PanGea Nommo Summer 2020
About this Issue
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FollowMe
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Black People Don’t Camp
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Why Small Businesses Deserve to Fight Climate Change
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The 4 Year Revolutionary
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This is Your Land
The Earth We Walk On
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Cover Photo by Agitate Photography Layout & Design by Rafi Saqer
From the Ground Up
Acknowledgements
CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS ISSUE “The beauty of collective action lies within our individual ability to enact change.”
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s climate change, coronavirus, and political unrest root themselves in American society, the necessity for reflection and connection becomes increasingly more important. Nommo’s Summer 2020 Digital Print Magazine, entitled “PANGEA,” is an ode to the efforts to avoid isolation, challenge oppression, and ground us in our endeavors. “PANGEA” encapsulates the strides and struggles for global unity with focuses on climate change, small businesses, spirituality and activism. In its origin, Pangea describes the supercontinent of the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. In this issue, it symbolizes Black people’s deep roots on the planet through years of devotion to environmental prosperity, social justice, and personal growth. As Summer 2020 nears a close, we reflect on the events that both unified and divided us this year. As the coronavirus pandemic impacted millions of global citizens, we shared the grief and loss of family and friends. The murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery sent the world into uproar, inciting global outrage in the form of riots, protests, and mutual aid efforts. While the Black Lives Ma"er movement has garnered much notice since its inception, grassroots activism and mutual aid serve as local catalysts for change. Today’s efforts are the result of years of neglect, brutality, injustice, and inequity faced in Black and low-income communities, illuminated by the disproportionate impact of the coronavirus in these areas. The
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impacts of climate change are becoming increasingly more dangerous, evident in the blazing California wildfires, southern hurricanes and tropical storms, worsening air and water quality, and rising sea levels across the world. When we feel the burdens of oppression and corruption, it is a shared hurt. The beauty of collective action lies within our individual ability to enact change. Through art, education, access, conversation, charity, spirituality or advocacy, we serve as catalysts for the change we want to see and a future that is fair. Nommo is dedicated to using our voice to serve the need of a growing, global community through the power of our words. We encourage our audience to consume this magazine for the purpose of togetherness, intention and transparency. This collection of stories provides a window into our work, and we enjoyed every (prolonged) second of its composition. Although it is long awaited, we are proud to present “PANGEA”, Nommo Summer 2020. Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to a year of change and progress. Much love, Leilani Fu’Qua Nommo Editor-in-Chief 2020-2021
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR
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As I reflect on my two years as Editor-in-Chief, I am immensely grateful and proud. We were able to revive the magazine just in time for the 50th anniversary, and publish several pieces. Although we failed many times, we succeeded many more, and I will always remember this experience as a healthy component of my time at UCLA. It was important to me that the magazine was not abandoned when I graduated, as it had been before I became editor, and that goal is now accomplished. Leilani, you are intelligent and enthusiastic, and I am proud that you will be continuing the Nommo legacy as Editor-inChief. There are some lessons I learned that I felt were important to share about community, censorship, and trial and error. Firstly, I learned to appreciate failure. When I became the EIC, the magazine had been inactive for about two years, and we hadn’t printed in at least three. The job of becoming the editor was a tough task that no one wanted to take on. I remember working under Mia Brumfield my freshman year, and she would do everything for the magazine from writing articles to designing the print edition. When my turn came, I had to teach myself Adobe InDesign to publish the first issue. If it wasn’t for some failures along the way, we wouldn’t have a beautifully cra!ed magazine such as the one you are reading. Even if you have to do everything yourself, and fail spectacularly, as long as you don’t give up you’re on the right track. Nommo is a political magazine and reflects the community at UCLA which is traditionally liberal and le!ist, but I want to encourage future generations to include diversity of thought in our politics. I am here to encourage Blackness not as a monolith, but as an array of experiences with parallel colors that come together in one (similar to that of the actual color tone of black). As a journalist, and a curious one at that, I 1
