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https://www.essence.com/news/black-entrepreneur-descendants-santa-monica-land/
Downtown Santa Monica CA and the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated February 23, 2024
In 1957, Silas White, a Black entrepreneur purchased a valuable plot of land in Santa Monica, CA. White wanted to >NBC Los Angeles reported.
White had already started renovations, but unfortunately, his dream would never become a reality. A year after White’s purchase, the city seized the land, citing eminent domain, which “refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use, referred to as a taking.” Four years later, White passed away and the story almost died with him. It would take decades before White’s descendants learned about their family legacy.
And today that land is home to the Viceroy Hotel on Ocean Avenue. But how did White’s descendants learn about their family’s land? It’s all because of Where Is My Land?, an organization founded by Kavon Ward aimed at helping “Black Americans discover connections to stolen land through research, data, and technology,” helping their descendants reclaim said land, and educating the public.
In 2022, Ward helped the Bruce family reclaim their Manhattan Beach property, which “was taken under similar terms in the 1920s.” Thanks to Ward’s efforts, “Los Angeles County transferred the property back to them, righting a century-old wrong.”
“I think it opened up a lot of hope for Black people who have had their land stolen,” stated Ward. “It means money…Money for the violation of civil and human rights, and money for taking land that could’ve gotten them more money.”
For Milana Davis, White’s niece, the family’s spokesperson for Connie White who now resides in North Carolina, “It’s frustrating. Disappointing…Maybe the right thing will finally be done and my cousin will receive some form of restitution for what was done to him.”
“It’s an open wound with no remedy,” Davis added. “From what I’ve been told, there were already 2,000 people signed up [for the Ebony Beach Club.”
Ward and the Whites recently met with City Manager David White and Councilwoman Caroline Torosis. “Torosis said the city is working on adopting a citywide equity plan, which includes exploring models for restitution and reparations, but so far it’s unclear how support exists on the council with regards to returning the land to the White family.”
The City of Santa Monica released a statement, which read in part, “Santa Monica hears and acknowledges the voices on this topic in the community and is actively seeking appropriate and realistic remedies.”
“We know that for those who have been wronged by the city’s past discriminatory practices, justice can’t come soon enough, and we take what we’ve learned from the families and individuals who have been harmed by these acts very seriously,” continued the statement. “We are a better city because of their continued attention to these issues and we are committed to getting this right.”
TOPICS: ancestors black family
The post Descendants Of A Black Entrepreneur Are Fighting To Reclaim Their Family’s Land In Santa Monica appeared first on Essence.
Downtown Santa Monica CA and the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. By Rayna Reid Rayford ·Updated February 23, 2024
In 1957, Silas White, a Black entrepreneur purchased a valuable plot of land in Santa Monica, CA. White wanted to >NBC Los Angeles reported.
White had already started renovations, but unfortunately, his dream would never become a reality. A year after White’s purchase, the city seized the land, citing eminent domain, which “refers to the power of the government to take private property and convert it into public use, referred to as a taking.” Four years later, White passed away and the story almost died with him. It would take decades before White’s descendants learned about their family legacy.
And today that land is home to the Viceroy Hotel on Ocean Avenue. But how did White’s descendants learn about their family’s land? It’s all because of Where Is My Land?, an organization founded by Kavon Ward aimed at helping “Black Americans discover connections to stolen land through research, data, and technology,” helping their descendants reclaim said land, and educating the public.
In 2022, Ward helped the Bruce family reclaim their Manhattan Beach property, which “was taken under similar terms in the 1920s.” Thanks to Ward’s efforts, “Los Angeles County transferred the property back to them, righting a century-old wrong.”
“I think it opened up a lot of hope for Black people who have had their land stolen,” stated Ward. “It means money…Money for the violation of civil and human rights, and money for taking land that could’ve gotten them more money.”
For Milana Davis, White’s niece, the family’s spokesperson for Connie White who now resides in North Carolina, “It’s frustrating. Disappointing…Maybe the right thing will finally be done and my cousin will receive some form of restitution for what was done to him.”
“It’s an open wound with no remedy,” Davis added. “From what I’ve been told, there were already 2,000 people signed up [for the Ebony Beach Club.”
Ward and the Whites recently met with City Manager David White and Councilwoman Caroline Torosis. “Torosis said the city is working on adopting a citywide equity plan, which includes exploring models for restitution and reparations, but so far it’s unclear how support exists on the council with regards to returning the land to the White family.”
The City of Santa Monica released a statement, which read in part, “Santa Monica hears and acknowledges the voices on this topic in the community and is actively seeking appropriate and realistic remedies.”
“We know that for those who have been wronged by the city’s past discriminatory practices, justice can’t come soon enough, and we take what we’ve learned from the families and individuals who have been harmed by these acts very seriously,” continued the statement. “We are a better city because of their continued attention to these issues and we are committed to getting this right.”
TOPICS: ancestors black familyThe post Descendants Of A Black Entrepreneur Are Fighting To Reclaim Their Family’s Land In Santa Monica appeared first on Essence.
