5 Things Friday
Marin’s dirty segregation secret, SF vs. the police and the book you gotta have. Here are your antiracism action steps for February 11.
We know there's a lot going on in the world right now — from yet another murder due to a no-knock warrant, to endless January 6 nonsense, but we wanted to keep it hyper local this week. In part, a little selfishly, because Rep Co has been dishing out some new stories that we don't want you to miss.
Here are your 5 Things.
READ THIS. Filmmaker Yoel Iskindir is focusing his lens on the effects income inequality and segregation in his hometown of Marin has on creativity and success. Iskindir created a series of short, social-media-friendly videos under the hashtag #EraofMarinCity that uncover the history of segregation and systematic racism in Marin County. In 2019, a state review found that the city’s two elementary schools offered drastically inequitable opportunities to students. At Bayside MLK —where the majority of the students are Black and Latino—students have suffered under years of rapid staff turnover, inadequate class offerings, excessive discipline and substandard academic performance. As a result, the district was issued California’s first desegregation order in 50 years, a court order requiring them to end the unequal treatment of students who attend Bayside MLK. Iskindir brought this story to a wider audience, and spotlighted the fact that in the midst of the civil unrest and calls to decrease police funding, the city actually cut money earmarked for social services and bumped up funding for the sheriff’s department. Iskindir’s videos expose the city’s policies and practices that would have otherwise been overlooked. With his #EraofMArinCity videos, Iskindir hopes to promote change and reform within his hometown.Read REP CO's interview with Iskindir (and see the stunning portraits of him by Bréana Parks) right here.
LISTEN TO THIS. Joseph "JD" Green has been with Creativity Explored since just after he graduated from high school 10 years ago. He was doing art in the building where he lives, in Hayes Valley, when someone let him know about the organization just a short walk away serving people with developmental disabilities.
He's been making art nearly his whole life, inspired by TV shows, animation, and cartoons. Nickelodeon and Disney characters made up the bulk of figures he drew, but his favorite to this day is Spider-Man. JD also does social and political art. He tells us all about a collaboration he did with other Creativity Explored artists looking at Black identity through the lens of "blackface" and flipping the script on white supremacy. In 2019, he was part of a show with other Black CE artists called "Blackiful" that looked at police violence against people of color. Listen to the latest REP CO x Storied: SF podcast featuring JD and another Creativity Explored Artist, Vincent Jackson.
DONATE TO THIS. We over here at REP CO are deep into exciting new projects for 2022 (a photo spread for a Black, female-led wine brand; a film for a non-profit supporting BIPOC fathers; a creative campaign for a Black-owned vegan food company; and MORE) and your donations go DIRECTLY to any and all Black Creatives we commission to work on them. While all our non-Black contributors donate their time and talent, we are committed to paying Black creators for their work. All donations go directly towards paying the Black writers, photographers, and designers who contribute to REP CO. The more you give, the more magic we can make. So this Black History month, please consider a gift to REP CO's Black Creatives fund!
SIGN THIS. Last week, Chief Scott announced the San Francisco police are pulling out of an agreement, formally known as a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), with District Attorney Chesa Boudin that made the prosecutor’s office the lead investigator of all extreme police misconduct in the city. Under the MOU, any officer-involved shooting, in-custody death, or other serious misconduct would be investigated by the District Attorney’s office instead of the police department. The timing was not a coincidence. Chief Scott withdrew from this agreement right before the start of a landmark trial against an officer who beat a Black man senseless, breaking bones, while responding to a domestic violence call in 2019. This is the first of four cases against police that District Attorney Chesa Boudin has elected to prosecute. Scott was facing pressure from the police union and his rank and file to break the agreement. He sent the letter rescinding the agreement the day before the union was scheduled to consider a no-confidence vote on his performance. It’s time to put a stop to it. The San Francisco Police Commissioners have the power to intervene. The San Francisco Police Commissioners can act now to uphold the MOU and protect independent investigations against the cops. Sign the petition and tell SF Police Commissioners to intervene NOW.
BUY THIS. If you've been here for a minute, you know we are major fans (and friends, ahem) of George McCalman. His hand and eye has been on countless books and magazines, but this one is his baby. McCalman's forthcoming book ILLUSTRATED BLACK HISTORY: HONORING THE ICONIC AND THE UNSEEN will be published by HarperCollins on Sept 27th and was co-written, illustrated, and designed by him. A telling of 400 years of American history through the eyes of 155 Black pioneers, with over 300 hand-made illustrated portraits. The stories of the mavericks of American history: the hidden figures, the overlooked titans of culture, science, business, literature, art, engineering, fashion, and technology. The shepherds who helped define our society. Get your pre-order in NOW friends.