, which will take place at 10 a.m.

The team is still researching different ways to help the community, including getting that free food delivery service program off the ground, and may even become a nonprofit itself by the end of the year.

“It blows my fucking mind,” Martinez said when asked about the progression from when he started with just a bike and a backpack in 2016. “Because last time things stopped and everything just went back to normal, but in this case I don’t think we can afford the luxury of going back to what the normal is or used to be … The idea was just to go out there and protect our community, protect our neighborhood, protect our city, and to see it turn into something like this, it feels good. That accomplishment of doing the right thing and continuing to do it and having people in your corner and being there for people, too, it just makes you want to do it more.”

And that’s exactly what he plans to do, shelf life be damned.

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NEWS & OPINION FEATURE

HEROES AREN’T HARD TO FIND Local labor leaders call on public to support HEROES Act

BY LILLIAN TAYLOR

Black frontline workers and labor leaders are calling on Senator Thom Tillis to support the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES Act, and urging people to join them in the call to prioritize Black workers’ physical and financial health.

MARYBE MCMILLAN

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PHOTO COURTESY OF NC STATE AFL-CIO

“It’s time to address the economic inequality and systemic racism that plagues this country and causes constant pain for our Black brothers and sisters,” said MaryBe McMillan, Charlotte-based president of the NC State AFL-CIO during a Zoom call last week. “We as a country and as a people are better than this.”

The HEROES Act would fund another round of $1,200 stimulus payments to individuals, while also setting up a fund for essential workers to receive pandemic premium pay and pushing employers to prioritize protections against contracting COVID-19.

The act would also expand the Family and Medical Leave Act, unemployment insurance and paid sick leave.

During the June 17 Zoom call, McMillan to accept the growing health risks. Each day they businesses, decreasing employment opportunities discussed several policy solutions to combat racial are forced to work with minimal safety protections, for people of color. Businesses like JCPenney and and economic inequality, and focused heavily on the inexpensive protective equipment, and the anxiety Latam Airlines have faced bankruptcy thanks to the pandemic.

HEROES Act, a $3 trillion care package similar to the of spreading the disease when they return home.

One of the biggest employers of Black workers Sherita McCullers, a GoRaleigh transit operator $2.2 trillion CARE Act passed in March.

Introduced by Democrats and passed through explained how she is constantly overwhelmed in North Carolina and the country is the United the House of Representatives by a narrow margin, with the worries of bringing home COVID-19 to her States Postal Service (USPS), which President family. She mentioned that Donald Trump has publicly feuded with and refused the Republicanher late godmother passed to support financially, threatening to veto any controlled Senate is away due to the virus and congressional measures that included aid for the expected to rebuff now her brother has been vital organization. the package. The AFL“The USPS has been a vital resource for American admitted into the hospital CIO strongly endorses after contracting the communities for over 200 years,” said Ivy Jones, passage of the HEROES a 27-year North Carolina postal service worker disease.

Act, McMillan said, “I know COVID-19 is based in Raleigh, during the June 17 call. Jones as it lines up with the real, and it’s not going discussed how the USPS has provided employment organization’s Five away,” McCullers said. “So opportunities for African-Americans, and that the Economic Essentials.

I’m asking Senator Thom bankruptcy of this service could have disastrous The Senate will Tillis, we need to keep all effects. take a two-week break “Black women make up nearly 18% of the public frontline workers … We from July 3-17, and is need you to do your job and workforce, or about 1.5 million workers,” Jones expected to vote on the support the HEROES Act.” said. “The current administration wants us to go act upon their return, Aside from health backwards, but Black people won’t go backwards, though Wednesday’s concerns, COVID-19 has the labor movement won’t go backwards. We refuse announcement by Gov. also brought economic to go backwards.”

Roy Cooper that Phase destruction to office and 2 of reopening will SHERITA MCCULLERS INFO@QCNERVE.COM administrative support extend another three PHOTO BY EDWARD JONES weeks makes things a bit more urgent. In the meantime, McMillan urged union members and allies to flood Senator Tillis’ office with calls to support the package.

“Most urgently, we need the HEROES Act and other legislation to deal with the impacts of COVID, especially on communities of color,” said McMillan.

“Frontline workers are heroes, Black workers are heroes. It’s time that Senator Tillis and other elected officials recognize that and pass this legislation.”

Black Americans have contracted and died from coronavirus at higher rates due to prolonged inequities and the imbalance of provided healthcare, and now with many workplaces reopening even as COVID-19 rates increase, some worry that Black workers are being put at unnecessary risk yet again.

Studies show that in North Carolina, there is a 6.6% unemployment rate for Black workers compared to the 3.3% rate for white workers in North Carolina. William Munn, a health policy analyst with the North Carolina Justice Center, discussed how COVID-19 is violently affecting people of color.

“There is a prevalence of Black workers in essential industries, often working multiple jobs for low pay and without health insurance,” explained CONTACTLESS PAYMENTS FOR CONTRACTORS Munn. “That’s why we’re calling on Senator Tillis to support our essential workers in this time of Affordable. No hardware needed. Safe. Fast. Fleet ready. unprecedented crisis.”

Scan QR code and try for free !

Those who remain employed have been forced

We’re kind of opening, kind of not, so not all of these are virtual events as we’ve been highlighting since March, but plenty are. COVID is still going strong, so party at your own risk.

SOFA KING DOPE

What: “New, old, remixes, rare gems, B-sides, deep cuts, beats...the only requirement is that it’s dope,” says Jah Freedom. His live-from-the-living-room eclectic and electric mix of high vibes is intimate, chill and it swings. As the man says, “Get your boogie blanket or leave it on the floor so you can rock, sway, chill or float if you must. Curated with a heart for the bang.”

More: Free; July 1, 9 p.m.; tinyurl.com/SofaKingDope

GIRLS YARD

What: The almighty all-American automobile comes to the aid of live music makers at this drive-in concert at the Music Yard. Girls Room, an event created and curated by LGBTQ women, provides a unique atmosphere for everyone to express themselves while highlighting talented female artists in the queer community. Girls Room conductor DOMii, fresh off several releases on Insomniac Records, Ghetto Ghetto Records And Brooklyn Fire Records under her alias duo B!tch Be Cool, joins DJ Fannie Mae to provide vibrations for the evening, which also includes carside food and beverage service.

HOUSEWORK What: Housework meets deep house when More: $50 and up; July 10, 7:30 p.m.; The Music Frequency 360 serves up a morning of all-house Yard, 2433 South Blvd.; tinyurl.com/GirlsYard music for you to brush the dirt off your shoulders and shine up your spirit and your home. Best MINT MUSEUM FROM HOME of all, you don’t have to chug bleach to feel the What: The doors at their Uptown and Randolph Road deep beats’ healing vibes. Got up too late? You locations may be locked, but the Mint is still in business can catch the repeat before it gets taken down if for these with open minds. The museum’s website you hurry. Donations appreciated with Cash app : has recently shared a list of socially-conscious artists $Freaquency360. who deserve a follow on Instagram now. Among the More: Free, donations appreciated, illustrious creators is Charlotte’s Dammit Wesley, Owl Cash App: $Freaquency360; July 4, 10 a.m.; & Arko, John Hairston Jr. and Bree Stallings. twitch.tv/freaquency360 More: Free; mintmuseum.org/museum-fromhome/

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KAYZO, MIDNIGHT TYRANNOSAURUS DAILY YOGA SERIES & G-BUCK What: Expect stomping beats, staccato rhythms and curious squelchy sounds at this drive-in gig featuring the shapeshifting collision of rock and electronic music known as Kayzo. Billboard calls the latest sounds by L.A.-based producer/DJ born as Hayden Capuozzo “the equivalent of putting your entire Spotify library on shuffle.” In the support slot, Midnight Tyrannosaurus, also known as bass heavyweight Jason Figlioli, unleashes dinosaur dubstep growls stretched out over fat kicks, snares and screeching rhythm-packed beats. Genrejumping DJ and turntablist G-Buck fills out the bill, while Life Is Art Studios provides video and suitably pulsing lights More: $25 and up; July 9, 6 p.m.; Hounds Drive-In, 114 Raven Circle, Kings Mountain; tinyurl.com/KayzoDogHouse

What: Has your downward facing dog been getting droopy, your tree a little lopsided or your warrior pose a trifle wishy-washy? The U.S. National Whitewater Center is hosting socially distanced yoga classes throughout the month of July. Slow flow is Vinyasa flow for beginner to intermediate yogis. Open Level Flow is challenging intermediate Vinyasa. Fun Flow features an emphasis on having fun and moving like yourself. Mondays - 6:30 p.m.: Open Level Flow. Tuesdays - 9:30 a.m.: Open Level Flow; 6:30 p.m.: Slow Flow. Wednesdays - 6:30 p.m.: Open Level Flow. Thursdays - 9:30 a.m.: Slow Flow; 6:30 p.m.: Open Level Flow. Fridays - 9:30 a.m.: Open Level Flow; 6:30 p.m.: Fun Flow. Saturdays 9:30 .am.: Slow Flow; 11:30 a.m.: Open Level Flow; 6:30 p.m.: Fun Flow. Sundays - 11:30 a.m.: Open Level Flow; 2:30 p.m.: Slow Flow. Rain or shine.