For many of us, Avatar: The Last Airbender was more than just an animated show about kids who could wield the four elements. Avatar was a show that, despite the humor, actually packed a lot of dense subject matter into its 40-something-minute runtime (counting the commercials). In fact, the series is a treasure trove of wisdom and great life lessons, some of which include dealing with grief (as was the case with Uncle Iroh and his son), as well as the meaning of change and transformation, as was the case with Prince Zuko.
So, while the show might be originally intended for children, it has pearls of wisdom that people of all ages can learn from. Let’s dive into these moments and break them down to an audience of those who are already familiar with Avatar and those who are just discovering its magic for the first time. Please note that we will be only discussing Avatar: The Last Airbender, but we might give Korra an honorable mention. So, without further ado…
The Importance of Balance
Aang’s role as the Avatar is to maintain the balance of power between the four nations, and throughout the series, he struggles to maintain that same balance within himself. Fortunately for us and Aang, we have over three seasons of Aang learning and sometimes re-learning to find and master his own inner peace. The entire show teaches us, over and over again, the importance of balance as a key to a fulfilling life.
The Peace of Letting Go
The entirety of the series revolves around Team Avatar trying to stop a 100-year war campaign started by the Fire Nation’s ruler, Lord Sozin — Fire Lord Ozai’s father. In the chronological first volley in this centennial war, the Air Nomads, Aang’s monastic order, was completely wiped out. This was an attempt to instill fear, seize control, and prevent the rise of the Avatar — which was supposed to be reborn into the Air Nation following the death of Avatar Roku.
When Aang learned that his entire order had been wiped out by Sozin, whose successor now ruled the Fire Nation, he was understandably shaken. However, going through his Avatar state, he also recognized the importance of letting go of the past so that he could focus on fully embracing the present and preparing for the future — which for Aang and the gang involved stopping the Fire Nation’s rise to supremacy. This is one of the most inspirational moments in the series.
Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Sokka is a young Southern Water Tribe warrior and one of the only non-benders on Team Avatar — the others being Appa and Momo. He’s initially treated as the comedic sidekick throughout a large chunk of the series considering that he doesn’t actually have bending powers and that he struggles with feeling “less than” in several episodes throughout the show.
However, as the series progresses, Sokka proves to be an excellent military strategist, a relentless warrior, and a well-respected and loved member of Team Avatar while still holding the title of funniest character in the entire show, save for the Cabbage cart dealer — those poor cabbages never stood a chance. Sokka teaches us that everyone has hidden talents and that it’s entirely okay to be different.
People Can Change for the Better
People don’t really like change, as it’s often hard and unpleasant to do. Yet, there’s plenty of change in Avatar. One of the biggest changes that is the most near and dear to many fans’ hearts isn’t that of Prince Zuko but that of his Uncle Iroh. We meet Uncle Iroh in the very first episode as a calm and wise old man, but the truth is that he was once a ruthless military leader for the Fire Nation’s throne — he’s actually Fire Lord Ozai’s older brother and an extremely powerful firebender who is practically a living legend among other fire soldiers.
However, Iroh does harbor a very deep pain and regret, and this would be in the death of his son, Lu Ten. Lu Ten was mortally wounded during the Siege of Ba Sing Se, the capital of the Earth Kingdom. This happened at the same time and because Iroh finally succeeded in breaching the Earth Kingdom city’s night-impenetrable Outer Wall. This moment, which otherwise would have been the crowning jewel in Iroh’s military career, turned into a moment of unprecedented sadness for the Dragon of the West — one of the titles given to Iroh due to his ability to breathe fire.
Upon hearing of his son’s death, Iroh abandoned his militaristic ways and had a breaking and then eventual softening of his heart. Iroh’s transformation into a caring older man who appreciates the little things and tries to spread serenity wherever he goes is one of the driving factors that led to Prince Zuko’s transformation into a more benevolent character.
You Decide Who You Are
Toph is one of the best characters in the entire animated series. She is not gifted in height; she was born blind and came from the Beifong family, a very powerful and influential family in the Earth Kingdom who were considered nobles in Republic City and abroad. Just like Sokka, she was often used as the comedic relief, and oftentimes, her sense of humor was more on the blunt, brash, and unapologetic side. However, Toph’s rebellious nature belied a genius mastery of Earthbending, to the point that there is a real debate to be had that her ability could mirror that of Aang’s out of the Avatar state.
Given her disability, it’s easy for many to write Toph off as helpless or a pushover, but she continuously proved that she’s anything but. She didn’t allow other people’s perceptions of her to define who she was and the path she wanted to carve for herself in the world. Toph’s day-to-day, granite-like determination in the series teaches that we define ourselves — and we choose to accept or reject who we are and want to be every day.
