by Barbara Smith

Photos by Earl Edwards

Historically artists have used their creativity and platforms to challenge the status quo, inspire movements, and drive social change. In keeping with this continuum, a coterie of committed artists, advocates for social justice and community members gathered at Santa Ana College last week for an interactive concert, “Artists Against Hate.” Narrated by filmmaker Joyce Lee and playwright/director Maurice Kitchen, the 90-minute program, which featured dance, visual art, spoken word and music, was a celebration of the power of art as well as a call to action.

Joshua Estrada-Romero, Artistic Director of FUSE Dance Company presented “Rise – Fall – Rise

Created by Brian Townsend, Publisher of Precinct Reporter, Tri-County Bulletin and Long Beach Leader, with creative leadership by Kathryn Ervin, Professor Emeritus, Cal State San Bernardino, and Maura Townsend, choreographer/dancer/educator, the concert was the second in a series of three concerts launched last November in response to California’s “Stop the Hate” and “CA vs. Hate” legislation enacted to combat rising hate incidents and crimes and to empower diverse communities. The concert was 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.

Attorney General Rob Bonta’s latest statewide hate crime data has reported a 20% surge. Orange County, where the concert was held, saw a huge jump in 2022 compared with the previous year, according to an annual report released late last year by the OC Human Relations Commission. Over the past five years, there was a 75% increase in hate crimes and 142% increase in hate incidents, according to the report. “We continue to see Black and Jewish communities targeted but given the national rhetoric around the LGBTQ community we’re not surprised to see a 126% increase (from 2021-22) that targets that community,” said Alison Edwards, chief executive of the Commission. And with Orange County home to over 700,000 people

G.R.E.E.N. Foundation Executive Director Ernesta Wright (Left) is shown with some of the large contingent she brought to support the CA vs Hate Campaign

of Asian descent, in 2020, 76 of 263 reported hate incidents targeted Asians, according to a report published in May in the Orange County Register. The G.R.E.E.N Foundation is an Orange County-based organization making inroads on increasing reporting and offering resources to combat the tide of hate crimes. Executive Director Ernesta Wright, who supported the “Artists Against Hate” program at Santa Ana College, offered, “Our role is to educate and inform and offer support to our community members, including navigating resources on how to report and get help. It is devastating when someone is targeted, and our mission is to educate people to their power and privilege.”

Cynthia Busby of Busby Promotions, Artistic Director Maura Townsend of Maura Townsend Dance Project, and Bernard Brown, Artistic Director bbmoves.

Each performance at Thursday’s concert, with creativity and passion, served as both a mirror and a window, allowing audience members to reflect within themselves and their experiences as well as offering glimpses into other worlds. Kybele Dance Theatre, featuring Seda Aybay and Nick Albuja in SINIZ/SIZ, demonstrated with grace and athleticism a lush and powerful statement of the struggles we face separated by borders before we can find a path forward to connections. “The Sweetness of Sweat” under the direction of Bernard Brown, bbmoves, with dancers Maxima Lyght and Malachi Middleton, brought out eerie parallels of the COVID -19 pandemic with that of HIV-AIDS, suggesting a backdrop of systemic racism. In this powerful performance of strength and vulnerability, two queer men of color find solace in each other, connected through sweat and comforted by found intimacy.

A special performance by San Bernardino-based vocalist William Lacey drew extended applause with his arrangement of Marvin Gaye’s iconic social protest song “What’s Goin’ On,” and later, a sweet, melodious rendition of Billy Taylor’s 1963 civil rights anthem “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.” Multiple artists including Nina Simone have covered this classic, and, with his silky, soulful vocalizing, it was clear that Lacey did Billy Taylor proud.

The Maura Townsend Dance Project’s two performances, “Bitter Brew,” based on the Langston Hughes poem, and “They Matter,” created in response to the #MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements blended spoken word, visual art and music in an exquisite multicultural expression that culminated in bringing communities together. Said Artistic Director Townsend, “One thing we are hoping to accomplish with this project is to open people’s eyes regarding the atmosphere today, to break through the negativity, to be accepting to others, because we all share a common humanity.”

Actor and Filmmaker Joyce Lee talks to audience about resources available to combat and recover from hate incidents.

Dancer and choreographer Deborah Brockus’ Dance Company, featuring music by Manhattan Transfer and poetry by James Mihaley, presented “Empathy and Kindness,” a beautifully choreographed statement about embodying hope to make the world a better place.

Joshua Estrada-Romero, founder and artistic director of Orange County-based FUSE Dance Company, and faculty member of Santa Ana College, presented “Rise – Fall – Rise,” a moving and beautifully executed piece, which he describes as “a dance/prayer for those queer individuals who have lost their lives due to hate, a prayer for those that have taken the lives of queer individuals, and lastly a prayer for those in our community who push forward with love, light, and equality.”

Project Director Kathryn Ervin expressed pride in the project and is excited as it moves forward. “One of the most important parts of this event is the expressions against hate provided by the various Dance companies. They are all so different in their approaches… and with important perspectives. The dance showcases that the impact of hate is the human experience expressed by the human body. Dance is a powerful tool for bringing that message forward. I hope our audiences felt that.”

As part of the program, members of the diverse audience were encouraged to engage in conversation. An Ethiopian man shared that in 1991 in Bellflower, he had purchased a “covenant home,” (one which restricted ownership to whites), after which he was the target of racial slurs and eggs thrown at his home. An Asian

Vocalist William Lacey sang rousing renditions setting the mood to combat hate

American woman recalled being the victim of violence after flying the LGBTQ flag on her front lawn. “I am a survivor of crime and also an artist,” shared attendee Tiffany Lee. “I’m here to support everyone who has faced adversity. We are all human and we should be supporting each other.”

Added Kobina Wright, visual artist and G.R.E.E.N Foundation board member, “Often the artist community addresses issues the larger society hasn’t thought about. We can be instrumental in shaping ideas, moving us forward in unexpected ways. If we find out what we are afraid of, we can open minds.”

Any victim of or witness to a hate incident or crime in California can report it and receive support at CAvsHate.org. One can also call 833-8-NO-HATE. For more information, reach out to info@cavshate.org.

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 https://www.cavshate.org/.