{"id":2490,"date":"2023-10-09T18:36:58","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T01:36:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/?page_id=2490"},"modified":"2025-04-17T17:41:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T00:41:45","slug":"paintings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/paintings\/","title":{"rendered":"Paintings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2490\" class=\"elementor elementor-2490\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5cadc1e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5cadc1e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8bbd047\" data-id=\"8bbd047\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156a04d elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"156a04d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-medium\">Painting Descriptions<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9e371d3 elementor-hidden-tablet elementor-hidden-phone\" data-id=\"9e371d3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e70029a e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e70029a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-613de0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"613de0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-31cf85f e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"31cf85f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e9ca0f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"0e9ca0f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">Just my thoughts\u2026landing on the canvas!<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d55a11f elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d55a11f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-25e72ac\" data-id=\"25e72ac\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de7c0bc elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"de7c0bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5983\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Monterey-County-Cultural-Heritage.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-84c5d1a elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"84c5d1a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ef05dc6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ef05dc6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Monterey County Cultural Heritage<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-72aca07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"72aca07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-canvas-width=\"619.0213333333336\"><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">Sometimes it\u2019s fun to create a painting for an exhibit that has a theme. I was notified of an upcoming exhibit at Seaside City Hall\u2019s Walter Lee Avery Gallery. \u00a0The exhibit was entitled \u201cCelebrating Our Cultural Heritage.\u201d\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">I got right on it. But to create a painting that would tell a story, I needed to decide\u2026whose story would I paint.<\/p><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">I decided to address the cultural heritage of Monterey County, and more specifically, the cultural heritage of 4 groups of people whose history had been affected by specific events.<\/p><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">To do this, I created a map of Monterey County, upon which I displayed the sordid events of 3 groups who had been literally decimated and whose cultural history was lost:\u00a0\u00a0The Chinese\/Japanese whose fishing village was burned to the ground, the Esselen Indians who were wiped out by Spanish missionaries, and the Mexican immigrant workers who were deported en masse during the Great Depression of the 1930\u2019s and \u201cOperation Wetbacks 1954.\u201d<\/p><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">The 4<sup>th<\/sup>\u00a0group of people whose cultural heritage was affected were the African Americans who inhabited the city of Seaside. When Fort Ord was shut down in 1994, the soldiers and their families had to relocate, ending many years during which African Americans had shared their common cultural traditions in a bustling neighborhood.<\/p><p class=\"ydp32930340MsoNormal\">I hope this painting raises discussions about cultural heritage and the importance of histories and traditions. We must all be grateful that some descendants have survived and that some have returned to their seaside city.<\/p><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-857aba6 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"857aba6\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9e599ad\" data-id=\"9e599ad\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-caeb45a elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"caeb45a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1028\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-768x1028.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3641\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-768x1028.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-765x1024.jpg 765w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-1148x1536.jpg 1148w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1-1530x2048.jpg 1530w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Mixed-Bouquet-jpg-1.jpg 1793w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ffcf355 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"ffcf355\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2c78723 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"2c78723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Mixed Bouquet<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-274555e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"274555e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div data-canvas-width=\"619.0213333333336\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Did you know that of the various flower bouquets that are sold, the most popular of all is the mixed bouquet? It\u2019s a fact\u2026 and with reason.\u00a0 The diversity of form and color, the variety of shapes and sizes, and the combinations of many different flowers, makes the mixed bouquet the most highly desired of all flower arrangements.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That we could appreciate the value of diversity in our human forms! That we could embrace the beauty of difference and individuality in our skin tones, our facial features, and our expressions of self.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In so doing, we would become the most sought-after and popular bouquet ever. Others would appear boring, self-defeating, and obscure. It would be a wonderful world.<\/span><\/p><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6cd2b88 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6cd2b88\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fbced33\" data-id=\"fbced33\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2b3c2d7 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2b3c2d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3643\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/White-Privelege-1.jpg-1-2048x1537.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c570fc2 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"c570fc2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-326e4fb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"326e4fb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">White Privilege<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e242462 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e242462\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The plants tell the story. A plant from a healthy seed, raised with proper care and nurturance, will develop into a strong plant. Seeds raised with deprivation and insufficient nutrition will develop into sorrowful plants which will wither and die.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When whites sprouted, we were clutching certificates of authenticity, guaranteeing us a top spot in a competitive world. A friend of mine bemoaned the fact that there is such a concept as white privilege. \u201cMy dad and mom came from Ireland. They worked their butts off. They weren\u2019t given any breaks. Why should it be any different for Blacks?\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My answer: Slavery is what made the difference. Whites came to the United States as free persons. They had to work hard, but they were able to build up wealth. Blacks, on the other hand, were considered the bottom rung of a deliberately designed (by Whites) caste system. Lack of nurturance and fairness has resulted in sorrowful generational outcomes.