am confident that intellectual diversity and boldness is what will propel the Black community forward in society. My final and greatest take-away is the importance of Black people supporting each other. As we are living through a global and racial pandemic, it is ever evident the power of Black unity. We see that when Black people stand united on one front, that the world watches and major change occurs. I want us to build upon our momentum, so I am calling on the individuals of the Black community to support each other more than ever. Most importantly, take care of your own mental, physical, and spiritual health. Prepare for the future, especially as college students. As we are currently fighting two pandemics, we will not have the strength we need to fight if we do not support ourselves. Remember that your life and your joy, as a Black person in America, is a protest within itself. So protect your entity. One can not give what they do not have, so be sure to support yourself in the best way you can. As always, thank you to Doria, Jose, the Bruin Life and Daily Bruin staffers, and the Nommo News Magazine team. I love and respect my colleagues, critics, my friends and family, and my professors. Thank you all for your input on the magazine throughout my years, and without you I would not have grown into the person I am today. And finally, to all the future Nommo Editors in Chief: Best of luck, and never underestimate the Power of the Word. Best Regards, Mahala Herron Editor-in-Chief 2018-2020 Aug 23, 2020
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FOLLOW ME By, Naomi Humphrey Follow Me On this walk to school Past the corner store Well actually two corner stores, or mini-marts, or bodegas, whatever you like to call them We don’t have a supermarkets around here I am not sure why Take the 55 to get to the closest one Follow Me Past the park It is the nicest in the neighborhood The bathrooms don’t work, the water fountains need fixin’ , and but it’s the nicest park in the neighborhood The swing set and play equipment has been broken for as long as I have lived here but it’s the nicest park in the neighborhood Wave at your friends, well my friends, who have decided that school is no longer necessary The life they are choosing to live; to guard this park as if they own it
Well they believe they own it, I guess that counts I am not sure why Wave at them, pray for them You envy them I am not sure why Follow Me Past the park We are almost there The nicest park in the neighborhood sits side by side next to a meating packing factory It’s hard to ignore the stench, the fumes, the way it fills inside your lungs The way its swirls and constricts around your throat and rushes to your head But you have go!en use to it, we think Walk down The Block Our school, my school is in sight Follow Me Cross the Street We are here We have arrived
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WHY WHY SMALL SMALL BUSINESSES BUSINESSES DESERVE DESERVE TO TO FIGHT FIGHT CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE CHANGE By, Mahala Herron
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t is not every day that you meet someone who denies climate change. At least, I have only seen such people on TV or in the news. However, last fall, I met a nonbeliever in the flesh. Randy Thomas was my Uber driver: a black, wi!y, principled, and hardworking guy from Los Angeles. It only took one rider in our shared Uberpool to make a snarky comment about climate change for Thomas to unload his feelings on the subject. What followed was a conversation about his life, his career, and why he does not believe in climate change, all in 45-minutes in Los Angeles traffic. His story elucidates the integral relationship of the pre- and post-effects of climate change on small businesses. Political talk with your Uber driver has the potential to be awkward, but, as a journalist, I found it to be intriguing. During the ride, I gained further knowledge of how President Trump’s personal cli-
mate denial opened a window for climate deniers all over the world to speak their truth. Thomas believes that “there’s not enough evidence” to prove climate change exists. Thomas also admires Trump’s business savvy, prompting his support. Further, Trump campaigned in favor of small businesses, which Thomas had. From further research, I also began to consider the effects of climate change and how it will affect the longevity of small businesses. I wondered, how can one simultaneously be prosmall business and anti-climate change? Small businesses will be greatly affected by the impacts of climate change, specifically natural disasters and sea level rise. According to small business majority.org, “57% of small businesses have no disaster recovery plans in place.” This means that in the case of a natural disaster or extreme weather conditions, 57% of small businesses are ill-prepared to practice resilien-
cy. Professor Alan Barreca, Associate Professor and Center for Diverse Leadership in Science Faculty Fellow, is at the Institute of Environment and Sustainability at UCLA. On the subject of small businesses and climate change, he feels that, “small businesses are vital parts of cities and neighborhoods, and so I think that the cities should be helping ensure that those businesses can smooth out natural disasters because it’s actually in the cities best interest. So there’s a justice angle to it, which I believe cities should be helping businesses recover when they experience an unusual of negative shock: environmental catastrophe. But there’s also an argument to be made that we want continuity, we want cohesion in neighborhoods, we want to come back a!er natural disasters to maintain the culture and feeling of neighborhoods that everybody values, so it’s about maintaining value.”
