By Dianne Anderson

In the conservative battleground of Orange County where racial division runs deep, organizers are carving out space for community building and something a lot less familiar lately, solidarity in joy.

On Sunday, July 12, “Joy as Resistance” is set to explore art, music and deeper dialogue about how Black and Brown communities are standing together in a county usually divided by race and politics.

Deborah Burke, founder and president of House of Deborah Jane Studios, said she believes they are on a spiritual mission of creating social change through the arts.

“In a time when many communities of color are under attack, marginalized, and isolated, safeguarding our humanity becomes more important than ever,” she said. “Our joy, our unity, and our artistic expression is our collective power. Joy is our spiritual mission. This is how we change the world.”

Activities at the free event include live performances, music and dance, guest speakers, an open mic, roundtables on identity, faith and social justice, a community mural and a kids’ play area. The event runs 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. at 4th Street Market, 201 E. 4th Street in Santa Ana. Parking is available at 5th and Spurgeon.

Burke, the daughter of Guyanese immigrants, grew up in Orange County’s mostly white suburbs, where she often felt isolated as one of the only Black kids in the room. In 2023, she produced “Strange Fruit, A Hip Hopera,” a performance focused on racial reconciliation and healing that drew on hip‑hop and theater to address race and history.

“Joy as a revolutionary act of resistance speaks to honoring our collective humanity,” she said. “It is the expression of our spirit, the celebration of ourselves, and the spreading of our joy that is revolutionary in itself because it boldly declares our humanity in a world that denies it.”

That experience reinforced her sense that art can open doors when policy arguments hit a wall. She said her song “The OC” chronicles what it was like to come of age in a place where Black communities were scattered and sometimes invisible. It also traces her search for belonging in a county better known for beach towns and conservative politics than for Black and Brown cultural life.

In 2024, after “The OC” gained traction, Burke secured a Santa Ana Arts and Culture Grant and turned that personal story into a public gathering. The first OC event was a small, grassroots effort designed to give artists and community members a place to share their voices, talents and stories.

She wants the community to come out and celebrate, not as an escape, but as a source of connection, resilience and collective power.

“We hope they take away a deep sense of community, learn something new about their neighbors, express their stories in a safe environment, and be invigorated to make social change,” she said. “Most importantly, we want them to lean into their joy.”

Nonprofit leader and event co‑producer Tiesha Hutchins says the event is rooted in Black and Brown coalition‑building but welcomes everyone, including the local Asian community, and anyone who comes in the spirit of unity. She commended Burke for creating the space and in helping connect more local leaders and partners to the effort.

“For me it is about sharing the things we have in common, the joy, the music, dance, culture, the food, and just being in community together,” Hutchins said.

A longtime advocate for economic equity, Bobby McDonald, CEO of the Black Chamber of Orange County, will speak at the event. Dr. Shelley Burke, a UC Irvine professor and Doctor of Nursing Practice and author of “Unsung Heroes, Nurses,” is also featured, along with community muralist Salina Mendoza.

Dignitaries include Adam Tallabas from the Orange County Supervisor’s Office and Dr. Paula Swift, described by organizers as the first Black elected legislator in Orange County, who is now running for the California State Assembly.

Organizers say they hope conversations at the event will connect people with local leaders and organizations they might not otherwise meet

“We show each other our humanity through the eyes of one another,” Hutchins said. “One neighbor at a time, one person sitting next to someone breaking bread that they did not know before. That is how we try to do it.”

For more information, see:

Eventbrite RSVP 714 Unity Day: Annual Black and Brown in the OC
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/714-unity-day-annual-black-and-brown-in-the-oc-tickets-1991721894803eventbrite