More: Free ($6 per vehicle parking fee); times vary; tinyurl.com/WhitewaterYoga

DRIVE-IN MOVIE NIGHT AND FIREWORKS

What: Charlotte Motor Speedway hosts its first Speedway Children’s Charities fundraiser, bringing the cult-classic movie The Goonies to life on the speedway’s massive HDTV. While the charity is awesome, we never cared for The Goonies, a noisyas-hell, Steven Spielberg-produced mess of a family-friendly adventure comedy. Ripping off the plot of a much better 1935 Little Rascals’ short called Mamas’ Little Pirate, The Goonies is overproduced and overlong. Every gag bludgeons the viewer to death, each and every actor screams their dialog at ear-splitting levels and the story is saddled with a sickeningly saccharine ending. But it’s one of those ’80s things that people inexplicably love — like the music of Rush. The movie is followed by a socially distanced fireworks show that will probably be less headache-inducing than the movie.

More: $40 per vehicle; July 1, 7 p.m.; Charlotte Motor Speedway, 5555 Concord Pkwy S, Concord; charlottemotorspeedway.com

Gay’s work speaks to cultures that have often been rendered invisible, and whose identities have been denied — until now. Giving a glimpse into her art of re-imagined narratives, myths and role models for a new age, Gay will discuss the construction and deconstruction of visual language through female ancestors.

More: Free; July 7, 7 p.m.; tinyurl.com/CreativeShifts

LUNCH & LEARN: SPIES, TRAITORS & AMERICAN INDEPENDENCE

What: Trickery, treason and double dealing in colonial America goes well beyond Benedict Arnold.

As part of the Charlotte Museum of History’s weeklong Independence Day celebration, the Museum hosts a special Independence Day-themed edition of their popular Lunch & Learn series. Education Specialist Lauren Wallace delves into the world of espionage and trickery to explore how spies and spy craft may have won the Revolutionary War. The museum’s Lunch & Learn series uses Zoom to facilitate a short talk followed by a community discussion.

AFTER THE PROTESTS & MARCHES, This program will also be streamed live on the Museum’s YouTube page: https://bit.ly/30YTd0M. WHAT’S NEXT? More: Free; July 2, 12 p.m.; charlottemuseum.org; What: We’ve had marches and protests in Myers Register on Zoom: tinyurl.com/SpiesAndTraitors Park, Dilworth, Ballantyne and Uptown, but where do we go from here as we grapple with eliminating systemic racism? Join N.C. Rep. Brandon Lofton, FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATIONS civil rights attorney James “Fergie” Ferguson, YWCA What: Kudos to Jody Mace and her website Executive Director Kirsten Sikkelee and Crossroads Charlotte on the Cheap. Jody’s done an exhaustive Corporation Executive Director Tiffany Capers for this job of tracking down Fourth of July celebrations in the Charlotte area that have not yet shut down. important online discussion.

Though the Queen City has canceled its Uptown More: Free; July 8, 6 p.m.; SkyShow and many other celebrations, there are tinyurl.com/AfterTheProtests still a handful events tentatively scheduled in Cramerton, Gastonia, Belmont and other locales — CREATIVE SHIFTS: NEW GODS & to which we say, “What the actual fuck?”

MYTHOLOGICAL FIGURES More: Free; charlotteonthecheap.com/charlotteWhat: Visiting McColl Center curator Jonell Logan 4th-of-july/ meets with artist Shanequa Gay virtually for a candid conversation on her powerful practice and the meaning of Black womanhood. Through installations, paintings, and performance, Gay fabricates environments of ritual and memorial, transforming familiar iconography into new gods and mythical figures who embody the lives of those who have been impacted by systemic inequalities.

ARTS FEATURE

SCREEN THE QUEEN

Fall film festivals bring community, charity and advocacy

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BY PAT MORAN

founder and director Diane Restaino’s son, Joe, who passed away over a decade ago after battling cancer. Diane held the first Joedance Film Festival in 2010, screening two Sundance films at her Uptown Charlotte townhome and raising $950. By last December, the festival had raised $205,000 for pediatric cancer treatment and research efforts at Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, including $35,000 in 2019, and the screening had evolved into a live event staged at Charlotte Ballet Academy.

“A live festival … is such a unique experience,” Chip White offers. “It’s great for filmmakers [and] you get to see an audience’s reaction.”

White’s second year with Joedance as festival director presented the toughest decision he, Restaino and festival manger Ben McCarthy had to make. Two months ago, they decided to turn Joedance into a virtual festival.

The festival, which runs Aug. 6-Aug. 8, will screen 18 professional short films, with six apiece scheduled for Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Then on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., the program offers seven student shorts.

The program draws from 79 submitted films this year. One strict criterion is that the films’ creators must have a strong connection to North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Tennessee. Four of the films were made by Charlotte-based filmmakers.

“Saying, ‘Hey, I’ve got a cousin that lives in Charlotte!’ is not quite strong enough,” White says about the requirements.

The fest director is happy with the current crop of films, praising the comedy Cherry for its vibrancy and amazing color palette. Yard Sale, directed by Monroe-based filmmakers Andrew Huggins and Donna Whitmore-Sexton, also garners White’s kudos. “I think they did a great job, almost making a musical out of this film,” PHOTO BY JAS PHOTO he says.

A13-judge panel drawn from film professionals Shooting cinema vérité style and combining that with archival footage, Newsome plans to document and movie buffs that White has met in the course of events through a series of interviews with residents, his career as an independent filmmaker chose the films. activists and elected officials.

As for his own work, White is currently finishing As a filmmaker she’s had to adjust to COVID-19, taking extra safety precautions for interview post production on his rock ‘n’ roll coming of age subjects and crew, though she’s not sure yet how the story Electric Jesus. It’s the tale of a 1980s Christian pandemic will impact the way the story will be told hair metal band that hits the road with dreams of opening for Stryper, the apex of Christian hair bands. on film.

White will also serve as a producer for the shot-in“When I looked at life through the camera, Charlotte horror movie Heir of the Witch, to be filmed I felt like I could finally see it.” - Katherine in July.

While the films are unique, and a virtual festival Howe puts a fresh spin on cinematic presentation, White The Joedance Festival takes its name from says he was drawn to Joedance because of its charity

the project, aided by executive producer Jacqueline “I think Black people have to be in control Olive.

They Tried to Bury Us takes its name from a quote of their own image because film is a powerful medium. We can’t just sit back and let other by poet Dinos Christianopoulos, “What didn’t you do to bury me, but you forgot I was a seed.” people define our existence.” - Spike Lee “[The quote] relates to the idea of resiliency and In response to the tragic shootings at being able to overcome the oppressive forces working Charleston’s historic Emanuel AME Church in June against you,” Newsome offers. “I’m examining with 2015, Newsome clambered up a pole and ripped this film, how various people operating at a local down a Confederate flag from the South Carolina level in Charlotte show determination and resilience Capitol grounds. Though initially reluctant to land in challenging a much larger system of power, in the national spotlight after her defiant actions, money and influence.”

The documentary is a snapshot of now, she Newsome embraced her role in the movement to eradicate white supremacy. Her work-in-progress expounds, four years after the Charlotte Uprising, documentary that caught Cucalorus’ eye, They Tried with residents continuing to grapple with the same structural racism, compounded by the pandemic to Bury Us, is a logical extension of her activism.