Small business owner Thomas was an over-theroad trucker from Los Angeles, and, at the age of 21, he started his own trucking company. Prior, he managed to avoid a Los Angeles gang lifestyle by choosing to stay in school, becoming heavily involved in the community, and working as a police cadet for two years. Thomas had a two-parent home, was involved in church, and was living a productive life when one day he saw the opportunity to buy a tractor-unit for a semi-truck. Thomas looked at the opportunity as a once-in-a-lifetime chance that was available in the United States: he could be in control of his own business. So at a young age he “bought a truck, worked at a freight company and made money, wasn’t married, and never went to jail.” Thomas took pride in being a small business owner, and rightfully so. As we know, young people are not always privy to the best decision-making. I was in awe at his matu-
rity, not only avoiding an unfortunate lifestyle but wanting to take his career into his own hands. Just like many small business owners, he spent all that he had investing in his dreams: “I bought a medium size truck that I could afford. The truck cost $8,200. All in all, I had less than $9,000 tied up with the truck and all the tie downs and this is in 97’ I was grossing right at $65-70,000 a year. These avenues that we have comes from success. I’m driving all across the world, and I would meet people black and white and they would say, ‘Hey, you’re doing an alright deal here.’” While I was in awe of Thomas’ story, I was not too distracted by his youthful success to ask how his work with his tractor unit affected the environment. Thomas’ response was just this: “We don’t know. The engines and the work we had was what was sold on the market. No one was measuring [carbon dioxide].” His response prompted me to explore the complex relationship between climate change initiatives and the impact on small businesses. The result of the effects of climate change on our economy, specifical-
ly small businesses will be unfortunate. “4 in 10 small businesses in FEMA-declared 2017 disaster areas lost revenue due to natural disasters.” This number will only get greater as natural disasters increase. It is no secret that big corporations have many advantages, such as being able to provide healthcare to employees, teams to focus on important tasks like marketing strategies and diversifying revenue, and more specifically, the resiliency to adapt to climate change as sea levels rise. Small business owners such as Thomas have a lot to focus on such as hiring new and qualified drivers, ensuring that each truckload arrives on time, and keeping an edge on competitors, causing things such as recent climate change initiatives and the increase of natural disasters to set him and his small business back. Thomas was truly enjoying his work when he perceived that the climate change initiatives under President Obama’s administration made him lose his career. This later fostered his support of Trump who reversed many of Obama’s climate initiatives and enabled many climate change deniers. Two of these initiatives under the Obama administration that directly affected Thomas included the establishment of ground-breaking fuel economy standards for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and implementation of a methane emission reduction strategy, which included new standards to cut emissions from existing sources in the oil and gas sector. While these initiatives make positive strides towards reducing carbon and methane emissions, small businesses such as Thomas’ were terminated due to the lack of resources to keep up with the climate initiative push. Thomas is just an example of one small business owner who was affected by progressive climate change initiatives. However, extreme weather and natural disasters due to climate change are the next big thing to set
“Extreme “Extremeweather weatherand and natural naturaldisasters disastersdue dueto to climate climatechange changeare arethe the next nextbig bigthing thingto toset setback back small smallbusinesses.” businesses
“From “From Florida, Florida, to to Texas, Texas, to to Los Los Angeles Angeles and and Oregon, Oregon, small small business business owners owners are are greatly greatly affected affected by by climate climate change.”” change. back small businesses such as Thomas’. In 2017, Rhonda Abrams of USA Today, followed small business victims of Hurricane Urma and Harvey and expressed great concern not only about natural disasters on America’s Southern borders but even North in the states, “In the Miami area, consumer spending spiked just before Irma made landfall and then plummeted 57% compared to prior-year levels. During the week of August 25-31, when Harvey made landfall in Texas, retail sales in Houston dropped 59% compared to the previous week and total consumer spending fell 42.5%,” according to Womply.com. From Florida, to Texas, to Los Angeles and Oregon, small business owners are greatly affected by climate change. Hurricanes are amongst the biggest threats to small businesses, but extreme weather conditions have a huge impact as well. Rhonda Abrams of USA Today further explains, “It’s not just hurricanes. My sister and brother have lived in southern Oregon for three decades. My sister owns a small business there. Summers used to be beautiful, a"racting both tourists and locals enjoying outdoor activities under sparkling blue skies. Now, summer a#er summer, the skies are gray and filled with ash, week a#er week, from massive forest fires o#en hundreds of miles away. Outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, hiking, ra#ing, and even wine tasting are heavily curtailed. The renowned Oregon Shakespeare Festival canceled some performances due to smoke and ash.