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-85bdada e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"85bdada\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1a5a0d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1a5a0d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-large\">My next painting answered his question.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c622792 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c622792\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52f3049\" data-id=\"52f3049\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c7797ea elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c7797ea\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-768x572.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3647\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-1536x1143.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Accessories-jpg-1-2048x1524.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ce3851 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"1ce3851\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-17e2459 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"17e2459\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Accessories<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2fc6284 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2fc6284\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enslaved persons worked on plantations. They were bought and sold the same as any other possessions. Chattel is the correct word. The enslaved were chattel. The enslaved women not only worked in the fields or in the mansions from sunup to sundown, but they were often abused by their masters. It was totally lawful for their owners to rape them, to use them as breeders, to sell their children for cash or trade them for livestock.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this painting I wanted to contrast the accessories of plantation owners\u2019 wives to those of the enslaved. Jewelry, hair adornments, boas and spangles hung from the missus\u2019 necks and shoulders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The enslaved women also wore accessories: iron collars which made it impossible to escape through the woods and rivers and, though not common, headpieces (\u2018branks\u201d), so they could not speak or eat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-12bb7c9 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"12bb7c9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1684832\" data-id=\"1684832\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-48097c9 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"48097c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-768x571.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3648\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-1024x761.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-1536x1142.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Built-on-Their-Backs-jpg-1-2048x1522.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-76bd225 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"76bd225\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efa735a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"efa735a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Built On Their Backs<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bf80ea4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bf80ea4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I never put together two things: how grand and powerful our country became in so few years and how slavery was responsible for that to happen.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The fact that our nation\u2019s success was literally built on the backs of enslaved people is just so clear to me now. I had to turn this huge fact into a painting. The paint literally spilled onto the canvas, turning into fields of tobacco, sugar cane, and cotton. The ghosts whose lives made it possible cried to me as I depicted their sad fates. That they should haunt us all is my desire. And then we must turn that remorse into action and fight for equal justice for all, reparations for those who paid the price for our national success, and restorations for their generational mistreatment and losses.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-d6e486a elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"d6e486a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e331913\" data-id=\"e331913\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a6ec732 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"a6ec732\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-768x575.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3649\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-768x575.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-1024x767.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-1536x1150.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/In-Memorium-jpg-1-2048x1533.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9112c3a elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"9112c3a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4a8db0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b4a8db0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">In Memorium <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cb0a75d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"cb0a75d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To pay respects and not forget the lives of so many people who were treated as animals, I decided a grand memorial was fitting. The amount of iron that was forged into collars and buckles and chains that wrapped around wrists and necks and ankles, was massive.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A person in a position of power recently remarked that the enslaved were taught skills. I don\u2019t think making torturous devices to control whites was one of those skills.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">May all enslaved persons, lost, killed, or forgotten rest in peace.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90d572b elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90d572b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-81fb588\" data-id=\"81fb588\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-142c7e0 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"142c7e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1-768x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3650\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Broken-Dreams-jpg-1.jpg 1800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-efe436f elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"efe436f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bc9fd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3bc9fd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Broken Dreams <\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2e8457f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2e8457f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After emancipation, the formula to reach the American dream was presented to the freedmen:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Step 1: Leave the South, move to the big cities. Step 2: Find a job, no matter how backbreaking or demeaning. Step 3: Get married and start a family. Everyone, even the children worked to save money. Step 4: Buy a house.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But suddenly, the American dream was now broken. It was, instead, \u201cFor Whites Only,\u201d as were restaurants, shops and drinking fountains.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cRedlining\u201d was the name of this White game. City officials crafted maps, using red pens to cut up their cities, depicting \u201cgrades\u201d according to desirability. Green was where whites resided and Red was where Blacks lived. Loans were denied to anyone who lived in the Red areas. No loans, period! Which meant no step number 4 for Blacks. They were completely forced out of the housing market.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Broken dreams, just like that. Whites moved into the Black neighborhoods and bought them out. Blacks were forced into impoverished, crowded, and unhealthy areas. And that\u2019s how ghettoes were born.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1dff030 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1dff030\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-22a0f84\" data-id=\"22a0f84\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e58ba6 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"0e58ba6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"579\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-768x579.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3655\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-768x579.