Letters to the Editor: Raise awareness on murals

San Francisco Chronicle Aug. 8, 2019

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Photo: Associated Press/Eric Risberg

The controversial 13-panel, 1,600-square foot mural, the "Life of Washington" by Victor Arnautoff, is seen at George Washington High School during an open house for the public Thursday, Aug. 1, 2019, in San Francisco. More than a 100 people packed the public high school to view a controversial mural criticized as racist and degrading for its depiction of black and Native American people. School officials opened the school Thursday to allow the viewing of the "Life of Washington" mural. The 83-year-old fresco is slated to be destroyed after the San Francisco School Board voted last month to paint over it.

Regarding “Voters want to keep mural, poll says” (Aug. 7) and “Black leaders back Washington mural” (Aug. 7): At a time when many students and faculty weren’t even aware of Diego Rivera’s Mural of Pan-American Unity at City College, we used a grant for instructional improvement to create lessons on it across the curriculum — English, history, art, graphic design, women’s studies, transitional studies, Latin American history, etc.

According to Phil Matier’s report, a poll shows that voters of color oppose the school board’s decision to paint over Victor Arnautoff’s mural at Washington High School 72% to 12%, and as Michael Cabanatuan reported “Black leaders back Washington mural,” so why doesn’t the San Francisco Board of Education focus on promoting a program that would increase the awareness of all aspects of the mural instead of painting over it?

Students could be given agency to take a close look at it instead of away from it and create artwork and written work expressing their thoughts and feelings. I was shocked at the viewing that they had only provisional signage. They could use a QR code to keep commentary current and inclusive. The Board of Education needs to add to, not subtract from, student learning.

Tina Martin, San Francisco

A Plea to the Culinary Arts Department at CCSF

Dear Trinh,

Happy New Year! 

I only recently found out that you're the lecturer for the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Department--unless that's a different Trinh Tran!

For lots of reasons pertaining to the environment, animal welfare, and health, I'm happy that we're moving away from meat and dairy, and I hope that the Culinary Arts Department can be a part of this movement.  

I'm really impressed by what the FFAC, and I told them about you and all YOU do for CCSF!  I hope you will soon be in touch.

In the meantime, here's the link for something low-tech that I put together to disspell the idea that a plant-based diet is limited. 

What Do Vegans Eat?

What Do Vegans Eat? Photos of some of the plant-based dishes (free of meat, eggs, and dairy) that I enjoyed in 2018 --at home, in th...

Lots of good wishes!

Tina

Address for Donation to Bill McGuire Humanities Scholarship at CCSF

There's a beautiful life tribute to Bill McGuire in today's San Francisco Chronicle.

https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sfgate/obituary.aspx?n=william-mcguire&pid=190931336&fhid=2521

I didn't know Bill well--my loss--but I'm sure the Bill McGuire Humanities Scholarship is as worthy a cause as he was a man.

The only thing I'd change in the write-up is this: The address for us to use for our checks. I've put in CAPS the new street name.

Erin Denney, English Department, Mailbox L 161, CCSF, 50 FRIDA KAHLO WAY 94112

The city will honor both street names, Phelan and Frida Kahlo Way, for five years, I've heard.

I think this would be a very good initiation to our getting along Frida Kahlo Way!

Unveiling of Frida Kahlo Way

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/j9ev2ido65vn34d/AACEYZC8csAgW3hLjodx6FlBa?dl=0

What the AFT 2121 and Peralta Are Doing to Fight "Dark Money"

"Dark Money" as a documentary is good, and so is the book by Jane Mayer, but of course dark money as the way this country is being run is NOT good.

Last Friday I saw the documentary "Dark Money," showing how people in Montana held corporations accountable for using Citizens United and The Right to Work (for Less) illegally, truly conspiring to get into office people who would do the will of the corporations instead of the the will of the citizens of Montana.

That motivated me to join the AFT 2121 and Peralta yesterday in a weekend drive. We went door-to-door to get teachers to sign up to opt into the Union so that we will be strong enough to fight back against corporate electioneering and other undemocratic acts. Here are some of us from AFT 2121 and Peralta as well as a dedicated teacher who came out on crutches to speak with us.

Here's a good article on the case in Montana:

https://www.indiewire.com/2018/07/dark-money-documentary-expose-corporate-election-citizens-united-1201983240/

CARA and AFT 2121 Meet Hillary Ronen Supporting Union Workers at VCA

Yesterday, July 12, several of us CARA members went from our meeting at the ILWU to the VCA, a specialty vet place on Alabama and 18th Street,  to support the employees, whose recently-formed union wasn't being honored by the corporation that bought VCA for $8 billion.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r9kfubvf4lz0xsy/AADPigIJxU1SRYoUKtsu8ev3a?dl=0

CCCSF's Culinary Arts Graduates Enhance Frida Kahlo Way

Ah, City College! On my way to pick up a cake for our celebration of Frida Kahlo's 111th birthday (a celebration begun at 11 Frida Kahlo Way and at 1:00 PM), I was at a crosswalk when a young woman told me she liked my red, and I told her what it was for. She replied, "Oh, I just graduated from City College!" I invited her to join us, but she said she was putting her degree in cinema to work and had an audition that afternoon! Then in the Wholesome Bakery (so sorry about that name) I met three graduates of CCSF's Culinary Arts program! The event itself --beautifully composed, orchestrated, and conducted by Leslie Simon, who got the praise she deserved from Noemi Sohn's heart-felt tribute--was a very meaningful and upbeat way of celebrating Frida Kahlo Way.

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/0t908mdkt1zx1j3/AADZQ8gdmHKyEp4dKoquuk0Ma?dl=0