Long before her activism thrust her onto the and economic downturn.

Despite protests, a pandemic and economic stagnation, film is flourishing in North Carolina — at least if you go by the number of film festivals scheduled this year. Ranging from the Dirty Dancing Festival in Lake Lure to Surfalorus on the Outer Banks, Tarheel screenings will cater to a wide array of audiences — Black, queer, LatinAmerican and horror hound cineastes can each claim at least one festival as their own.

The North Carolina Film Office’s website lists at least 30 festivals planned for the remainder of 2020, with seven coming to the Charlotte area.

Most are scheduled, or have been rescheduled due to COVID-19, for the fall. And why not?

Autumn is traditionally a contemplative time suitable for ruminative and mind-expanding indie films.

There are as many goals for festivals as there are types of film fans. While all fests are showcases and award ceremonies, some like Made in the Carolinas focus on fostering the film industry by providing a gathering and celebration that encourages local filmmakers, particularly fledgling filmmakers.

While all those elements are present in Joedance Film Festival, organizers for the festival, now in its 11th year, also emphasize BREE NEWSOME the event’s charitable aspects, which were inspired by the young cancer patient who gave the national stage, Newsome was entranced with film, staging plays and making movies when she was in fest its name.

Unlike the Charlotte-based festivals Joedance elementary school, she tells Queen City Nerve. After and Made in the Carolinas, the Cucalorus Film attending a summer program at the North Carolina Festival makes its home in Wilmington, but even School of the Arts, she decided to study cinema at the revered 25-year-old indie festival that boasted New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where over 21,000 attendees last year has a Charlotte she earned a degree in film, television and radio.

Newsome has attended Cucalorus several times, connection. and plans to go again this fall. Last year at the In June, Cucalorus and the NC Film Office festival she learned about the Filmed in NC Fund announced the grant recipients of Filmed in NC and decided to apply. Newsome shared details of 2020, a program launched five years ago to support her project and a sample of edited footage she had productions by Black and Latin filmmakers. Of already shot for her documentary. In June the fund the five recipients of the funds, four are women, including Charlotte-based documentarian and awarded her $2,500 to use toward completing her film. Newsome is director, producer and writer of activist Bree Newsome.

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ARTS FEATURE aspect.

‘We hope [people] take away a new understanding of what the festival is about — why Diane started it and where the money [we] raise goes,” White maintains.

Restaino expounds on Joedance’s approach to charity by relating the history of the fest.

Before he died at age 20, Joe Restaino told his mother he wanted her to raise money in Charlotte.

Diane Restaino promised Joe that she would carry out his wishes, hitting every item on a bucket list he compiled that focused on cancers such as sarcomas, blastomas and brain tumors. “[Joe] wanted us to fund a clinical trial for recurrent osteosarcoma which we’ve done,” Restaino says. “It’s still going on.”

In accordance with Joe’s wishes, Joedance has also set up an internship program at an oncology department at Levine Children’s Hospital, which is now in its fourth year. They are funding a first-line research technician at a new basic science lab at LCH, and have committed to three years of the tech’s salary.

Joedance has also funded summer internship programs for college students. The programs include data compilation on brain tumor patients for oncologists, an in-patient vs. out-patient treatment study and the Healios project, an educational piece that students put together for a liquid supplement that lessens the severity of mouth sores in cancer patients.

Overall, Restaino is happy that they’ve ticked off everything her son wanted.

“We never wavered on anything that we did,” she says. “We never changed our mission [or] direction. We stayed steady for going on 11 years. I think Joe would be pleased.”

Restaino says the doctors who have gone through the charity’s internship programs will take part in Joedance’s virtual festival, as will Dr. Javier Oesterheld, Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation Endowed Chair for Cancer and Blood Disorders at LCH. In his position as Chair at LCH, Oesterheld is Specialty Medical Director of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, BMT and Palliative Care.

It’s all a part of making the online Joedance feel as much like the live-action Joedance from years past as possible, Restaino offers. The doctors’ statements, along with remarks by Restaino and film introductions by White will be streamed as part of the festival’s pre-roll, as a sort of online introduction and party before the films are screened.

A musical performance from students at local arts education organization Arts+ will also be part of the

festivities, as will pre-filmed Q&A sessions with the creating; they’re doing it under quarantine orders.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with festival’s film directors. that.”

Her observation raises an interesting question.

“Sometimes, you just have to go in there and bowl people over with your sheer force of Are independent films, with their tradition of smaller budgets, casts and crews, better suited to will.” - Jennifer Yuh Nelson pandemic conditions? Are they better positioned In 2009, friends Juli Emmons, Maggie Sargent than the major studios to flourish under quarantine?

“We’ve joked that all the independent and Haven Wagner began inquiring about interest in a grassroots group that would meet, create, filmmakers are going to be the ones who run and grow film in the Charlotte area. They called [Hollywood],” Emmons says. “The studios don’t themselves the Charlotte Film Community, and after know what to do because they’re not able to make the first meeting drew over 130 people, they never their films right now.”

Joedance’s Chip White considers a more dire looked back.

The group grew and changed their name to effect the pandemic may have on the film industry.

“I just hope that there are films that people can the Carolina Film Community as they welcomed filmmakers from North and South Carolina. Then, 11 submit next year [to Joedance] because a lot can years ago, they launched the Made in Carolinas Film happen,” he offers. “They may not be able to shoot anything.”

Festival.

As COVID-19 infection rates rise and movie “We were meeting together and getting in front of each other and we were having people coming in theaters stay shuttered, screening options may also to talk about how they filmed, which were all great dwindle, White maintains.

“In 2021 there are going to be less places things,” Emmons remembers. “[But] we realized that we were not doing enough to force people to get out open, and unless we can find a way to make things happen, there’s going to be a lack of content.” there and do it.”

Emmons recalls offering minuscule awards If you want a happy ending, that depends, of $100 or so, just to show fledgling filmmakers that someone cared abut their development. CFC of course, on where you stop your story.” continued to push movie makers to hone their skills Orson Welles and try harder.

It may be that content will find a way because This year CFC is seeking new and original short films for their festival. All films will be reviewed by there will always be stories that need to be told. an independent panel. The top 20 professionally And those stories can be seen and heard in virtual produced films, plus five student films, will be venues that have already taken a strong foothold in accepted into the final round of the contest and the economy.

Experimental efforts aside, film is narrative, and viewed at a red-carpet screening, which will be part of a hybrid, part-live, part-virtual event on story is how we order events to shape reality.

For many now, our narrative is an onrush of September 15. After votes come in via cellphone, winners will receive a film can emblazoned with information shorn of context, a distorted funhouse their name and their film’s title, along with a cash mirror reflection of people and events. And with the influence of social media algorithms and award.

Emmons says submissions can be emailed or manipulation, it’s an increasingly insular reality.

At its best, film can break through and expose delivered to her in person by the Aug. 4 deadline at Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, where CFC’s monthly audiences to new truths. That message can be Spike Lee bringing previously marginalized viewpoints to meetings are held.

Emmons is particularly excited that CFC and the forefront in Do the Right Thing. But it can also Made in Carolinas will be accepting student films for be Leni Riefenstahl glorifying fascism in Triumph of the Will. the second consecutive year.

Festivals, through charity, community and “I love the fact that they’re starting here,” she activism play an integral part in choosing and says. “Where will they be 10 years from now?”

One caveat for filmmakers is that the films spreading those messages. So, what do Charlotte’s must be shot between May 14 and August 4. The filmmakers and presenters hope their festivals and submissions’ beginning and end dates have had an films will accomplish?

“We hope to get people more aware, and to find interesting effect, says Emmons.

“All the films will be produced during the new supporters — people who understand our pandemic,” Emmons offers. “Anything they are cause and will become Joedance fans for life,” says

White.”

“I want to support film in the community and support the arts,” Emmons says. “I love the idea of being able to [bring] the film community together after all of the craziness that has happened in this bizarre year. I hope that we would all find this common place in film where we’re able to say it doesn’t matter if we have differences.”

Newsome is focused on her documentary project, a film that just may change the story society presently tells.