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-300x226.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-1024x772.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-1536x1158.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Small-Unity-scaled-1-2048x1544.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f0cb43b elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"f0cb43b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0a50c5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"d0a50c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Unity<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e85dab elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e85dab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only solution to deep-seated hatred and national instability is for all Americans to unite. When we can truly believe that every person is of equal value, if we can work together as one, if we can hold hands in trust regardless of color, creed, or circumstance, perhaps then we will be able to become a united nation. The initials BIPOC and LBGTQ+ are to be understood and honored. BIPOC stands for Black, Indigenous and People of Color. LBGTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Bi-Sexual, Gay, Trans, Queer and others.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this painting, blue and red colors signify our two major political parties. Purple suggests a willingness to work together. The various colors of the hands honor the beauty and importance of all complexions.\u00a0 The rainbow honors all LBGTQ+ people. The blue above suggests our sky and the blue below is symbolic of our planet Earth.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This painting arose from a design my son created. I loved it and turned it into a painting. It says it all. The original size is small, but it\u2019s one of my favorite pieces.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0982e1f elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0982e1f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c15777c\" data-id=\"c15777c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73034b7 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"73034b7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-768x612.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3658\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-768x612.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-1024x816.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-1536x1224.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-other-jpg-1-2048x1632.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2ae09d3 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"2ae09d3\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6bd47d elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b6bd47d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Because We Need Each Other (with Rainbow)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eb2fc2e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eb2fc2e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">My granddaughter and her best friend stood side by side looking across the ocean one day and a photo was taken by the friend\u2019s mother. I loved the composition and setting. I thought how beautiful it would be if friends of all colors could stand side by side, arm in arm, and enjoy the power and beauty of the great Pacific Ocean.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I decided to paint the image that swirled in my head, adding the rainbow to include <\/span><b>all<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> children.\u00a0 I showed the painting to Jacqueline Simon, a fellow CAA member, and she suggested the name of the painting and asked me to do a similar one for an upcoming Forum she was leading.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c194c4e elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c194c4e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-47fa33b\" data-id=\"47fa33b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-75f209e elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"75f209e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-768x612.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3657\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-768x612.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-300x239.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-1024x815.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-1536x1223.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Because-We-Need-Each-Other-vers.-2-1-2048x1631.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-44567ce elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"44567ce\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1639f24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"1639f24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Because We Need Each Other (with Clouds)<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9330bd8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9330bd8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I painted a slightly different version of my children looking across the ocean for Jacqueline\u2019s George Floyd Forum. Jacqueline explained the significance of looking across the open sea with a bright cloud overhead. \u201cOur history has been wrought with horrible experiences around the sea and water,\u201d she told me. \u201cI would like a painting in which African American children are happy looking at water, looking at the ocean. Where they are unafraid and embrace water\u2019s beauty and feel it can be part of their life experience, too.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the Middle Passage when slave ships transported hundreds of thousands of men, women, and children across the Atlantic to the colonies (many of whom died\u00a0 and whose bones still lie on the bottom of the ocean) to the enslaved who tried to escape dogs and guns by running through rivers (many of whom were shot and whose bones lie at the bottom of the rivers) to the Draining of the Pools, during which public swimming pools were drained and shut down, disallowing Black children to learn to swim simply because Whites didn\u2019t want Black skinned people <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">poisoning the water<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2026<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who wouldn\u2019t have an issue with water?<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-197159e elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"197159e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bcc97e4\" data-id=\"bcc97e4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cd1950d elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"cd1950d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"961\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-768x961.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3665\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-768x961.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-1228x1536.jpg 1228w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1-1638x2048.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Juneteenth-1.jpg 1919w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8ea6e5f elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"8ea6e5f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-11592aa elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"11592aa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Juneteenth<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-93ec801 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"93ec801\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another painting with the kiddos. I just wanted to keep painting them. Juneteenth was coming up and why not have them share the facts and history of this special day?<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Juneteenth is African American Independence Day, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day. It\u2019s a strange and unsettling story. After the Civil War, in 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was passed by Abraham Lincoln freeing all enslaved persons. However, in Texas as in other southern slave states, losing free slave labor was not going to happen. Slave owners had too much to lose.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Federal intervention was necessary. Two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed into law, US Major General Granger was ordered to go to Galveston, Texas with his troops and force implementation of the law. On June 19, 1865, enslaved persons in Texas were finally\u00a0 free.