by Barbara Smith

Art has the power to shape perspectives, ignite conversations, and inspire meaningful change. As hate crimes in our state continue to rise, a gathering of talented, committed artists convened at San Bernardino Valley College last week to present a “Stand Against Hate” concert that not only entertained but encouraged dialogue and community engagement, and, at the same time, raised awareness of tools newly available for reporting hate crimes and services to help heal.

Sponsored by the Precinct Reporter Group, Thursday’s “Stand Against Hate” performance was the first in a series of concerts that will take place in the coming months under the auspices of Governor Gavin Newsom’s recent launching of a wide-ranging, state-wide Stop the Hate program designed to empower diverse communities and address discrimination.

“Our goal tonight is to uplift our communities to stand against hate,” said project director Kathryn Ervin, a theatre professional and educator. Performances included dance, visual art, film, poetry and spoken word throughout the interactive concert with themes centered around communities of color, religious groups, and LGBTQ+ communities, significantly those groups most often targeted by hate crimes.

Choreographer and artistic director Maura Townsend’s Dance Project’s “Bitter Brew,” inspired by the Langston Hughes poem, and “They Matter,” both artfully performed, incorporated a variety of dance styles and movements, with themes reflecting friction and conflict, followed by a provocative resolution. Stacey Jordan’s visual art projected behind the dancers gave added nuance to the performance.

The Kybele Dance Theatre led by Turkish-born choreographer and artistic director Seda Aybay, offered a dance with syncopated rhythms in a narrative that illustrated struggles and challenges created by borders erected between individuals and communities and how those borders can be taken down, revealing connections between different genders, races, and nationalities.

In our current climate, gay, lesbian, and transgender people are an easy target. Choreographer Bernard Brown, artistic director of bbmoves, presented “Sweetness and Sweat,” a painfully beautiful dance that brought to the surface disturbing parallels between the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the COVID 19 pandemic, reflected, in his words, “how the US government neglected those communities affected by those pandemics.”

Hosts Ron Berglas and Joyce Lee offered narration throughout, citing a shocking increase of hate and bias in areas including anti-Jewish, anti-Muslim, anti-Protestant, anti-transgender, and anti-gay. Notably, 2022 data show that in California, Blacks represented about 30% of its reported hate crime victims, according to the Attorney General’s office.

Said Berglas, a professional actor, educator and mediator, “The CAvsHate campaign asks us to stand against hate. Reporting hate crimes sends a message of zero tolerance, and it eliminates the power that rests in anonymity.” With the CAvsHate program, a new hotline and website is available that provides a safe, anonymous reporting option for victims and witnesses of hate acts. CAvsHate was launched in direct response to the rise in reported hate crimes in California which reached their highest levels since 2001, jumping almost 33% from 2020 to 2021.

For narrator and filmmaker Joyce Lee, the impact of hate crimes on families inspired her short film “Essence of Love,” a moving portrayal of a Muslim girl caught up in the aftermath of 9-11. “Hate crimes affect not only the victim, but their family, friends, and the entire community,” said Lee.

One of the most stirring moments in the 90-minute concert was an audio rendering of the Billie Holiday anti-lynching protest anthem “Strange Fruit,” With the lights low in the auditorium, Holiday’s hauntingly beautiful voice rings out with the backdrop of a classic black and white photo of her leaning toward a microphone. Her recording is said to have been an important declaration for the Civil Rights movement. Even so, lynchings were a regular part of the social fabric in the United States for decades and it was not until March 2022 that President Joe Biden signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, classifying lynching as a federal hate crime.

Poet/activist Romaine Washington powerfully connected past with present with her poem “Strange Fruit: Communion,” written specifically for this event. Inviting the audience to participate with the word “ashe” or amen, her poem elegiacally recounted the tragic killings of unarmed black teens and men: Oscar Grant (2009), Trayvon Martin (2012), Jordan Davis (2015), Kalief Browder (2015), and George Floyd (2020). With each came the refrain, “We die with you.”

For attendee Ipyani Lockert, a faith rooted organizer, the evening was a heartwarming experience. “I’m proud to be here to see how creativity can be used to cultivate unity and love.” Jennifer Tilton, associate professor of race and ethnic studies at University of Redlands, was stirred by the emotional content of the dances presented. “I loved the dynamics of their movement and the way each connected through the divide.”

Project director Kathryn Ervin expressed gratitude to all who worked so hard to bring the important message of standing up to hate to the community. “I am very excited by the positive response of the audience at San Bernardino Valley College,” she said, adding that the program will be presented to two other regions in the Inland Empire. For further information on the Precinct Reporter “Stop the Hate” project, visit www.precinctreporter.com or call 909-889-0597.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.