She hopes audiences walk away from They Tried to Bury Us feeling informed and inspired to get involved in grassroots-level advocacy. Newsome wants the documentary to reach people who are curious about human rights issues but haven’t gotten directly involved in grassroots movement building.

“This includes people whose familiarity with the recent history of social justice movements has been largely shaped by what they’ve seen in news reports or on social media and who aren’t aware of the larger landscape of the modern movement,” Newsome says. “It exists beyond iconic images, hashtags and moments that capture national attention.”

PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM

Put your food waste where it belongs

Back in the community If you are interested in learning more about diverting your food waste check out our website at www.crowntowncompost.com or at @crowntowncompost

MUSIC FEATURE

BOYS TO MEN

New Reuben Vincent EP shows growth in teenage rapper’s repertoire

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BY RYAN PITKIN

Reuben Vincent just wanted to do that one last show before live gigs were shut down for the foreseeable future.

The Charlotte rapper had joined up with Jamla Records labelmate Rapsody in early March for a portion of her six-week A Black Woman Created This tour, but it soon became clear that the tour would not complete its run as COVID-19 cancellations clamped down on the country.

The 19-year-old Vincent had been looking forward to the March 12 show scheduled for Amos’ Southend in Charlotte, but things were starting to look questionable.

The Charlotte native currently attends North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, and the college had informed him earlier in the week that all upcoming classes were canceled and all students would need to clear their things from campus housing by the end of the week.

He knew the potential of performing again in 2020 was bleak, but he just wanted to do that one last gig.

Vincent, Rapsody and a third Jamla labelmate Heather Victoria did take the stage that night, and it was everything Vincent could have hoped for.

In the crowd were Vincent’s mother; fellow Charlotte rapper and friend from Rocky River High School Isaiah Ford, aka Ahmir the King; up-andcoming Charlotte R&B singer Cyanca; and others, all of whom got to see Rapsody bring Vincent up during her set to “crown him,” as he put it — the next voice to check for in hip-hop.

“It meant the world to me because that was my first big show in the city. I had did little shows, but that was my first one in like a huge popular venue that’s in the city, so just seeing all the people that was around that’s from the city, and seeing them support me was love,” Vincent recalled during a recent phone call with Queen City Nerve. “I don’t take it for granted.”

When we spoke with Vincent, he was back on the road with Rap, as he calls her, but the two weren’t performing together this time. In fact, they were heading to Kentucky to attend a rally for Breonna Taylor, a 26-year-old woman killed by Louisville Metro

Police officers during a no-knock raid on March 13.

Vincent wanted to do be there in Kentucky to show support, regardless of the fact that he had plenty going on in his own life. On June 26, just two days after the rally, he would drop his new EP, Boy Meets World, an eight-track adventure that’s already gained national attention and could set him up to be the voice of a generation that Rapsody has already tagged him as.

While recently he’s just been chilling in his south Charlotte home learning to use a new studio setup that he bought at the onset of the quarantine, the new EP is about his experiences getting to see the world for the first time and how that’s affected his outlook.

Growing up in the Becton Park area of east Charlotte off Albemarle Road, for which he named track 7 on the new EP, Vincent was big into creative storytelling, but didn’t have the same life experiences to inspire him that he has now.

“Growing up, I didn’t really get to travel that much,” he told Queen City Nerve. “My first time going on a plane was because of music, so Boy Meets World is me finally getting to go and see the world. I’m more open-minded REUBEN VINCENT to seeing different perspectives on things, but also, don’t let the world change you, where you come from, who you are, and your perspective on life and what’s your purpose.”

Each track on the EP shows new growth from

Vincent, who for years has shown a talent for wordplay and storytelling. With Boy Meets World, however, Vincent highlights a new range of skill, from the fast-paced trap verses of “Expedition” to the nostalgia of “Albemarle Road,” which calls back to an early ’90s hip-hop that existed before he was alive but

to look at things in a deeper way than many his age, regardless of generation, all the while paying homage to inspirations like JAY-Z, Nas and 2Pac through creative wordplay and name-dropping.

Vincent said he was inspired to write “If I Die” while watching the 2018 film Blindspotting, which digs into issues around how Black people are viewed in America as compared to their white counterparts. He closed the project with the track, his favorite of the eight, as he recognized it to have a mix of everything he offers in his music. “‘If I Die’ was me trying to say something, letting people know who I am, and letting them know that I’m standing for something and that I’m not going to fall for anything,” Vincent said. “I feel like later on in my career, that song is going to stand the test of time.”

There’s still plenty of time left in that career, however, as the teenage rapper is still coming into his own with the support of his mentors Rapsody and Jamla Records founder 9th Wonder.

Vincent values his role as the “little brother” at Jamla, which he takes seriously not only as someone who has a lot to learn but someone with a lot to teach.

“I feel like being at Jamla, they gave me the space to be myself,” PHOTO BY SAYMA WALEH Vincent said. “They let me be, they let me not-so-subtly inspires much of his music. explore, they let me expand because of my age. I’m The closing track of the EP, “If I Die,” serves as a young, I’m in these high schools, I’m in these colleges, grand finale that mixes Vincent’s passion for social I’m in these rooms with people my age, so I know issues, his penchant for storytelling, and his tendency what they like and I know what I like.

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MUSIC FEATURE

more self-aware than many of us could have claimed to be at 19 years old.

One theme that Vincent revisits throughout the “So I’m forever grateful for 9th and Rap because EP, proving his tendency not to take things at face they gave me the space to be myself,” he continued. value, is his love/hate relationship with technology “They let me try new things in the studio, whether and social media. it’s with [Jamla producer] Eric G going crazy on a trap Vincent is, after all, a member of the first generation beat and I’m just flowing crazy on that [referring to that has had the internet since birth, with social media ‘Expedition’] or even just sticking to the essence playing a major part in their developing years.

I know of myself and the things I Vincent looks at the growing grew up on. Mixing those two technology with a weary eye, “I and making it a melting calling it “a gift and a GOTTA pot is how I continue curse,” and remaining to succeed on that UNDERSTAND THAT a reluctant route.” participant.

EVERYBODY’S JOURNEY And yet “You look IS DIFFERENT. AND I FEEL Vincent knows on the ‘Gram, LIKE THAT’S A PROBLEM WITH that his age and it’s like a can still be OUR GENERATION BECAUSE race. You see an obstacle everybody in EVERYBODY’S LOOKING AT for him to there cheating, EVERYBODY ELSE’S JOURNEY, be taken because nobody seriously. In THEY’RE NOT FOCUSING is really going the EP’s opening to post when ON THEIRS.” track, “How It they’re down bad, -Reuben Vincent Feel?”, Vincent quotes let’s be honest,” Vincent a 17-year-old 2Pac, who said. “It’s a highlight reel, so stated, “The hardest thing when people see other highlight about being my age is proving to reels, they think that’s all people’s life is, society that I know what’s going on.” but you don’t know the hard work it takes, you don’t One needs only listen to Boy Meets World, know the struggles people go through, so I feel like however, to hear a young man who comes across as people have to understand that and that’s the way we have to move with social media.”

However, he’s also well aware that social media has played a big role in his own career.

After all, if it weren’t for Twitter, he may not have gotten on Jamla in the first place.

Vincent has rapped since childhood, and was only 13 when 9th Wonder came across a tweet featuring one of his very low-budget, DIY recordings. He immediately recognized the talent.

While Vincent had already acquired an education on early ’90s hip-hop from his parents, 9th Wonder would send along some more deep cuts for him to study, and a few years later signed him to Jamla.

At 16, Vincent dropped his first mixtape, Myers Park, named for the area to where he had moved from the east side during his freshman year of high school.

Safe to say Vincent recognizes how valuable a good social media presence can be, though it’s all about using the platforms wisely, he said.

REUBEN VINCENT PHOTO BY NUKU MUINGBEH “Even me, I’m young so sometimes I will

look on the ‘Gram and I’ll be like ‘Dang, this person’s doing more than me, what am I doing?’ But I gotta understand that everybody’s journey is different.

And I feel like that’s a problem with our generation because everybody’s looking at everybody else’s journey, they’re not focusing on theirs.”

In the meantime, Vincent will remain focused on his journey, as he grows to become one of the defining voices in his generation — definitely in hip-hop, potentially well beyond that.