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The name Juneteenth is a combination of June and the 19<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. African Americans have been celebrating this important date by joining together in community gatherings, festivities, singing, food, and fun. In 1979, Texas became the first state to declare Juneteenth a holiday. President Biden declared it a national holiday in 2021. Some states still do not recognize Juneteenth.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf8070c elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf8070c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-08c1037\" data-id=\"08c1037\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3bc631f elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3bc631f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1030\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-768x1030.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3671\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-768x1030.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-764x1024.jpg 764w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-1146x1536.jpg 1146w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1-1527x2048.jpg 1527w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Rainbow-Bouquet-1.jpg 1790w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-682460b elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"682460b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a86277f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a86277f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Rainbow Bouquet<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-63396f4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"63396f4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To honor Pride Day Monterey, I decided to make a bouquet of flowers using the colors of the rainbow. The rainbow has long been a symbol of hope and the promise for a safe future. In 1978, the first LGBTQ+ rainbow flag, symbolizing pride and unity was unfurled at the San Francisco Gay and Lesbian Freedom Day Parade.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with \u201cMixed Bouquet,\u201d diversity, acceptance, and beauty are most easily expressed using all varieties and combinations of flowers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we can appreciate the uniqueness and individuality of each individual flower and experience the joy of seeing all colors and types mixed, perhaps we can enjoy all people on our planet and accept and appreciate each other for the unique and beautiful beings we are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd5002c elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd5002c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ce01ac5\" data-id=\"ce01ac5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c08b95e elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"c08b95e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1036\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-768x1036.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3675\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-768x1036.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-223x300.jpg 223w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-759x1024.jpg 759w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-1139x1536.jpg 1139w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1-1519x2048.jpg 1519w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Javier-1.jpg 1780w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-75c136f elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"75c136f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4765dfe elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4765dfe\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Javier<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f08db18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f08db18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of CAA\u2019s most rewarding projects is our scholarship fund. Since our inception in 2020, we have awarded fourteen African American students thousands of dollars, enabling them to attend institutions of higher learning. One of our first recipients was Javier. He is bi-racial, multi-cultural, and gifted. I wanted to include all these aspects in his portrait. The flowers symbolize El Salvador, The United States, and Mexico. The backdrop of Africa emphasizes his African American heritage.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thank you, Javier, for sharing your portrait with the entire world. May it encourage all teens and young adults to be who they are, to stand tall, to believe in themselves, and to reach their goals.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ad796d4 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ad796d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ccd6014\" data-id=\"ccd6014\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6baf581 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"6baf581\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"570\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-768x570.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3679\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-768x570.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-1024x759.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-1536x1139.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Policing-1-2048x1519.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e4c2688 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"e4c2688\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-56a19bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"56a19bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Policing: The Good and the Ugly<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a8a539 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7a8a539\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Police officers did not kill <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">just<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> George Floyd; they killed something in all of us. They killed innocence, naivet\u00e9, and trust. Complacency and complicity were no longer acceptable. The cruel realities of being Black, displayed in living color all across the world, commanded our attention.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The disgust at police officers grew as cell phones captured the truth. Passersby, emboldened by the power of a few seconds of video, recorded atrocity after atrocity. We had to believe the unjust and illegal treatment of African Americans by police officers was real.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The dilemma was quite apparent as shootings and killings continued. Two camps emerged. Those who hated the police actions and those who thought their actions were justified. Certainly, the safety of police officers is not to be denied. They are often subjected to extremely difficult and dangerous situations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this painting, I illustrate two approaches to policing.\u00a0 Although exaggerated, I hope the dichotomies are apparent. Hopefully, someday all police departments will follow the lead of our Seaside Police Department.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-93ec7d4 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"93ec7d4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-21a0b11\" data-id=\"21a0b11\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e6b3a2a elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e6b3a2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-768x577.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3683\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/The-Georgia-man.-jpg-1-1-2048x1538.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-563bd12 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"563bd12\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7726b18 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7726b18\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Georgia-man<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-54a352e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"54a352e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the fifty years before the Civil War, Georgian slave traders came north to Virginia where they bought captured people for $300 apiece and sold them in Georgia or other southern states for twice the price. It was a lucrative business. The traders just had to move the slaves.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the enslaved saw slave traders from Georgia moving about, looking for the strongest amongst them, they were petrified. A loathsome specter emerged.