Dear friends, relatives, and accomplices,
How are you? It’s been a minute. It feels like we just wrapped up our Solstice Gala, and we’re already launching full throttle into a packed spring event season. With all our projects in the works, it’s hard to know where to start. We have so much to share with you all about our partnership at Estevan Park, but that will be next time, because it’s Black History month, and we have a lot to talk about.
Black History month has us thinking a lot about how we honor our Black collective members, what we’re doing to stand behind, and support our Black community at large. In the wake of yet another horrific murder carried out against a Black man by police, we’ve spent the beginning of this month sitting in intense grief and rage at the fundamentally racist system we’re contending with. How can megacorporations use the momentum and anger of the people for ad campaigns, and the government claim to care about Black lives as it carries out racial killings daily?
We want to invite you to take a moment now to think about Tyre Nicholas. He was 29 years old, he lived in Memphis, he loved skateboarding, and he was a father. He deserved a long life, to see his son grow up. No amount of media coverage, no hashtag, no conviction of the murderers who took his life will change what happened to him. His name will be echoed at protests, on the news, and on social media, but all we can think of now is how. many. times. This keeps happening. Another name added to the list that is far, far too long– another killer cop given an arbitrary sentence. Every day we feel the unbearable weight of living under this regime that claims to celebrate diversity as it carries out lynchings. Tyre was a man, his name was meant to call him, not become a buzzword. We don’t have an optimistic closing sentence right now, so we invite you to do what we’re doing- feel it.
All that being said, it is still so important to resist, not to give up hope. The most beautiful, and yet overlooked response to grief and rage, is joy. This Black History month, we are honoring Black joy. Not just Black History, what about Black present? Our two incredibly talented, creative, fucking badass Black collective members- Sam Bloom and Monk Akilah, are hosting an incredible celebration of Blackness. Despite the heartbreak, hell, because of the heartbreak, not despite the rage but with the rage, they have worked tirelessly to organize an event honoring so many Black creatives in Tucson- poets, DJ’s, musicians, and artists of all kinds. Come celebrate Black lives being lived, joyfully and unapologetically, in spite of a system rigged to sabotage them. Sam and Monk have been indispensable members of Splinter Collective since soon after its inception. Sam has taken on our monthly poetry night, Interrupted by Trains (which this month is taking a pivot to Interrupted by Blackness!) and Monk is behind most of our social media presence and communication. We are so grateful to have them both as accomplices and relatives.
Which brings me to our closing thoughts- Monk and Sam are both raising money for their families this month. They’ve poured countless hours and energy into making something truly amazing happen for the community. And they both have kids to feed. Monk is also fundraising for his own gender affirming surgery. If you’ve ever said the words “Black lives matter while they’re alive” now’s your chance to put that sentiment in action! Show your Black community some love. All Black Everything will happen two days in a row at the end of this month- February 24th 12pm-7pm, and February 25th 7pm-12pm. Join us for soul food by Monica Jones, Black artisans vending art of all kinds, music, and poetry. Allies- you can purchase tickets at givebutter.com/allblackeverything. To donate directly to Sam and Monk’s family funds, text ALLBLACK to (202) 858-1233. Attached to this email, you’ll find the official All Black Everything sponsorship packet. If you’ve got the means, I highly encourage you to open your wallet for this. In Monk’s words, close out Black history month with people who ARE Black history. See you there.
To Black History, Black future, and Black joy,
Splinter