As he wrapped our conversation on his way to Kentucky, he showed that mix of maturity and cockiness that remains so present in his music.

“The songs and the things I’m talking about, a lot of people my age can relate to because they’re going through the same exact thing, and people who are

older than me can probably understand — if they’re not going through it at that time, they went through it at one certain point in time,” he said.

“I just want people to get that from the EP, and I want people to understand that I’m here, I’m here to stay, I know how to make records, I know how to rap.

I’m here to be one of the best ever. That’s how I look at it.”

We’ll be focused on his journey.

RPITKIN@QCNERVE.COM

CHECK OUT ‘BOY MEETS WORLD’ ON SPOTIFY

FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

“I have no affiliation with the restaurant and some still do. But the business has paid dearly some appreciation and support for their many years besides being a dedicated patron and fan for over for Nguyen’s determination to keep her family and serving us.”

Rapidly, Nguyen’s love for her customers 20 years,” West wrote on the page. “The owner, customers safe. For three months the restaurant has been operating as take-out only, and bills have was reciprocated. Stuart’s post was shared by Dan, always greets us with that huge grin of hers, been piling up. It was particularly rough early in the the Plaza Midwood Facebook group. On June 19, tells us what to order, and I just can’t imagine not Neighborhood Theatre amplified the message on being able to enjoy the best Vietnamese cuisine Can community save an east shutdown.

“One week we had no customers, [but] I tell my their Facebook page: ”Another staple on the east outside of Vietnam ever again.”

Charlotte staple?

In less than 24 hours the campaign raised husband … [we’ll be] open every day, busy or not side is in danger of going under. This joint is some $30,000.

As of June 26, the total stands at $55,632 of the best Vietnamese in town…

Y’all drop by and busy, we’ll be open,” Nguyen says.

“We lost a lot of

BY PAT MORAN raised from 805 donors. money for three months, but I don’t care. We work show em some love and get a great meal.”

On June 20, West posted an update on the The call was picked up by the online “I love my customers,” says Dan Nguyen, owner hard.” page.

Despite the restaurant’s dire financial straits, neighborhood app Nextdoor Plaza Midwood. of Lang Van Vietnamese restaurant in east Charlotte.

“We just got back from seeing Dan and “Lang Van is struggling,” Rose Hamid posted on Nguyen insisted on paying her staff their full “They are family to me.” everyone at Lang Van,” West wrote.

Nguyen’s English may still be a bit “Dan cried, I cried, it was fantastic. She choppy, but her meaning and emotion is is just over the top thrilled and in awe fluent. Her eyes well with tears of pride of everyone’s generosity. There was a and joy as she shows me a vase filled with line out the door to get take-out and pastel flowers that her customer and I couldn’t have been more thrilled to friend Tiffany sent her. An uncluttered watch people ordering take-out and and colorful mix of sunflowers and roses, forcing her to take their very generous the floral arrangement complements donations.” the setting inside Lang Van, the cozy and In Lang Van’s dining room, Nguyen unpretentious eatery that Nguyen has remembers learning about the owned since 2009. fundraiser and its success.

Upon entering the utilitarian “My customer comes in and shows rectangular building near the me…”

She stops talking and mimes, intersection of Shamrock and Eastway indicating that they showed Nguyen the drives, visitors are confronted by a GoFundMe page on their phone. “They surprising and fanciful bamboo curtain. say, ‘You see it?’ Then I’m so happy.”

This tiki-bar-like concession to exotic Donations have come from other Southeast Asia aside, the rest of the sources too. Nguyen says that people dining room is pretty basic. Framed have come in with cash donations awards recognizing Lang Van as the of $50, $100, $200 and more. One best restaurant in Charlotte going back customer comes in from Lake Norman several years line the plain white walls. with a weekly donation of $100.

Small tables and diner-style booths Another came in three times, bringing sport table cloths emblazoned with $150 each time. multi-hued maps of Vietnam, a reminder DAN NGUYEN HAS EARNED HER SHARE OF RECOGNITION OVER THE YEARS. PHOTO BY JAYME JOHNSON Nguyen recalls a customer named of Nguyen’s homeland.

Cindy who came in for take-out on But today the booths are empty and a weekday and was disappointed to see the Nextdoor.

“If you love Lang Van as much as I do, plan wages.

Take-out business picked up a little as word chairs are stacked on the tables. Although Lang restaurant empty.

She left and returned one hour to order from them.” spread that Lang Van was still open, but as the Van is allowed 50% occupancy under the extended later with $1,000 in cash.

“I drove by today around 1:00 p.m. and was days lengthened into summer, money continued to Safer-at-Home phase of North Carolina Governor “After that a lot of people came in,” Nguyen surprised to see an empty parking lot,” wrote Porter Roy Cooper’s three-phased plan to open up the dwindle. continues. “The last week, Friday, Saturday and Gradually the unthinkable dawned on everyone Merrill. “Please support them if you can.” economy while stemming the spread of Covid-19, “We heard the same thing … and got takeout Sunday, it was crazy — so many orders to go.”

Nguyen has chosen not to have indoor seating at her lucky enough to have discovered the tucked-away There seems to be no end in sight for the city’s last night,” Megan Fuller posted. “I almost cried gem of east Charlotte’s dining scene: The city’s establishment. generosity toward Nguyen, her family and their when I got to see the owner and employees.

They oldest and best Vietnamese restaurant could soon “COVID is bad. I care for my customers a lot. I beloved restaurant. truly treat everyone like family!” care for my family,” the 48-year-old restaurateur disappear.

As Queen City Nerve takes photos of Nguyen, Many more people shared stories of wonderful “I heard tonight that one of the most iconic says, explaining her decision against implementing a man steps up, says hello to her and then presses meals and acts of kindness by restaurant staff. restaurants in Charlotte is struggling through these indoor seating. “I want them to be healthy.” Of the a stack of $20 bills into her hands. After posing for hard times,” reads a June 18 Instagram post by Made nine people on staff at the restaurant, several are a picture with Nguyen, the man waves goodbye, A community gets behind Lang Van To Last Tattoo owner Chris Stewart.

“I’ve been eating family, including Nguyen, her husband Tuyen Tran refusing to give us his name as he leaves.

“Save Lang Van Vietnamese Restaurant,” reads here for over 20yrs and this woman I would consider who cooks in the kitchen, and their two children “People are very kind to me, Nguyen offers.

Alice and Henry Tran. Over the years, Nguyen’s sister, family…I’ve always said she and the entire staff the title of the GoFundMe page launched by Carly “Can you tell them I am so happy?”

Valigura West on behalf of Tuyen Tran. deserves an award for hospitality, so let’s show them cousins, and nieces have also worked at Lang Van,

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VIVA LANG VAN

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FOOD & DRINK FEATURE

works from 9 a.m. to 1 a.m., but recently, she found Carolyn Forché, Richard Blanco, and Li-Young Lee, some precious moments to spend with a customer for whom Dan kept her doors open late, have all been to the Southeast Asian eatery on Shamrock named Alison.

She’s a cancer patient, Nguyen says haltingly. and loved it.

Coming to America That still doesn’t explain the emotional “She’s only 34 years old. Usually I don’t go anywhere Running a restaurant has been a challenge, but but here. The last month it was not busy and I got attachment people have for the 30-year-old family even before Nguyen started working at Lang Van, the time. I come home with her. I would sit with owned restaurant. Perhaps Nguyen’s embrace of her life was not easy. customers as a kind of extended family is a potent here every week.”

“Before I leave my country, I was poor,” she says force in unsettling times. More than a restaurant, Nguyen pauses as her eyes fill with tears. simply. Nguyen was born September 4, 1974 in Tuy Lang Van is an accepting homespun hub for a city “She passed away two weeks ago.”

Hoa, in what was then South Vietnam as the 14-year This poignant vignette illustrates why Lang Van that may be growing too quickly for the connective long Vietnam War drew to a close, . tissue of community to catch up. is so essential to so many people in Charlotte.