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That symbolic specter became known as \u201cThe Georgia-man.\u201d He was the Boogie man. He was the Devil. He would force march his newly acquired possessions six hundred to one thousand miles, over mountains and through rivers. The trek lasted up to 3 months.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Georgia-man would finally sell the survivors to owners of holding jails, or \u201cslave pens.\u201d The owners of these imprisonment camps hosed down the filthy survivors and fattened them up so they would glean the highest prices.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Approximately one million enslaved individuals, pregnant women, and children included made this treacherous forced march. Thousands died along the way. Named after the infamous Indigenous \u201cTrail of Tears,\u201d their journey is now known as \u201cThe Slavery Trail of Tears.\u201d<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c46d2d8 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c46d2d8\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-20c003c\" data-id=\"20c003c\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-569f4b6 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"569f4b6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"620\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-768x620.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3687\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-768x620.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-300x242.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-1024x827.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-1536x1241.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/WOKE-jpg-1-2048x1654.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cb42637 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"cb42637\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-46649db elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"46649db\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">WOKE<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-49cb938 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"49cb938\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After hearing the Governor of Florida warn his citizens to be aware of the WOKE virus (it\u2019s everywhere!) I wanted to scream! How the word has been misinterpreted is a shame. It has been weaponized, twisted like a pretzel, and used to denote any policy, idea, and\/or fact that far right conspiracists disagree with.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth is: The word WOKE has been used in African American communities since the 1940s. It became more popular during the Black Lives Matter movement. The meaning is what it sounds like: to be woken up or sensitized to issues of injustice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I thought of a way to define WOKE and decided to put my definition on canvas. It is very simple:\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>WOKE<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0means:\u00a0<\/span><b>W<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anting to\u00a0<\/span><b>O<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">btain\u00a0<\/span><b>K<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nowledge through <\/span><b>E<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ducation. I hope you like it. And I hope you spread the\u00a0<\/span><b>WOKE\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">virus! Let\u2019s hope everyone gets\u00a0<\/span><b>WOKE.\u00a0<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It sure would be a better world.<\/span><\/p><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cf5939b elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cf5939b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0b1cfc5\" data-id=\"0b1cfc5\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0df582 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d0df582\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"923\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-768x923.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-4579\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-768x923.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-250x300.jpg 250w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-852x1024.jpg 852w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-1277x1536.jpg 1277w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet-1703x2048.jpg 1703w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Friendship-Bouquet.jpg 1996w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6148e57 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"6148e57\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-480949f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"480949f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Friendship Bouquet<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-62b55c9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"62b55c9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When my son was in kindergarten, he made a friend. We were living in Virginia. He returned from school one day bouncing with joy. \u201cI have a best friend,\u201d he announced. \u201cHe has a Superman shirt and shoes just like me, and he has a lunch box like me. We\u2019re just alike!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exchanging phone calls, Marvin\u2019s mom and I arranged a day when Marvin could get off the bus at our house. When the two boys scampered off the bus, I was so surprised. Marvin was as black as my son was white. Marvin\u2019s complexion was dark chocolate and my son\u2019s was white ice cream. When I took Marvin home, his mom and I laughed our heads off. We were so delighted with their friendship. The boys enjoyed playing together and they loved having sleepovers.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few months later, the boys were no longer sitting together on the bus. I asked my son what was wrong. \u201cThe other kids said we shouldn\u2019t like each other,\u201d he said. \u201cThen they called us names.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He didn\u2019t understand. But I did. It broke my heart. Racism had shattered their relationship.\u00a0As I worked on this painting, I envisioned Marvin. He is the child with the biggest smile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s how I remember him when he and my son looked \u201cjust alike.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-854fd6f elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"854fd6f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b64ac6\" data-id=\"5b64ac6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f169585 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"f169585\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"572\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-768x572.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-3637\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-768x572.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-1536x1143.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Strange-Fruit-1-2048x1524.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0fa5b34 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"0fa5b34\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3926218 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"3926218\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Strange Fruit<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-57a0c8c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"57a0c8c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><div class=\"document-page\" data-page=\"7\"><div class=\"pdf-page\"><div class=\"text-wrapper user-select-text\"><div data-canvas-width=\"605.3520000000002\">This was the third canvas I used for this painting. My first try was too graphic; the\u00a0reality was too hard to bear and too painful to share. The second focused too <span style=\"font-family: var(--global-body-font-family);\">heavily on the crowds leaving the \u201clynching picnic.\u201d This one tells the story of the <\/span><span style=\"font-family: var(--global-body-font-family);\">poem, \u201cStrange Fruit\u201d by Billie Holiday.