Sacramento Uprising

It’s been 3 years since I moved to Sacramento.

Just when I am about to leave because my city girl heart craves a little more speed,I am called to be part of something blooming In this often overlooked city.

I’ve stopped convincing Bay Area friends to visit this 2020 and have allowed for the media to do the work. The digital activists of our time and migrants from

other cities who have cultivated a sense of inspiration to the already existing organizations wanting change here,are doing that.

We see organizers like NorCalResist playing a huge role as well as BlackZebra Productions escalating more views for the Sacramento community.

We see murals & people of color occupying affluent parts of town. We see more same sex couples holding hands at McKinley park.

The once “cow town” or Cleveland of Northern California is now a place and epicenter of great change. Years ago,Sacramento saw a renaissance as far as food culture goes. A few Michelin reviews gave it a bit of spotlight as far as eateries go. It was no longer a food desert as new restaurants started opening up and trendy shops rose up all across the Midtown or urban area of this landscape.

As restaurants have started to close due to a declining economy, and CoVid 19 triggers a new challenge for fine dining, a new arising has taken it’s place and has been long overdue.

The realm of Social Justice.

There was a report of about 10k or more people moving from the Bay Area to Sacramento due to gentrification and high rent costs in 2019. Could the culture of the Bay Area and it’s new migrants be influencing the “sleepy” town culture this city once perpetuated? Or have the people here finally found their voice and now have a mass of like

minded individuals who are tangibly using their bodies as presence during acts of activism.

Numbers count.

Showing up counts.

And in 2020 we showed up.

I say “We” because after 3 years and seeing the change in this city it not so married to bludgeoning people with details of my New York City roots.

The change is a change I can stand behind proudly. I’ve watched it grow like the sunflowers in the communal garden space at my non gentrified apartment complex where I still pay $950 a month for.

Is it the people that moved here or the people who stayed and endured?

I beleive it to be an influx of both. Sacramento has for a while tried collectively to be more at the forefront of change.

Most people often forget that this is the Capital of California and many decisions are made here.

People fly from Los Angeles,SF,and many parts of the US to congregate at the State Capitol but quickly hop on an Uber and head home after assuming nothing much else happens here. They pass by the dry rice fields on the way to the airport and maybe stay long enough for a taco at the local Chandos before they go.

But there is more happening,within it’s people.

The shooting of George Floyd in May of 2020 has sparked a sense of solidarity,uprising and community between Black & Brown folx as well as a tireless mission to educate the Caucasian community on how to properly be allies and educate themselves and their families on racism

and the oppressive law enforcement system.

It’s made Born Sacramenteans gleam with pride to see this dormant city fill the streets and often unused parks such as Cesar Chavez Plaza & Southside Park,be new found spaces of activism and unity.

This past month alone 20,000 people filled the streets marching from Cesar Chavez Park & the State Capitol to protest the killings of many black lives by the hands of police.

Not just on social media,has the awareness of this city become amplified but in the quiet hearts of people demonstrating signs of

“Black Lives Matter” among their home windows. Local Businesses taking priority to showcase their support on their storefronts instead of worrying about branding or client relations has been beautiful to see.

A city once overlooked,is now giving a new reputation to the world of change within social justice.

Just yesterday, June 15th the problematic statue of Swiss Pioneer John Sutter,was taken down from in front of the Sutter Health Center in Midtown Sacramento.

People clapped as a monument of oppressive values and slavery of Indigenous lives to elevate this state,was dismantled from it’s pedestal. A sign that Sacramento will not tolerate the glorifying of oppression.

While some pockets of this Suburban city have taken a different stance to these actions,the youth and majority of inner city millennials are on board with the change & are loud about it.

Below are some photos of demonstrations I attended.

May this city and all cities continue to be an example for change as evolution for human rights.