Small businesses throughout the West suffer.” In addition, small businesses will be less able to sustain compared to larger corporations in the future as climate change increases. According to the Small Business Majority, “Small businesses are uniquely vulnerable to extreme weather events and can suffer lasting economic damage as a result of a single extreme weather event because many lack the access to capital and resources of many large corporations.” The effect of progressive climate change initiatives caused Thomas to be a climate change denier, but the post-climate effects are not as clear cut. Luckily, the effects of climate change to all remain evident. According to Simon Mainwaring, contributing
writer of Forbes Magazine, “Climate change will damage economies, devastate populations, increase resource scarcity, and dramatically impact the cost of doing business. So for both humanitarian and business reasons, it is imperative that companies of all sizes take action.” While it is true that businesses of all sizes should take action, it is also true that small businesses are not as equipped with the resources or capital to practice resilience against climate change. By disenfranchising small businesses, we disempower our communities. Benefits of small businesses include: providing employment opportunities to those who may not be considered by large corporations (minorities, felons, elderly, disabled, etc…),
Thomas and many other small business owners are affected by progressive climate change initiatives and the consequences of climate change. Small businesses employ local workers and contribute to the local government through taxes, therefore funding things like schools, fire stations and roads. Barreca has an optimistic view on the effect of climate change on small businesses and small business owners like Randy, “Most businesses will be impacted to some degree negatively by taxes. So you increase the price of goods and services, there’s going to be reductions in their profits which could potentially push some businesses away. That’s not good for those particular owners, it may be good in a sense for the people
“Small “Small businesses businesses deserve deserveto to participate participate in in pre pre and and post post climate climate change change initiatives.” initiatives.” local circulation of money, the establishment of interpersonal relationships within the community, and more. Small businesses are a largely overlooked asset to our communities and should not be disadvantaged due to climate change progression, sea level rise, or extreme weather events. Bryon Kennard, the Executive Director of The Center for Small Business and the Environment, feels that small businesses contribute to the small population of eco-entrepreneurs in the economy, but instead of creating studies that measure how climate change legislation specifically affects U.S. small businesses, he says, “small business is always ignored.” (h"p://www.worldwatch. org/node/6153) Small businesses can be supported with the resources and funds to measure their carbon footprint, giving them the ability to set emission reduction goals for themselves, and the resources to relocate, re-brand, and re-start all in a cost-effective manner. While this may seem like an ambitious goal, it is possible and pertinent to the rights of small businesses which deserve to compete with large corporations overall, especially in the fight against as well as the consequences of climate change.
which these businesses are polluting. I think that what it would hopefully end up doing is pushing some of those businesses for people into industries that are maybe a li"le bit cleaner. So it may be the case that you move out of being a trucker, but you move into driving a prius for uber or ly# because of the price we put on carbon. So if anything I think as a society we need be encouraging that re-allocation of peoples skill-sets. While there is a justice component to the effects of climate change on small businesses, the economic component is more likely to get our government officials to act on post-climate change effects. Small businesses deserve to participate in pre and post climate change initiatives, not because they deserve it, but because they are a value to our economy. What we can do to give small businesses justice in the climate change fight is to first end the denial of climate change. Sea level rise is very real, and natural disasters are worsening. Concealing the issue with political propaganda only delays the actions we need to take to secure small businesses. We can also measure and reduce our own carbon footprint, being conscious of how we individually aid in the contri-
bution to human-caused global warming. Finally, we should urge our government to take action and equip small businesses with the resources to not only lessen their carbon footprint but relocate and rehabilitate their small businesses in the case of a natural disaster and extreme weather conditions. Small businesses and specifically small business owners such as Randy Thomas deserve to remain, as we explore and inhibit the effects of climate change. Thomas and many other small business owners are affected by progressive climate change initiatives and the consequences of global warming. Small businesses employ local workers and contribute to the local government through taxes, therefore funding things like schools, fire stations and roads. Small businesses are a valuable asset to our local communities, federal governments, and state of entrepreneurship. Climate fighters of all walks of life - small business owners, students, large corporations, politicians - should consider ways to include small businesses in this progressive and empowering stance. Small businesses will be less resilient to the environmental impact of climate change than large corporations. Large corporations have the resources to offer health care, resilience to natural disasters, and the ability to retain clients on a larger scale. Small businesses will be affected by climate change on a larger scale, especially in the areas where hurricanes and floods will hit the most. According to Wi"y Sparks, on the topic of climate change on small busi-