<\/span><\/div><div data-canvas-width=\"605.3520000000002\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"document-page\" data-page=\"8\"><div class=\"pdf-page\"><div class=\"text-wrapper user-select-text\"><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"241.94133333333326\">Southern trees bear strange fruit<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"304.65600000000006\">Blood on the leaves and blood at the root<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"332.8893333333332\">Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"317.196\">Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees<\/div><div data-canvas-width=\"317.196\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"254.4373333333334\">Pastoral scene of the gallant south<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"296.73599999999993\">The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"266.65466666666657\">Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"286.8653333333333\">Then the sudden smell of burning flesh<\/div><div data-canvas-width=\"286.8653333333333\">\u00a0<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"259.336\">Here\u2019s a fruit for the crows to pluck<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"311.9013333333333\">For the rain to gather, for the wind to suck<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"284.12266666666665\">For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop<\/div><div style=\"text-align: center;\" data-canvas-width=\"239.3746666666667\">Here\u2019s a strange and bitter crop.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8e2db6e elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8e2db6e\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1b28637\" data-id=\"1b28637\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ab6595 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3ab6595\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-768x640.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5442\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-768x640.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-300x250.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-1024x853.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-1536x1280.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/Tulsa-Masssacre-of-1921-1-2048x1707.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1a477a elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"f1a477a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dbdf4c2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"dbdf4c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Erasure: Tulsa Massacre 1921<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e877ff8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e877ff8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div data-canvas-width=\"206.608\"><span style=\"font-family: var(--global-body-font-family);\">If you\u2019ve never heard of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921, you are not alone. It was one of the biggest slaughters of Black Americans by Whites in our country\u2019s history. The reason we did not learn about such a historic event was \u201cerasure\u201d.<\/span><\/div><div data-canvas-width=\"206.608\">\u00a0<\/div><div data-canvas-width=\"622.7839999999999\"><div data-canvas-width=\"623.632\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Lawrence Hall: \u201cBlack erasure is often a deliberate and malicious act to \u201cwhitewash\u201d something for public consumption.\u201d In other words, it is a way to erase history.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Tulsa Massacre was the malicious and cruel destruction of the entire community of Greenwood, Texas. This thriving Tulsa area was also known as \u201cBlack Wall Street.\u201d It was an American success story. The only problem: it was a Black success story. That the Black community was building wealth and prospering was too much. It had to be burned down.\u00a0 A protest by Blacks to save a young man from a lynching provided the golden opportunity.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In my rendition of the destruction, I wanted to include the practice of erasure. For many years, the Tulsa Massacre was treated as if it never happened. However, it has been included in Oklahoma history books since 2009. Unfortunately, mass graves are still being searched for.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2ecebbc elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2ecebbc\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ae8070a\" data-id=\"ae8070a\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e0b926c elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e0b926c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-768x571.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5484\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-1024x761.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-1536x1141.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Music-Stolen-Talent-Erased-2048x1521.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3c0626e elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"3c0626e\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-283a4de elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"283a4de\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Music Stolen, Talent Erased\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-73209ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"73209ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div data-canvas-width=\"206.608\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enslaved Blacks brought their music to the United States when they were kidnapped and enslaved. Being forced to work from dawn until dusk, singing was an essential panacea. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The swing and sway of the blade slipped into their arms and legs, creating dance. Bodies filled with pain, their minds filled with angst, they <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">became<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the music. Their songs contained coded messages allowing them to communicate. Their songs were their salvation.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erasure of the who, how, and why of these &#8220;Negro Spirituals&#8221; was subtle. The songs became part of American culture with no acknowledgment of the suffering of their creators. Erasure has continued throughout the years. Black music has often been sabotaged and re-recorded by whites. Producers and studios have cheat musicians with unfair and devious contracts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Black songwriters, musicians, singers, and performers have greatly enhanced our national cultural experience. We must remember to give them credit. We must not destroy the beauty nor deny the magnitude of the contributions of Black music and Black talent. These attributes will never be blown away because notes twine around Black DNA, rhythm beats within their heartstrings and music is in their very souls. It will never go away.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e9c4110 elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e9c4110\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-e8f4e2f\" data-id=\"e8f4e2f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d5d3a3a elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"d5d3a3a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-768x576.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5602\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-1536x1151.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Black-History-Hurts-2048x1535.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1e572a4 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"1e572a4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-849f669 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"849f669\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Black History Hurts\n\n\n<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0213f53 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0213f53\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div data-canvas-width=\"206.608\"><p>\u00a0I had been sewing totes using African Prints and decided to use some of the patterns in a Black History poster. Large circles ran across the canvas, their colors deep and the reds so dark, it looked like blood. The many small gold circles which surrounded the large globes in no obvious pattern were troubling. Confusing and dangerous, they seemed to be setting traps, or at least, sowing discord. The feeling I had as I painted was telling me something. It was telling me, \u201cBlack history hurts!\u201d<\/p><p>And so, where to go from there? I chose the right-hand corner and flowers appeared, a promise of something better. I reminded myself that this painting\u2019s purpose was to depict Black History Month and so I ran the colors, red, black, and green up the center and found another piece of fabric with what appeared to be links. My mind, of course, went to the chains of bondage, the hurt returned and so I added hearts. A saying came to me: Black History Hurts, Knowing It Heals.<\/p><p>I truly believe that we must not fear facing the facts about Black history. Perhaps by knowing the facts, we as a nation will be healed.