“She didn’t have any parents [and] she didn’t It’s only fitting that the Queen City’s Yes, it is an exceptional restaurant, many say have any education,” said Henry Tran, translating the best in the city. And on one level perhaps quintessential eatery may well be a joint started Nguyen’s Vietnamese in a November 2017 oral Charlotteans have fought for Lang Van because they by refugees welcomed to America after fleeing war history interview that Nguyen and her two children were damned if they were going to see another and poverty in their homeland. It means there may did with Southern Foodways Alliance. institution like the Manor Theatre or Carpe Diem be hope for other refugees currently incarcerated at Nguyen was in her early 20s when she met and our borders, if only we as a country can turn to our disappear. married Tran, but the couple didn’t stay together “It’s an icon, and Dan Nguyen is an ambassador better angels. long. Tran left to find work in America, leaving “I love America,” Nguyen maintains. “Before I for the city,” says Central Piedmont Community Nguyen behind for five years. Once Tran was settled, College English instructor Amy Bagwell. When CPCC came here, I had no money, no education, nothing. I he brought her back with him to Charlotte in 1999. presents its spring literary festival Sensoria, Bagwell slept in my car for three months. Now I have a little “I came here to America,” Nguyen says. “I am so and her colleagues take the visiting writers to bit.” lucky.”

Once again, Nguyen’s eyes grow misty.

Lang Van each year because they want the literary Good morning, Vietnam But life was hard for the 26-year-old newcomer “Everybody in the world I love. I wish them well.

With her newfound influx of funds, Nguyen has luminaries to experience the finest restaurant to the U.S. Nguyen and her husband stayed with paid her bills, but she’s also paying it forward. She’s Charlotte has to offer, Bagwell maintains. Amy No more sickness. No more troubles. We’ll be okay.” friends and acquaintances from Vietnam, at one recently given each member of her staff $1,000. Bloom, Tracy K. Smith, Ben Marcus, Chris Abani, PMORAN@QCNERVE.COM point living out of their car for three months. Then On the day Queen City Nerve visits the restaurant, one day, with only five dollars in her pocket, Nguyen three employees cheerfully display envelopes filled with $500 each that Nguyen had given them that day.

Nguyen is relieved just to pay rent.

“I usually keep this to myself, but today I tell you,” she confides. Through April and May, the restaurant was able to pay it’s $4,700 per month rent in full, but in June, Nguyen QR THE LANG VAN DINING ROOM SITS CLOSED FOR NOW. fell short.

Luckily, PHOTO BY JAYME JOHNSON she has a great relationship with her landlord which she’s been AFFORDABLE ONLINE SYSTEM FOR RESTAURANTS stepped through Lang Van’s door into the bamboo developing since No Duong owned the spot.

Stop paying commission to Postmates or Uber Eats for festooned foyer.

So when she called to say she was short for take-out orders and take back your customer.

“She saw that the place [and] the customers June, the landlord told her anything she could pay were really friendly,” said Alice Tran translating her was fine, Nguyen recalls. She paid $3,300 and will Turn your restaurant menu into an order system. mother’s words in the 2017 interview. “She wanted deliver the remaining balance shortly.

Fast, Simple & Smart. to help the customers and make them happier. So As for the rest of the money, it has finally given that’s why she applied for the job.”

Nguyen a chance to take a little time off. She usually Scan top-right QR code and try for free !

Lang Van’s owner No Duong took Nguyen under her wing. After working in Charlotte’s Asian restaurants since the early 1980s, Duong’s family opened their own restaurant in 1990. They named it Lang Van (Land of the Tattooed Men) after a mythshrouded third century BCE kingdom that is believed to be the forerunner of Vietnam. No Duong’s brother, Cuong Duong, subsequently opened another Vietnamese restaurant, Ben Thanh, named for an open-air market in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) that has been in operation since the 19th century.

At Lang Van, Nguyen worked diligently, learned the ropes and rose steadily through the ranks. By 2004, she was part owner of the restaurant. In 2009, when No Duong moved to California to be with family, Nguyen took full ownership of Lang Van. “One of the owners couldn’t work here anymore, but they loved the customers” Alice said in 2017, translating her mother’s words. “They made my mom promise to make the customers happy. Mom promised, so now she’s working [hard] to honor her words.”

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LIFESTYLE PUZZLES

LIFESTYLE PUZZLES SUDOKU

BY LINDA THISTLE

PLACE A NUMBER IN THE EMPTY BOXES IN SUCH A WAY THAT EACH ROW ACROSS, EACH COLUMN DOWN AND EACH SMALL 9-BOX SQUARE CONTAINS ALL OF THE NUMBERS ONE TO NINE. ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

TRIVIA TEST

BY FIFI RODRIGUEZ

1. GEOGRAPHY: What was the former name of the Hawaiian Islands?

2. MOVIES: Which Elvis Presley movie features the theme song “Can’t Help Falling in Love”?

3. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: What color is fuchsia?

4. TELEVISION: What was the real name of the Skipper’s character on “Gilligan’s Island”?

5. GEOLOGY: What kind of rock is sandstone?

6. FOOD & DRINK: Which country has a wine-producing region called the Rapel Valley?

7. MEDICAL: What kind of insect can transmit diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever?

8. MEASUREMENTS: How many standard bottles are contained in a magnum of champagne?

9. LITERARY: Who was the first official poet laureate of England?

10. HISTORY: Which treaty ended the American Revolution?

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Bus or train schedule 10 Marveled vocally 15 Cowboy rope 20 Like political cartoons 21 Lilting song syllables 22 Sigmoid curves 23 Start of a riddle 25 Michigan city 26 Scotland’s -- Ness 27 Address on the net 28 Opening part of an email 29 Munched on 30 Riddle, part 2 38 Melodious passage 39 Wipe out 40 Riddle, part 3 50 Guevara called “Che” 51 Tillage tool 52 Cut short 53 In -- (lined up) 54 French lady friend 55 Treating unkindly 58 Big like Santa 59 Sitting spot on Santa 60 Riddle, part 4 66 How-to book 67 Unspecified travel destination 68 Riddle, part 5 74 Install, as tile 77 “-- Doone” (1869 novel) 78 Defiant types 79 Pill bottle info 80 Campus VIP 81 Feel unwell 84 Egypt, before 1971: Abbr.

85 Clings

88 Riddle, part 6 93 10th-century Holy Roman emperor 94 Gremlins’ kin 95 End of the riddle 102 Letter before sigma 105 One ruining something 106 Porto Rico, par exemple 107 Buy stuff 108 Figure skater Slutskaya 109 Riddle’s answer 117 Material for jeans 118 Pig 119 Talked into 120 “Alive” actor Vincent 121 Certain eel 122 Big names in daytime dramas DOWN 1 Elon Musk’s car company 2 -- box (TV) 3 Chop finely 4 Write deeply 5 Bodily digit 6 Onassis’ nickname 7 Drill addition 8 Chou En- -9 Ernie of golf 10 Cheri of comedy 11 Brand of toothbrushes 12 Bit of a laugh 13 Pipe bend 14 Night’s counterpart 15 Match official 16 Mullah’s faith 17 Off the direct course 18 Core belief 19 Houston baseballer

24 Letters before xis 28 Sprayed, with “down” 30 Spring flower 31 Coin maker 32 Jumping stick 33 Sch. in Columbus 34 “... or -- thought!”

35 Ang of film 36 Art Deco illustrator 37 Young deer 38 To -- (perfectly) 40 Good buy 41 “-- la Douce” 42 Cut short 43 Rug type 44 Daughter in “Haegar the Horrible” 45 Software testing phase 46 Mogul 47 Mined metals 48 Part of ENT 49 Jug type 55 Sound of an air kiss 56 Caught fish with pots 57 Comparable (with) 58 -- -Free (contact lens solution) 60 Mama’s ma 61 Yoko of art and music 62 Beaten track 63 Foldout beds 64 Suffix with meteor 65 L-P link 66 Miracle food 68 Alan of “The Aviator” 69 Caroling tune 70 Be a lure to 71 Castro of Cuba

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PG.18 PUZZLE ANSWERS

THE OLSO CHORDS ©2020 King Feautres Syndicate, Inc. All rights reserved.