nesses, “4 in 10 small businesses in FEMA-declared 2017 disaster areas lost revenue due to natural disasters.” This number will only get greater as natural disasters increase. “I would say that they’re like most businesses they will be impacted to some degree negatively, by taxes. So you increase the price of goods and services, there’s going to be reductions in their profits. Which could potentially push some businesses away. That’s not good for those particular owners, It’s maybe good for the people in the sense that their businesses are polluting, but i think that it would hopefully end up doing is pushing some of those businesses for people into industries that are maybe a li"le bit cleaner. So it may be the case that you are a trucker, but you move into driving a prius for uber or ly# because of the price we put on carbon. So if anything I think as a society we should be encouraging that re-allocation of peoples skill-sets. I do think it’s in their best interest to vote for climate change policies that restrict pollution even though it ends up increasing the price of their goods. So it’s in the average person’s best interest especially if you’re a small business owner and you’re probably living in a neighborhood (if you’re not making much money) you’re living in a neighborhood where pollution is probably very high. So it’s going to come back and benefit you in more subtle, but perhaps more valuable ways. That’s not to say that we shouldn’t be there to help compensate small business owners, and
THE EARTH WE WALK ON By, Josian Zuniga
This earth we walk on is etched with the stories of our people. If you listen closely you’ll hear ancient tales of the land. You’ll discover truths about our roots that run so deep they ground us in existence. You’ll encounter vivid soundscapes of tradition, culture, and spirituality - that our ancestors once practiced - connecting our place on Earth with the infinites of the universe. If you dig below the surface, you’ll be surprised to see that this tormented earth we walk on was once coated with lush forests and pristine oceans. Before the plague of greed of money, land, and ownership, all was in harmony. There was balance.
THE EARTH
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This earth we walk on is experiencing an identity crisis. The land of the free was built on the land of the displaced. It was exploited for profit and power. The earth’s new caretaker tended to it with tender, foreign hands scarred with trauma. Hands that would write new stories into the earth so that their story would remain ingrained in the new world. My people once called this earth home. Until imagined lines pushed us into the margins. We became illegal on the earth we were so firmly planted on, and though we were stemmed, our roots remain to tell our story. Open an ear and listen. Really listen. This earth we walk on has stories to tell. Let these stories guide our plight for justice. As we fight to conserve and restore this earth, we must also preserve and retell the stories of our land.
FROM THE GROUND UP By, Leilani Fu’Qua With one of the nation’s most popular clothing and footwear stores, Urban Outfitters, selling sage sticks for only $11.00 US dollars, the accessibility to spiritual practices have spiked in younger demographics, especially in Black adolescents in an effort to recenter themselves on Afrikan-based spiritual paths. Spirituality and nature in Black communities have deep roots from the motherland, but many of the tra-
ditions were forbidden and lost during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade or diluted over the enforcement of Christianity in American slavery. With the advanced access to the spiritual practices of our ancestors and detailed historical evidence, many Black youths have distanced themselves from the limitations of major religions and began to include a connectedness to nature into their established devotions. A study from the Pew Research center shows a major percentage point change between 2009 and 2018/2019 in people in the United States who identify as “Black, non-Hispanic” and their affiliation with Christianity. Since 2009, the Christian affiliation has dropped by eleven points, and unaffiliated has grown by 7 percentage points. Nature has been the focus of media and charitable giving, specifically regarding the deteriorating state of the environment. It has also reemerged as the focus of a Black spirituality resurgence, using rituals and jewelry from Africa in combination with meditation to connect with Earth and higher powers. First-year African American Studies major Justin “STR33T” Scott said, “I use nature to ground me, re-center myself, refocus, and connect with ancestry. Nature is as important as anything else in life.” Scott practices nature spirituality in concurrence with his devotion to Islam. He has a small garden of flowers and succulents growing in his dorm room, wears bracelets and rings from Ghana, and practices meditation in solidarity with prayer further his