<\/p><p>It\u2019s certainly a place to start.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-768d9be elementor-reverse-tablet elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"768d9be\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-89819c9\" data-id=\"89819c9\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-34ebd91 elementor-absolute elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"34ebd91\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_position&quot;:&quot;absolute&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"571\" src=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-768x571.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium_large size-medium_large wp-image-5908\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-768x571.jpg 768w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-1024x762.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-1536x1142.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Erasure-in-the-Workplace-1-1-2048x1523.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1025d87 elementor-invisible\" data-id=\"1025d87\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;animation&quot;:&quot;fadeIn&quot;,&quot;animation_delay&quot;:300}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7a9ed79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"7a9ed79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Erasure in the Workplace<\/h3>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-18e84ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"18e84ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div dir=\"ltr\" data-setdir=\"false\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div class=\"default-style\"><div data-canvas-width=\"206.608\"><p class=\"ydpb64079fayiv8082072241ydp400b89dfmsonormal\">Being an actor in the workplace is hard work. It is demeaning and degrading. This is an example of \u201cerasure.\u201d Can you imagine how it would feel if the roles were reversed? If we white people had to change our mannerisms, ways of speaking, and expressing ourselves? If we weren\u2019t listened to, treated equally, or given a chance to be who we are, what we value, what we can offer, how far we are able to go?<\/p><p class=\"ydpb64079fayiv8082072241ydp400b89dfmsonormal\">Of course, as in my other paintings, I have exaggerated the differences in dress and attitudes the Black players display. They would not dress like this, nor present themselves as haughty or angry or peeved by the lack of interest in who they are. They would lose their jobs! The erasure is sometimes blatant, but most often, nuanced, subtle, yet always insidious.\u00a0<\/p><p class=\"ydpb64079fayiv8082072241ydp400b89dfmsonormal\">In my opinion, erasure of personhood is worse than rewriting history and ignoring the accomplishments of Blacks (and people of color and members of the LBGTQ+ community).\u00a0\u00a0Being treated as a second-class citizen and being forced to become someone other than who you are, is emotional abuse at its worst.<\/p><p class=\"ydpb64079fayiv8082072241ydp400b89dfmsonormal\">May we accept the fact that all humans deserve to be their authentic selves, that their talents and strengths are given equal value, and that the workplace is a better place when all of us show up&#8230;just as we are.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-41d0faac elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"41d0faac\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-687f104b\" data-id=\"687f104b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-568af097 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"568af097\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<em>Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.&#8221; <\/em><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">~ John Lewis<\/span><\/h3><div style=\"color: initial; font: initial; font-palette: initial; font-synthesis: initial; forced-color-adjust: initial; text-orientation: initial; text-rendering: initial; -webkit-font-smoothing: initial; -webkit-locale: initial; -webkit-text-orientation: initial; -webkit-writing-mode: initial; writing-mode: initial; zoom: initial; accent-color: initial; place-content: initial; place-items: initial; place-self: initial; alignment-baseline: initial; animation-composition: initial; animation: initial; app-region: initial; appearance: initial; aspect-ratio: initial; backdrop-filter: initial; backface-visibility: initial; background: initial; background-blend-mode: initial; baseline-shift: initial; baseline-source: initial; block-size: initial; border-block: initial; border: initial; border-radius: initial; border-collapse: initial; border-end-end-radius: initial; border-end-start-radius: initial; border-inline: initial; border-start-end-radius: initial; border-start-start-radius: initial; inset: initial; box-shadow: initial; box-sizing: initial; break-after: initial; break-before: initial; break-inside: initial; buffered-rendering: initial; caption-side: initial; caret-color: initial; clear: initial; clip: initial; clip-path: initial; clip-rule: initial; color-interpolation: initial; color-interpolation-filters: initial; color-rendering: initial; color-scheme: initial; columns: initial; column-fill: initial; gap: initial; column-rule: initial; column-span: initial; contain: initial; contain-intrinsic-block-size: initial; contain-intrinsic-size: initial; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: initial; container: initial; content: initial; content-visibility: initial; counter-increment: initial; counter-reset: initial; counter-set: initial; cursor: initial; cx: initial; cy: initial; d: initial; display: initial; dominant-baseline: initial; empty-cells: initial; fill: initial; fill-opacity: initial; fill-rule: initial; filter: initial; flex: initial; flex-flow: initial; float: initial; flood-color: initial; flood-opacity: initial; grid: initial; grid-area: initial; height: initial; hyphenate-character: initial; hyphenate-limit-chars: initial; hyphens: initial; image-orientation: initial; image-rendering: initial; initial-letter: initial; inline-size: initial; inset-block: initial; inset-inline: initial; isolation: initial; letter-spacing: initial; lighting-color: initial; line-break: initial; list-style: initial; margin-block: initial; margin: initial; margin-inline: initial; marker: initial; mask: initial; mask-type: initial; math-depth: initial; math-shift: initial; math-style: initial; max-block-size: initial; max-height: initial; max-inline-size: initial; max-width: initial; min-block-size: initial; min-height: initial; min-inline-size: initial; min-width: initial; mix-blend-mode: initial; object-fit: initial; object-position: initial; object-view-box: initial; offset: initial; opacity: initial; order: initial; orphans: initial; outline: initial; outline-offset: initial; overflow-anchor: initial; overflow-clip-margin: initial; overflow-wrap: initial; overflow: initial; overlay: initial; overscroll-behavior-block: initial; overscroll-behavior-inline: initial; overscroll-behavior: initial; padding-block: initial; padding: initial; padding-inline: initial; page: initial; page-orientation: initial; paint-order: initial; perspective: initial; perspective-origin: initial; pointer-events: initial; position: initial; quotes: initial; r: initial; resize: initial; rotate: initial; ruby-position: initial; rx: initial; ry: initial; scale: initial; scroll-behavior: initial; scroll-margin-block: initial; scroll-margin: initial; scroll-margin-inline: initial; scroll-padding-block: initial; scroll-padding: initial; scroll-padding-inline: initial; scroll-snap-align: initial; scroll-snap-stop: initial; scroll-snap-type: initial; scroll-timeline: initial; scrollbar-gutter: initial; shape-image-threshold: initial; shape-margin: initial; shape-outside: initial; shape-rendering: initial; size: initial; speak: initial; stop-color: initial; stop-opacity: initial; stroke: initial; stroke-dasharray: initial; stroke-dashoffset: initial; stroke-linecap: initial; stroke-linejoin: initial; stroke-miterlimit: initial; stroke-opacity: initial; stroke-width: initial; tab-size: initial; table-layout: initial; text-align: center; text-align-last: initial; text-anchor: initial; text-combine-upright: initial; text-decoration: initial; text-decoration-skip-ink: initial; text-emphasis: initial; text-emphasis-position: initial; text-indent: initial; text-overflow: initial; text-shadow: initial; text-size-adjust: initial; text-transform: initial; text-underline-offset: initial; text-underline-position: initial; white-space: initial; timeline-scope: initial; touch-action: initial; transform: initial; transform-box: initial; transform-origin: initial; transform-style: initial; transition: initial; translate: initial; user-select: initial; vector-effect: initial; vertical-align: initial; view-timeline: initial; view-transition-name: initial; visibility: initial; border-spacing: initial; -webkit-box-align: initial; -webkit-box-decoration-break: initial; -webkit-box-direction: initial; -webkit-box-flex: initial; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: initial; -webkit-box-orient: initial; -webkit-box-pack: initial; -webkit-box-reflect: initial; -webkit-line-break: initial; -webkit-line-clamp: initial; -webkit-mask-box-image: initial; -webkit-mask: initial; -webkit-mask-composite: initial; -webkit-print-color-adjust: initial; -webkit-rtl-ordering: initial; -webkit-ruby-position: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: initial; -webkit-text-combine: initial; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: initial; -webkit-text-fill-color: initial; -webkit-text-security: initial; -webkit-text-stroke: initial; -webkit-user-drag: initial; -webkit-user-modify: initial; widows: initial; width: initial; will-change: initial; word-break: initial; word-spacing: initial; x: initial; y: initial; z-index: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"color: initial; font: initial; font-palette: initial; font-synthesis: initial; forced-color-adjust: initial; text-orientation: initial; text-rendering: initial; -webkit-font-smoothing: initial; -webkit-locale: initial; -webkit-text-orientation: initial; -webkit-writing-mode: initial; writing-mode: initial; zoom: initial; accent-color: initial; place-content: initial; place-items: initial; place-self: initial; alignment-baseline: initial; animation-composition: initial; animation: initial; app-region: initial; appearance: initial; aspect-ratio: initial; backdrop-filter: initial; backface-visibility: initial; background: initial; background-blend-mode: initial; baseline-shift: initial; baseline-source: initial; block-size: initial; border-block: initial; border: initial; border-radius: initial; border-collapse: initial; border-end-end-radius: initial; border-end-start-radius: initial; border-inline: initial; border-start-end-radius: initial; border-start-start-radius: initial; inset: initial; box-shadow: initial; box-sizing: initial; break-after: initial; break-before: initial; break-inside: initial; buffered-rendering: initial; caption-side: initial; caret-color: initial; clear: initial; clip: initial; clip-path: initial; clip-rule: initial; color-interpolation: initial; color-interpolation-filters: initial; color-rendering: initial; color-scheme: initial; columns: initial; column-fill: initial; gap: initial; column-rule: initial; column-span: initial; contain: initial; contain-intrinsic-block-size: initial; contain-intrinsic-size: initial; contain-intrinsic-inline-size: initial; container: initial; content: initial; content-visibility: initial; counter-increment: initial; counter-reset: initial; counter-set: initial; cursor: initial; cx: initial; cy: initial; d: initial; display: initial; dominant-baseline: initial; empty-cells: initial; fill: initial; fill-opacity: initial; fill-rule: initial; filter: initial; flex: initial; flex-flow: initial; float: initial; flood-color: initial; flood-opacity: initial; grid: initial; grid-area: initial; height: initial; hyphenate-character: initial; hyphenate-limit-chars: initial; hyphens: initial; image-orientation: initial; image-rendering: initial; initial-letter: initial; inline-size: initial; inset-block: initial; inset-inline: initial; isolation: initial; letter-spacing: initial; lighting-color: initial; line-break: initial; list-style: initial; margin-block: initial; margin: initial; margin-inline: initial; marker: initial; mask: initial; mask-type: initial; math-depth: initial; math-shift: initial; math-style: initial; max-block-size: initial; max-height: initial; max-inline-size: initial; max-width: initial; min-block-size: initial; min-height: initial; min-inline-size: initial; min-width: initial; mix-blend-mode: initial; object-fit: initial; object-position: initial; object-view-box: initial; offset: initial; opacity: initial; order: initial; orphans: initial; outline: initial; outline-offset: initial; overflow-anchor: initial; overflow-clip-margin: initial; overflow-wrap: initial; overflow: initial; overlay: initial; overscroll-behavior-block: initial; overscroll-behavior-inline: initial; overscroll-behavior: initial; padding-block: initial; padding: initial; padding-inline: initial; page: initial; page-orientation: initial; paint-order: initial; perspective: initial; perspective-origin: initial; pointer-events: initial; position: initial; quotes: initial; r: initial; resize: initial; rotate: initial; ruby-position: initial; rx: initial; ry: initial; scale: initial; scroll-behavior: initial; scroll-margin-block: initial; scroll-margin: initial; scroll-margin-inline: initial; scroll-padding-block: initial; scroll-padding: initial; scroll-padding-inline: initial; scroll-snap-align: initial; scroll-snap-stop: initial; scroll-snap-type: initial; scroll-timeline: initial; scrollbar-gutter: initial; shape-image-threshold: initial; shape-margin: initial; shape-outside: initial; shape-rendering: initial; size: initial; speak: initial; stop-color: initial; stop-opacity: initial; stroke: initial; stroke-dasharray: initial; stroke-dashoffset: initial; stroke-linecap: initial; stroke-linejoin: initial; stroke-miterlimit: initial; stroke-opacity: initial; stroke-width: initial; tab-size: initial; table-layout: initial; text-align: center; text-align-last: initial; text-anchor: initial; text-combine-upright: initial; text-decoration: initial; text-decoration-skip-ink: initial; text-emphasis: initial; text-emphasis-position: initial; text-indent: initial; text-overflow: initial; text-shadow: initial; text-size-adjust: initial; text-transform: initial; text-underline-offset: initial; text-underline-position: initial; white-space: initial; timeline-scope: initial; touch-action: initial; transform: initial; transform-box: initial; transform-origin: initial; transform-style: initial; transition: initial; translate: initial; user-select: initial; vector-effect: initial; vertical-align: initial; view-timeline: initial; view-transition-name: initial; visibility: initial; border-spacing: initial; -webkit-box-align: initial; -webkit-box-decoration-break: initial; -webkit-box-direction: initial; -webkit-box-flex: initial; -webkit-box-ordinal-group: initial; -webkit-box-orient: initial; -webkit-box-pack: initial; -webkit-box-reflect: initial; -webkit-line-break: initial; -webkit-line-clamp: initial; -webkit-mask-box-image: initial; -webkit-mask: initial; -webkit-mask-composite: initial; -webkit-print-color-adjust: initial; -webkit-rtl-ordering: initial; -webkit-ruby-position: initial; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: initial; -webkit-text-combine: initial; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: initial; -webkit-text-fill-color: initial; -webkit-text-security: initial; -webkit-text-stroke: initial; -webkit-user-drag: initial; -webkit-user-modify: initial; widows: initial; width: initial; will-change: initial; word-break: initial; word-spacing: initial; x: initial; y: initial; z-index: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><div style=\"all: initial;\"><div style=\"position: fixed; z-index: 2147483647; inset: 16px; pointer-events: none; font-family: sans-serif; text-align: center;\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5443079c elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"5443079c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-md\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfmco.org\/give-now\/?fund=25543\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Donate to CAA Scholarship Fund<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Painting Descriptions Just my thoughts\u2026landing on the canvas! Monterey County Cultural Heritage Sometimes it\u2019s fun to create a painting for an exhibit that has a theme. I was notified of an upcoming exhibit at Seaside City Hall\u2019s Walter Lee Avery Gallery. \u00a0The exhibit was entitled \u201cCelebrating Our Cultural Heritage.\u201d\u00a0 I got right on it. But&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"hide","_kad_post_layout":"fullwidth","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"unboxed","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"hide","_kad_post_feature":"hide","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2490","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2490"}],"version-history":[{"count":364,"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6900,"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2490\/revisions\/6900"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/casteactionalliance.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}