Honorable Mention: Even the Strongest Need Help
This last honorable mention goes to The Legend of Korra, and this life lesson is about strength. Despite being a formidable bender with mastery over all four elements, Korra’s vulnerability, particularly during her battles with Zaheer, points towards a universal truth: even the strongest and most brilliant among us can’t face every challenge alone, and that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a courageous acknowledgment of our own limitations.
In fact, this lesson is prominent in both The Legend of Korra and Avatar: The Last Airbender, as we see that both immensely powerful protagonists didn’t accomplish their goals solo. Whether this goal was to stop a souped-up fire tyrant or bring balance to the spirit and material worlds, all of this was made possible through the help of good friends they could rely on.
Final Thoughts
Nearly two decades have passed since the first airing of Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which we saw Aang and the Gaang navigate adolescence against a backdrop of a century-long and devastating war. The Avatar had plenty to learn about himself and the world before he could save anyone, and some of the life lessons he and the rest of the Team Avatar learned are so universal that they’ll remain relevant and true for a very, very long time.
I did not adjust my expectations to the right setting for this one. The trailers gave clues but in no way prepared me for the fun yet openly sexual ride that is Drive-Away Dolls. The film embraces its rom-com cliche moments while remaining an enjoyably over-the-top queer love story.
Co-writers Ethan Cohen and Tricia Cooke have brought together a great cast with an ode to queer history and the lesbian bars of old. Buckle up because Drive-Away Dolls, or Drive-Away Dykes as it is referred to at the end, will have you laughing often, confused sometimes, and entertained always.
Focus Features’ new film is about love, adventure, friendship, murder, intrigue, and community. The film follows Jamie (Margaret Qualley), a free spirit deflated by her breakup with her girlfriend Sukie (Beanie Feldstein), and her stick-to-the-basics best friend Marian (Geraldine Viswanathan), a no-nonsense type who hasn’t been so lucky in love. In search of a much needed respite, the two set out on a road trip to Tallahassee, Florida, to visit Marian’s aunt. Things go off the rails when they become mixed up with a group of criminals during a classic car mix-up that results in stolen “goods.”
The film boasts a diverse cast in age, background, and acting prowess. Fans will enjoy the brief moments with Pedro Pascal and recent Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. They will laugh at the random addition of Matt Damon and Miley Cyrus and learn to care about what happens to Curlie, played by Bill Camp. Feldstein, who I haven’t seen since Booksmart, is a welcomed addition to the film with her comedic timing and brass balls approach to her cop character.
Qualley and Viswanathan are, of course, the stars of the film. They are complete opposites but the best of friends, which is so fun to watch. Qualley adopts a rich Western/Elvis accent, which hints at her natural Montanan accent. It works well against the no-frills, almost monotone language Viswanathan uses in the film. Overall, it looks like the entire cast had fun with these characters and the story.
It’s ridiculous to call this film a period piece, but it does take place in 1999, which seems like a lifetime ago. But, the ’90s vibes add heavily to the playfulness of the film from the clothing to the music to the popularity of basement parties. There were moments and references in Drive-Away Dolls that were new to me. Some came to my attention during the film and some after, during the Q&A with Cohen and Cooke. It was revealed this film was born from the imaginings of Tricia and her best friend. It was written in the early 2000s, but didn’t truly get off the ground until 2022 when re-writes and filming took place.
The team views the film as a lighter coming out story, full of queer history with names like Cynthia Plaster Caster, Bella Abzug, and Alice B. Toklas are standout references. Some of these references didn’t make sense until the end, as a kind of ta-da moment, which wasn’t the best in terms of editing. Although, this film is set in 1999, it could easily be today with the way Gen Z is bringing back the ’90s trends.
Notable themes in the film stem from the “girls road trip” plot. The journey from point A to point Z, has all the cliche stopping points B, C, D, etc, in diners, motels, and small towns. A few stops on the trip included lesbian bars. Jamie and Marian find several along their journey. The film is a love letter to the lesbian bar scene. Lesbian bars have diminished in numbers over the years, with only 23 remaining in the US (fun fact). The film highlights those spaces as a place of community and a place to feel safe.
What does a road trip film also have? Sex. Drive-Away Dolls is a very sex positive film. There are sex scenes, not a lot, but they are in there. Unlike a lot of “young adults figuring it out” films, the sex scenes are modest and not too graphic in terms of nudity. The film is playful, and yes, suggestive, but doesn’t take away from the plot of the story. In the more popular films I can recall about girls’ trip movies, none of them are from a queer perspective. Drive-Away Dolls is a romantic and raunchy take, but still speaks to the power of female friendship.
Drive-Away Dolls is a fun and entertaining film that focuses on the good stuff amid the chaos. Love, death, comfort, fear, sex, literature, fights… it’s all in there. I read an article recently where the writer said she had “the most jarring viewing experiences” with watching Red, White & Royal Blue followed by Bottoms soon after. I had a similar experience in one sitting watching this film. There are so many wholesome and romantic moments followed by raunchy comedy tropes, violence, and funky camera movements. What a watch!
Drive-Away Dolls is in theaters February 23, 2024.