spiritual connection with nature and Allah. His roommate Reggie Myles, a first-year Pre-Psychology major, states that college allowed him to escape from “draining spaces” and further his spiritual journey through practices like his roommate’s. Myles said, “You have self-expression and personal freedom. College helped me discover parts of myself just by being allowed to have plants in my room, and meditating opened my eyes to [a greater] awareness.” Myles comments on his heightened interest in nature as a slight departure from Christianity, which he recognizes as a tool for the subjugation of African people during the global commerce of slavery. The “#decolonize” movement of the 21st century encourages oppressed communities to unlearn the systematic and environmental racism that colonization is founded on; the beginning of that path to physical and mental liberation starts at reconnecting to roots and reclaiming the practices that were stolen from marginalized groups. Myles says, “People of color, especially Black people, come from deep roots and now we have every tool to regain what colonization stripped from us.” “African Americans under the age of 30 are three times as likely to eschew a religious affiliation as African Americans over 50,” The Atlantic reported. They attribute this change to the change in the center of revolutionary movements. Rather than centering the Black church in the revolution, it is centered on challenging sexism, homophobia, white supremacy and misogyny, including Black church institutions in the line of fire. With the technological advancements of this generation, this liberation is achieved expeditiously. “Growing up in an open-minded time, people have the power to construct their own narratives, learn about the practices of their ancestors, get information, and it’s also becoming a trend to be in touch with your spirituality and gain a new understanding and connectedness that
was once demonized,” Scott said. Ease and popularity have become significant in personal connectedness with nature. Spirituality and nature extend beyond incense burning, indigenous jewelry, and meditation. “I believe being spiritual is showing compassion, love, and being the energy that people need to see in themselves by giving them genuine affirmations and showing love: everything you say to others reflects on you,” Myles says. By perpetuating positivity, kindness, and expanding your mindset, we can be analytical of the beauty in the world around us. Myles says, “A change of thinking is an act of self-love, understanding, and discovery.” Any effort towards discovery is a step in the right direction; buying succulents at Trader Joe’s, spending the afternoon under the sun in the Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden, and meditating on a vacant balcony overlooking the hills of Westwood are small and simple steps to take in the search for personal authenticity. Whether you’re looking to become more in touch with your roots and nature, spread love for the planet, or explore different modes of spiritual thinking, start from the ground up.
BLACK PEOPLE DON’T CAMP By, Naomi Humphrey Research has shown us that there are immeasurable benefits to wilderness outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, mountain climbing, etc.. These various activities reduce stress, promote physical fitness and thus increasing your propensity for a happier and healthier lifestyle. You learn new skills, have a chance to create a closer bond with family or friends if you choose to participate with them or you can gain an essential “you time” that will boost your confidence and mental health. While this all sounds fun and good, who is really out there receiving these benefits? When you search up hiking, camping, or really any outdoor activity on google images who do you see in
the first 50 pictures? 100 pictures? Not Black people…. that’s who. Well, unless you search up “Black family camping” and then for the first thirty images you get pictures of the same 3 Black families camping and after that is just a pile of miscellaneous camping pictures. Off the top of my head I can think of many stereotypes based around what Black people don’t do. While thinking of them really upset me, the most pressing issue that I have recently been invested in is that Black people don’t camp. According to the National Park Services, only 1 in 5 National Park attendees are non-white. Out of curiosity, I decided to simply look up the phrase “Black peo-
BLACK PEOPLE
DON’T CAMP
ple don’t camp” into my web browser, just to see what popped up. This search brought me through a tunnel of articles, documentaries, and research, all highlighting the magnitude and gravity of this situation and stereotype. I came to two conclusions while sifting through google’s mountain of information. One is that while stereotypes are bad, they often exist because there is a general pattern, characteristic, or occurrence that happens within a group of people (race, class, gender, etc...). Secondly, these stereotypes exist usually because of historical events and practices that are tied to the oppressive systemic institutions we have and continue to uphold in this country. So while “Black people don’t camp” is a generalization, because obviously there are Black people who do, there are piles of data and statis-
tics that point to the fact that we… kinda don’t. Every. Single. Source. I read from mentioned how historically Black people have been strategically placed in inner cities away from greenspaces through housing and economic laws and policies. Residents in these densely packed inner cities are not only park poor and surrounded by asphalt but the likelihood of them visiting a beach, national park, or campground isn’t very high for a number of reasons….that I probably don’t have time to get into.. But I just wanted to say its sad we associate the outdoors with whiteness. On tv shows and movies how many times do you see that Black family going out to the woods to camp? When it comes to Black people and camping the desire may or not be there.. but the access sure isn’t.