72 Bundle up 73 In this spot 74 Petty of films 75 On the ocean 76 Rural assent to a lady 79 Meanings in dicts.

81 Moving around 82 “Suffice -- say ...”

83 Boxer Spinks 85 Oodles 86 Salami shop 87 Sword part 89 Spanish for “I love you” 90 Untruth 91 Siouan tribe 92 Aetna rival, for short 95 Lumps of chewing tobacco 96 Certain intl. delegate 97 Minneapolis neighbor 98 -- -law (non-blood relative) 99 Ross or Rigg 100 Bowling lane 101 -- canto 102 1970s sitcom 103 “Iliad” writer 104 Newspaper think pieces 107 ESPN no.

109 Suffix with hero 110 Four halves 111 Title for Elton John 112 Auto navig. aid 113 Rock’s -- Speedwagon 114 Lyricist Gershwin 115 Supposed psychic gift 116 Gloomy --

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

AERIN IT OUT IN THE HEAT OF THE NIGHT The New South ain’t so new

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BY AERIN SPRUILL

As a lover of all things nightlife, I’ve relished the opportunity to document my late-night experiences and adventures throughout the Queen City in this column.

Lately, however, I’ve struggled to find the words to express how I’ve felt about anything amidst the chaos that has been not one but two pandemics: COVID-19 and systemic racism.

In the aftermath of the murder of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, Charlotte nightlife began to heat up, but it wasn’t due to entering Phase 2 of reopening. Instead of listening to the sounds of music pouring into the street from The Local, the cries for justice filled the streets of Uptown once again.

Have you ever woken up from a nightmare and it was so familiar that you’re positive you’ve had the same dream many times before? That’s how I’ve felt from the first night of protests on. Each news clip, each headline, each video of a #Karen losing her shit in public, and each uncontrollable emotion a blatant reminder of a nightmare that’s been had time and time again.

Nightlife conversations in the corners of rooftops, restaurant patios and living rooms look and sound different than they did a few weeks ago. What already felt like stolen, selfish moments spent imbibing despite warnings from public health officials have been further complicated by the inexplicable need to purge emotions with everyone only to be met with: “I don’t understand the looting.”

“Do you think I’m racist?”

“I don’t see color.”

“It’s awful that he died that way but…”

“The only way to move past racism is to stop talking about it.”

*Screams into pillow* To each of these I respond with some version of, “Please explain how the actions of a few and an eight-minute video of a man dying at the hands of someone who’s supposed to serve and protect compare. Why would you think I think you’re racist? Do you think you’re racist? Everyone sees color, admitting it, however, may distort your utopian view of the

AERIN SPRUILL world. There are no buts. Oh, and racism is alive and well.

Systemic and institutional racism is embedded as a ‘normal practice’ within society or an organization, e.g. the criminal justice system, in other words, it’s designed to pull the wool over your eyes.”

The uncomfortable truth and the reason why we’re having this conversation again and again — as if we’re stuck in a B-list cast in a time-loop movie that never stops

making sequels — is that we are still far from the change that we thought we’d achieved. Case in point: Ink N Ivy. Just when we thought everyone had forgotten the “roach health score scare,” the local nightlife destination found themselves at the center of racial controversy when an employee was overheard using racial slurs. Was I surprised? Not one bit.

While Charlotte for me (a black woman) has been somewhat of an escape from the reality that was my experience and often the foundation of my racial trauma growing up in the small, rural North Carolina town of Trinity, I’ve never turned a blind eye to the unequal and unfair treatment of persons of color in the “optically progressive” city I now call home.

From the enforcement of “strict dress codes” created at their core to target and discriminate against people of color to the blatant use of racial or homophobic slurs by staff members at bars and nightclubs, the Charlotte nightlife scene is no stranger to the institution or perpetuation of racism.

And what’s even worse? Many of these coveted local establishments have still made the decision to remain silent and “just stay out of it” to avoid public backlash.

Privilege is walking into any bar in this city and not feeling the weight of hundreds of eyes staring at you from the moment you walk through the door. Privilege is knowing that you will not be turned away by a staff member because of the way you look or because of what you have on. Privilege is believing that if you are harassed by a patron, staff members won’t stand idly by without intervening. Privilege is knowing that anywhere you choose to go, you won’t feel unwelcome or like you don’t belong there.

“Did you notice I was the only black person at that bar?” I asked a friend once. They looked back at me with a look as if their whole world had fallen apart. You know the look.

The one where someone’s eyes are so swollen and sunken in and their skin turns pale? That look. And they responded with regret and embarrassment, “I hadn’t even thought about it.” The silence that followed was resounding.

Have you ever even thought about it? I’ll wait.

INFO@QCNERVE.COM

By Lucie Winborne • Artist Salvador Dali believed he was the reincarnation of his dead brother, also named Salvador, who died almost 9 months to the day before Dali was born.

• Forget flowers and candy — in Fiji, a tradition known as “tabuas” is the practice of giving a woman a tooth from a sperm whale as the ultimate token of love and commitment.

• Inventor Nikola Tesla was a genius, but he was also dirt-poor. When faced with an overdue hotel bill, he responded by giving the employees a “death beam” in a box. He told employees not to open the box due to the danger, so it was forgotten about. When it was eventually rediscovered and opened, it was found to contain only old, harmless electrical parts.

• On average, a person accidentally eats about 430 bugs in each year of his or her life.

• In order to take the slick factory sheen off and allow pitchers to get a better grip, Major League Baseball wipes down each baseball with mud from an undisclosed location on the Delaware River.

• Denise Mueller-Korenek clocked the fastest speed ever by a cyclist in 2018, setting a new world record of 183.932 mph.

• Are you afflicted with nomophobia? That’s the term for a fear of being without mobile phone coverage. Surveys have indicated that more than half of U.K. residents suffer from it.

This phobia is triggered by the fear of losing signal, running out of battery or even losing sight of a mobile phone.

• Queen lead singer Freddy Mercury had a degree in graphic design and came up with the logo for his band himself. It consisted of the zodiac symbols for the four band members.

• Mercury also liked to call his cats while he was on tour — “to chat.”

• Only 0.006% of the Korean population have the ABCC11 gene, which is the cause of armpit odor. As a result, deodorant is rarely sold in Korea. *** Thought for the Day: “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” — Marcus Tullius Cicero © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

LIFESTYLE

HOROSCOPE JULY 1 - JULY 7

JULY 8 - JULY 14

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Making things more LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Good news! ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Although you don’t LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Worry over

complicated than they need to be can be a problem After dealing pretty much in the dark with a matter like to change plans once they’re set, once again, you a loved one’s well-being is eased with good news for the typically orderly Lamb. Try to look for a less that seemed to be taking forever to resolve, you might find that doing so can make a big difference in from a sympathetic source. Your continued show of intricate way to accomplish the same goals. should soon be seeing the light at the end of the your favor. Family matters dominate the weekend. love and support is important. Stay with it. tunnel.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Avoiding personal TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You continue to get involvement in a troubling situation might be SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A positive encouragement for your proposals, including some advisable at this time, especially since you probably message should help lift that energy-draining sense support from unlikely sources. Use this positive flow don’t have all the facts. The weekend brings a of anxiety, and you should soon be able to deal to move forward with your plans. Good luck. with even the peskiest matter, whether at work or surprise. personal.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Family matters are GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A problem with a dominant this week. It’s a good time to be with colleague you thought had been resolved could SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) those you love. It’s also a good time to contact loved recur. However, this time you’ll be able to rely on Try to control that heated Sagittarian temperament ones with whom you’ve lost touch. your record to get a quick resolution in your favor. while dealing with what you believe to be an unfair Good luck. matter. A cool approach is the best way to handle CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Be careful not to things. allow differences of opinion to create unpleasant CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Giving your self-

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feelings, especially in the workplace. A neutral esteem a boost could be a good idea for the CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) observer could check out the situation and suggest Moon Child, who might feel a bit daunted by the Nursing hurt feelings could keep you from learning a resolution. week’s occurrences. Just focus on all your positive what went wrong. Ask your partner, a family member or a trusted friend to help you reassess your LEO (July 23 to August 22) While the Lion’s Den accomplishments. actions in the matter. is the center of attention this week, with family LEO (July 23 to August 22) The “mane” attraction matters dominating much of your time, workplace for the Lovable Lion this week is -- what else? -- AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Nature issues are also important. Try to find a balance love. New relationships move to new levels, while is dominant this week. Try to spend time outdoors between them. long-standing partnerships are strengthened. with someone special. An act of kindness in the past might be recalled by a person you believed was out VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The future VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A recent of your life. of a new relationship could depend on how much workplace problem will prove to be one of the usually impatient-to-get-things-done Virgo miscommunication, and once the matter is settled, PISCES (February 19 to March 20) An upcoming is willing to stop pushing and let things happen you should have a better chance of getting your career decision could be based on how well you naturally. proposals approved. might be able to apply your artistic talents. Be sure to use the finest samples of your work to make a strong impression.

