ANTI-RACISM DAILY

June 2, 2024

Weekend Edition

In the News

A mother’s calling: Inside the fight to make prison phone calls free. Connecticut families brought an end to expensive prison communication, providing a lifeline for the voices behind bars. But consistent contact still isn’t guaranteed. 19th News >

Why does Planned Parenthood contract with the arms manufacturer Raytheon? Few demands for divestment in the reproductive rights movement have emerged, likely because most workers are unaware of the connection between Planned Parenthood and Raytheon. Prism Reports >

Police tactics at some pro-Palestine protests ignore past lessons. While some universities have sought peaceful approaches, others have used aggressive policing that bucks research from the protests following George Floyd’s murder. Marshall Project >

Reports on horrifying attack on Rafah on Israeli strike. Hear from reporters and witnesses on the ground in Rafah on the horrific violence and devastation as a result of the latest Israeli strike [note: graphic images ahead]. Democracy Now >

Trump and the racial inequality of felony convictions. While this moment reveals that Trump isn’t above the law, it also underscores that the criminal legal system is far from perfect. I referenced this in Friday’s Study Hall. Capital B News >

Most AAPI adults think k-12 students should learn about slavery, racism, segregation, and the history of AAPI communities. A recent survey reveals strong support shows 71% of AAPI adults believe schools should teach accurate history, and 80% believe critical thinking is a necessary part of college education. AP >

She made an offer on a condo. Then the seller learned she was Black. Dr. Raven Baxter, a molecular biologist, was in escrow on a new home when she was told the seller didn’t want to hand over the keys to a Black person. NYTimes >

More than 40% of LGBTQ+ workers say they’ve faced prejudice at work. Leaders can create an inclusive environment by empowering employee-driven groups, developing a culture of respect and fostering authentic allyship. HR Dive >

What ever happened to the war on terror? The US is pivoting away from focusing on groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS — at least until the next attack. Vox >

“Growing up racist: how young white supremacists are taught to hate”. Writer R. Derek Black shares an excerpt from their book, “ The Klansman’s Son: My Journey from White Nationalism to Antiracism,” on unlearning the warped ideology of their white nationalist childhood. Lit Hub >

New Workshops

Our upcoming workshops put the lessons in this newsletter into practice. Flexible enrollment, group plans, and discounts for cause-centric organizations are available.

In conversation with Kiyoka “Kex" Rhodes

Tell me first a bit about you. How does your lived experience influence your motivation to create this film?

I’m a “blasian” half-Black and half-Japanese filmmaker who was born in San Diego but grew up in what we call the DMV: DC/Maryland/Virginia area. The DMV is a melting pot of culture. Growing up mixed, I never really thought about “race” until I encountered situations with prejudiced individuals. Even within minority groups, I have faced racial comments or situations from the Black and Asian communities including mixed communities. White/Asian mixture is “praised”. All of this influenced my motivation to create Desolate Dreams and particularly infused my own culture, looking at the friendships between the Black and Japanese American communities during World War II. Desolate Dreams is a dramatic short film set in 1942 downtown Los Angeles. It follows an African American journalist who advocates for justice alongside a Japanese American family forced into Heart Mountain prison camp after President FDR issues Executive Order 9066 following the events of Pearl Harbor. 

Part of why I’m a filmmaker is because I know how influential the medium of film is. For decades, media and film have been a powerful tool both positively and negatively. It feeds perspectives and how people may view the world—including race.

How did you learn about this act of solidarity, and decide to make it into a film?

Desolate Dreams really began in 2019 at a Smithsonian National Museum of American History exhibit called Righting a Wrong: Japanese Americans and World War II. There was a section of the exhibit about a Japanese American family named the Shishimas, who were grocers in Little Tokyo downtown LA and eventually incarcerated at Heart Mountain prison camp in Wyoming. Though a small portion of the museum’s exhibit, I was drawn to this family and their story. Particularly, their friendship with a Mexican-American family was very intriguing to me. That is where I really started to delve into researching the act of solidarity during WWII. I eventually learned that there were many African Americans who advocated for justice alongside the Japanese Americans, including journalists. Many African Americans also watched over personal assets of the Japanese Americans while they were incarcerated. 

You have extensive experience bringing stories to life. What was new or surprising to you as this film came together?

Even though we are still in the fundraising phase, the research portion of this film was the most surprising. I learned a lot, especially when I visited Cody, WY in 2023 for the Heart Mountain Pilgrimage. I met incarceree survivors, an African American family who was honored at the Pilgrimage (the Marshalls), and actress Tamlyn Tomita who had family members incarcerated. There was something about physically being on the grounds of the former prison camp where the setting of part of the film takes place. I did a vlog about it that can be viewed on the film’s website.

How can this community support Desolate Dreams?

We landed a fiscal sponsor a few months ago, Independent Arts & Media, a San Francisco-based 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to building community through media and the arts.  People can support Desolate Dreams by making a tax-deductible donation through our fundraising campaign.

In addition, we have a handful of monetary sponsors, some including the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation, Masto Foundation, Asian American Futures, Arena Stage and more. We have six sponsorship package tiers to choose from.

June Book Club

Join our June book club and read “Everything and Nothing at Once” by Joél Leon! We’re discussing the book all month long on Patreon and gathering virtually on Monday, July 1.

That’s all for this week! Thanks for reading. If you learned something new and want to keep this space going,

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