THE FOUR YEAR In his now renowned “Comment No.1” (1970), Gil Scott-Heron voices proclamations of revolution while he criticizes the white, so-called-activists of the 1960s. With his hallmark baritone voice and a foul taste in his gritty words, he condemns the “four year revolutionary with a hole card,” a reference to the pseudo-activism often times exhibited on college campuses nationwide. Fifty years later and his commentary on the lack of social awareness and inclusivity remains as relevant as when he first spoke his piece. Living within the bubble of any institutional university, you will soon begin to notice a popular trend among student-ran organizations. That is, of course, the call for sociopolitical activism.
Everywhere you look, there’s a different problem that requires your immediate attention. THE TIME IS NOW! ACT NOW! ACT QUICK! THE WORLD NEEDS YOU! For what, exactly? Curiosity reels you in. After a brief chat with some of the members about the club’s mission, you feel inspired. You’re ready to answer the call of justice. You’re ready to fight for free healthcare, labor rights, LGBTQ+ rights, environmental justice, climate change, or whatever it is that this particular organization does. You’re not entirely sure, but you’re feeding the homeless next week. You soon immerse yourself in this new venture of social revolution. Your new catchphrase becomes a half-hearted “fuck the system,” and the Bernie sticker on your Hydroflask shows the world you’re ready for systemic change. You read one article on socialism, and consider yourself a communist now. Throughout your college experience, you indulge in miscellaneous and unrelated volunteer activities, but don’t stop to think about its sustainability. You briefly wonder why there is so much literal shit in
REVOLUTIONARY REVOLUTIONARY the public streets, but don’t want to trouble yourself too much so you move on to your next project. Your four year revolution revolves around identity politics, because the media has bastardized the meaning of intersectionality. How could you possibly align yourself with ideals that do not reflect your own experience? You rebel and protest for those you deem underserved, but you don’t fear repercussions from authority. After all, your graduation is next month. You’ll enter society with a college degree and a ticket to a comfortable life in middle America. At the end of your four year internship, what do you have to show for it? Of course there is work to be done in institutions like UCLA and, more broadly, in communities like Los Angeles. However, it is important to be grounded in our beliefs. We need to ask ourselves, is the work we’re doing making a genuine, positive impact in our community, or is it simply performative? We need to be more aware of who we’re doing this for and within what system we’re working under. We should not be
discouraged when it seems as if little to no progress is being made. Instead, we should strive to learn, be open to discourse, and feel challenged at times. The first steps are always the most unstable. Remember: our culture, our struggle, our fight is not a fad. “Black Lives Matter” is not your resume builder. “Fuck ICE” is not just a hashtag for your twitter bio. The next Labor Union strike is not your instagram photo-op. You can’t swipe right on the revolution, because this is not your next college fling. You can’t hide your internalized xenophobia within the comfort of your dorm forever. You can’t be an ally when your empty cries of activism are behind acoustic panels. Are you spreading peace or seeking peace of mind? Will your college education outlast your commitment to the cause? Or will your newfound privilege exploit the oppressive system you once fought so fervently against?
“Youcan’t can’t “You swiperight righton on swipe the revolution.” revolution.” the
THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND, THIS LAND IS NOT MY LAND By, Naomi Humphrey To most 2nd graders, going to 3rd grade is a HUGE deal. Well, in elementary school transitioning from one grade to another is seen as a great accomplishment by students and parents alike. To commend students and honor parents for ushering their children into the next grade my elementary school hosted graduation showcases, special events where students from each class sang and danced to some good ole American classics like John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt, Yankee Doodle Dandy, She’ll Be Coming Around the Mountain and my personal favorite This Land is Your Land. My peers and I worked tirelessly to execute the choreography for these “masterfully composed” musical works. Now this showcase wasn’t necessarily a talent competition and no awards were being handed out for the quality of your theatrical performance, nonetheless...we cream-ed the competition. Gleefully waving red, white, and blue striped American flags we enthusiastically screamed “This Land is Your Land/ This Land is My
Land/ From California to New York Island/ From the Redwood Forest, to the Gulf Stream Waters/ This Land was Made for you and me”. Woody Guthery wrote this song to bring together all Americans through feel good patriotism and highlight a communal responsibility and ownership of the country. Guthery’s rendition of this song was considered to be progressive Example 1, 2, and 3 tell me this land doesn’t belong to people like me. History has told me that. This song is considered to be progressive and upheld in the and my peers and I are practicing the end of the year songs and dance routines that we would perform at the graduation showcase. Yankee Doodle Dandy, John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt To say the least, we were hands down the best performing second grade class at the graduation showcase.
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