BORN THIS WEEK:

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time to consider mending fences with someone you wish was back in your life. Forget about blame, and focus on the good things you once shared.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21)

This is a good week to start researching information regarding whatever changes you’re considering, whether it involves a new home, a new location or a new job.

CAPRICORN

(December 22 to January 19) A long-anticipated job opportunity could turn out to be less than you expected. But appearances might be deceiving. Check it out before you decide it’s not for you.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Good news: Adapting to a new situation might come more easily than you expected. You can look for continued support from colleagues who appreciate your contributions.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Someone you

care for might need more reassurance from the typically “unemotional” Pisces. Go ahead. Open up, and you might be surprised at what you find when you do.

BORN THIS WEEK: You are a romantic at heart,

Doing good things for others comes easily to you. You are considered a good friend, even by those you might hardly know.

although you can be amazingly practical when you need to be.

2020 KING FEATURES SYND., INC.

LIFESTYLE COLUMN

PG.19 PUZZLE ANSWERS

SAVAGE LOVE

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KINKED GAYS

gave you was insincere) — it’s better to find that out 12 short months into this relationship than to find it out Put your cards on the table 10 years, a mortgage, one kid, and two dogs into this relationship.

And what you describe about the void you feel is

BY DAN SAVAGE understandable to anyone with kinks, GAYSUB, and even I have a question. I’m a gay man in a relation- vanilla people can understand if they think about it for even a moment. (That vanilla stuff you enjoy, vanilla ship and we’re both really happy since we met a people? Imagine never being able to do any of it. See?) year ago.

Your kinks are an intrinsic aspect of your sexuality We’re “open” in the sense that he wants the and repressing them — not having any way to explore option to be intimate with someone else if a or express them — does take an emotional toll. It can connection happens and in turn he said he would also breed resentment if your partner is the reason you be supportive of me being involved in my kinks. can’t explore or express them, which means if your But I haven’t done anything yet out of fear. I’m boyfriend wants you to be happy and wants you to be not afraid of my kinks. a good boyfriend to him, then you need to have the I’m worried that if I ask to go do something freedom to be who you are.

For some kinky people porn kinky it will ruin our relationship. I don’t think he is enough of an outlet, GAYSUB, but most kinky people was bluffing when he said it was okay for me to want actual experiences. explore my kinks with other guys but it worries Often a vanilla partner is willing and able to meet me. I tend to repress the kink part of my sexuality a kinky partner’s needs and that’s great. But sometimes and I’m worried that him knowing I want to act on a vanilla partner can’t do it or is incapable of faking it or it will cause issues. does it poorly on purpose so they won’t be asked to do My boyfriend and I are so balanced but in the it again.

And for some kinksters the awareness you’re kink aspects of my life I’m a submissive and need being indulged makes it impossible for you to get into to engage in power exchange with someone. I the right subby headspace.

If either is the case, you’ll miss being able to express these things and it have to outsource these desires to fill that void. feels like there’s a void in my life.

If your boyfriend gives you the okay and has a little That might sound silly, but it’s true. I think breakdown after you get home — if it dredges up some repressing them is actually taking a toll on my unexpected feelings (and you should expect that it will mental health. Any advice? dredge up some unexpected feelings) — and needs GUY’S ABANDONED YEARNINGS SUBTLY some reassurance, that’s fine.

UNDERMINING BOND Answer any questions he has and let him know you’re not going anywhere; indeed, the fact that you If your boyfriend is bluffing, GAYSUB, you wanna don’t have to choose between him and your kinks makes know that sooner rather than later. you far less likely to end this relationship. (Sometimes Your still-relatively-new-ish boyfriend gave you people who weren’t even in the dungeon during the permission to act on your kinks at the same time he scene need a little aftercare too.) asked your permission to fuck someone else.

But if you’re careful not to neglect your boyfriend You gave him your okay and I assume you meant sexually or emotionally and your kinky dates are just an it, GAYSUB; you meant it when you told him he could, occasional thing and your boyfriend keeps having great, if and when “a connection happens,” go ahead and fuck big, dramatic meltdowns, GAYSUB, then that’s a bad the dude. sign. If he punishes you with drama every time he gives Seeing as he took your “yes” for an answer where you his okay to play with someone else then he’s hoping his “connections” are concerned, GAYSUB, I think you you’ll decide to stop seeking these experiences out should take his “yes” for an answer where your kinks are because the emotional price is too great. concerned. So go find some hot Dom you wanna submit You won’t be able to remain in this relationship to and let your boyfriend know you’re gonna get your if that’s what winds up happening, GAYSUB, so you’re kink on. going to wanna act on your kinks at least a half a dozen If it turns out your boyfriend was lying to you — if times before you get a dog or a mortgage. he’s one of those people who wants to be free to play with others (which is why he got your okay) but doesn’t want his partner playing with others (and the okay he

TRIVIA ANSWERS: 1. The Sandwich Islands 2. “Blue Hawaii” 3. Purplish red

4. Jonas Grumby 5. Sedimentary 6. Chile 7. Houseflies

My new boyfriend just opened up to me about his kinks. Nothing crazy: just bondage and humiliation. While he usually meets and dates guys off kinky dating sites we met “the old-fashioned way” a few months before COVID-19 slammed us here in Chicago: at a potluck dinner party thrown by a mutual straight lady friend.

Your name came up during the conversation about his interests: he told me he was taking your advice and “laying his kink cards on the table” before I had made too much of an emotional commitment.

What’s interesting to me, Dan, is how often this happens. My boyfriend is easily the fourth guy I’ve dated in the last few years who laid down the exact same kink cards: wants to be tied up, wants to be called names, wants to be hurt. I’m learning to tie knots and getting better at calling him names when we have sex and I actually really enjoying spanking him.

But I was talking with a friend — our straight lady mutual (with the boyfriend’s okay!) — and she told me she’s never had a straight guy open up to her about wanting to be tied up abused. Are gay guys just kinkier?

TALKING OVER PERVERSIONS

8. Two 9. John Dryden 10. The Treaty of Paris

what we’re feeling, if we give ourselves away with a stray look — the odds of that boy reacting badly or even violently are high. Even if you think the boy might not react violently, even if you suspect the boy you’re crushing on might be gay himself, the stakes are too high to risk making any sort of move.

So we stew with feelings of lust and fear.

Sexual desire can make anyone feel fearful and powerless — we’re literally powerless to control these feelings (while we can and must control how we act on these feelings) — but desire and fear are stirred together for us gay boys to much greater degree than they are for straight boys.

We fear being found out, we fear being called names, we fear being outed, we fear being physically hurt. And the person we fear most is the person we have a crush on.

A significant number of gay guys wind up imprinting on that heady and very confusing mix of desire and fear. The erotic imaginations of guys like your boyfriend seize on those fears and eroticize them. And then, in adulthood, your boyfriend want to re-experience those feelings, that heady mix of desire and fear, with a loving partner he trusts.

The gay boy who feared being hurt by the person he was attracted to becomes the gay man who wants to be hurt — in a limited, controlled, consensual and safe way — by the man he’s with.

I have a theory…

When we’re boys … before we’re ready to come out On the Savage Lovecast: would you choose to live in ... … we’re suddenly attracted to other boys. And that’s Kansas?; www.savagelovecast.com; mail@savagelove.net; something we usually feel pretty panicked about. It Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage. would be nice if that first same-sex crush was something a boy could experience without feelings of dread or INFO@QCNERVE.COM terror, TOP, but that’s not how it works for most of us.

We’re keenly aware that should the object of our desire realize it — if the boy we’re attracted realizes

EXPRESS YOUR CREATIVITY Purchase the Charlotte-centric coloring book in support of local art and journalism!

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The Charlotte Coloring Book is available at: bit.ly/cltcoloringbook

Photo by Joshua Galloway