The tragic events that propelled the destruction of the "Walking Stick" Mural on the Martinez Wall to the discussion and creation of the "Queen Califia Rules!" Mural.
The angel at the feet of Queen Califia is of crucial importance to the mural's message. He is represented by a black young man wearing a hoodie and his name is Juan Diego. We wanted to bring attention to the tragic events that have horrified the nation and the world in regards to police brutality against black people, more specifically, black young men. We insist that these topics become part of our institution's regular discussions and strongly desire that the CCA community recognizes this need as they walk by the black angel wearing a hoodie on the mural. We also wanted to bring attention and connect this issue to the Latino community who has also experienced similar injustices on a smaller scale. Juan Diego represents a story in Mexican history and folklore. St. Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin (1474–1548), a native of Mexico , is the first Roman Catholic indigenous saint from the Americas. He was instrumental in the representation of the Virgin of Guadalupe, as saint with brown skin. In the mural, we chose to represent Queen Califia also with elements of Our Virgin of Guadalupe as a reflection of the demographics of the land of California where there is black and latin communities often live in the same neighborhoods and attend the same schools. We also found it significant to highlight this fusion by presenting an important character in Mexican culture and the now recognized symbol of the young black man wearing a hoodie. We chose to use mythical and sacred characters because we recognize that characters, such as Our Virgin of Guadalupe, go beyond religion and myth. In fact, they are more representative of culture and of the power of being able to see your own reflection in what is sacred. Or, what I personally like to call "sacred mirrors". |
|
Trayvon Martin
Feb. 26, 2012 Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman fatally shoots unarmed 17-yearold Trayvon Martin after an altercation in a Sanford, Fla., subdivision. The incident sparked a national conversation about race and prompted President Obama to say that were he to have a son, “he’d look like Trayvon.” Zimmerman, who argued that he acted in self-defense, was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013. |
![]() Michael Brown
Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager, was shot and killed on Aug. 9, 2014, by Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in Ferguson, Mo., a suburb of St. Louis. The shooting prompted protests that roiled the area for weeks. On Nov. 24, the St. Louis County prosecutor announced that a grand jury decided not to indict Mr. Wilson. The announcement set off another wave of protests. In March, the Justice Department called on Ferguson to overhaul its criminal justice system, declaring that the city had engaged in constitutional violations. |
Oscar Grant
Oscar Grant was fatally shot by BART police officer Johannes Mehserle in Oakland, CA. in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2009. Responding to reports of a fight on a crowded train. BART Police detained Grant and several other passengers on the platform at the Fruitvale BART Station. Officer Johannes Mehserle and another officer were restraining Grant, who was lying face down and handcuffed. Officer Mehserle stood, drew his pistol and shot Grant once in the back. Grant was unarmed; he was pronounced dead the next morning. |
![]() Andy Lopez
Andy Lopez was fatally shot by Sonoma County sheriff's deputy Erick Gelhaus on October 22, 2013, in Santa Rosa, CA. 13-year-old Lopez was walking through a vacant lot and carrying an gun that was designed to resemble an AK-47 assault rifle. Gelhaus opened fire on Lopez, mistaking the airsoft gun for a real firearm. The shooting prompted many protests in Santa Rosa, and throughout California. District Attorney Jill Ravitch announced no charges would be filed against Gelhaus. |
An Incomplete Timeline Of Unarmed Black People Killed By Police in 2014-15
April 30, 2014: Dontre Hamilton (Milwaukee)
July 17, 2014: Eric Garner (New York)
Aug. 5, 2014: John Crawford III (Dayton, Ohio)
Aug. 9, 2014: Michael Brown Jr. (Ferguson, Missouri)
Aug. 11, 2014: Ezell Ford (Florence, California)
Aug. 12, 2014: Dante Parker (Victorville, California)
Nov. 13, 2014: Tanisha Anderson (Cleveland)
Nov. 20, 2014: Akai Gurley (Brooklyn, New York)
Nov. 22, 2014: Tamir Rice (Cleveland)
Dec. 2, 2014: Rumain Brisbon (Phoenix)
Dec. 30, 2014: Jerame Reid (Bridgeton, New Jersey)
March 6, 2015: Tony Robinson (Madison, Wisconsin)
March 31, 2015: Phillip White (Vineland, New Jersey)
April 2, 2015: Eric Harris (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
April 4, 2015: Walter Scott (North Charleston, South Carolina)
April 19, 2015: Freddie Gray (Baltimore)
To learn what happened go to:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/nicholasquah/heres-a-timeline-of-unarmed-black-men-killed-by-police-over#.ouoRVBdAy
April 30, 2014: Dontre Hamilton (Milwaukee)
July 17, 2014: Eric Garner (New York)
Aug. 5, 2014: John Crawford III (Dayton, Ohio)
Aug. 9, 2014: Michael Brown Jr. (Ferguson, Missouri)
Aug. 11, 2014: Ezell Ford (Florence, California)
Aug. 12, 2014: Dante Parker (Victorville, California)
Nov. 13, 2014: Tanisha Anderson (Cleveland)
Nov. 20, 2014: Akai Gurley (Brooklyn, New York)
Nov. 22, 2014: Tamir Rice (Cleveland)
Dec. 2, 2014: Rumain Brisbon (Phoenix)
Dec. 30, 2014: Jerame Reid (Bridgeton, New Jersey)
March 6, 2015: Tony Robinson (Madison, Wisconsin)
March 31, 2015: Phillip White (Vineland, New Jersey)
April 2, 2015: Eric Harris (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
April 4, 2015: Walter Scott (North Charleston, South Carolina)
April 19, 2015: Freddie Gray (Baltimore)
To learn what happened go to:
http://www.buzzfeed.com/nicholasquah/heres-a-timeline-of-unarmed-black-men-killed-by-police-over#.ouoRVBdAy
On the Black Lives Matter Movement
#BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, and dead 17-year old Trayvon was post-humously placed on trial for his own murder. Rooted in the experiences of Black people in this country who actively resist our de-humanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society.Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes.
For in depth, expansive and crucially informative please visit the Black Lives Matter website.
http://blacklivesmatter.com/about/
#BlackLivesMatter was created in 2012 after Trayvon Martin’s murderer, George Zimmerman, was acquitted for his crime, and dead 17-year old Trayvon was post-humously placed on trial for his own murder. Rooted in the experiences of Black people in this country who actively resist our de-humanization, #BlackLivesMatter is a call to action and a response to the virulent anti-Black racism that permeates our society.Black Lives Matter is a unique contribution that goes beyond extrajudicial killings of Black people by police and vigilantes.
For in depth, expansive and crucially informative please visit the Black Lives Matter website.
http://blacklivesmatter.com/about/