Tag: Safe spaces

Love ya’ self queen

Black Humboldt hosted a self love workshop on Feb. 16

Black Humboldt founders Dionna Fletcher and Mo Desir provided a safe space for women of color to join and have fun with each other. “Love Ya’ Self Queen” was an event that allowed guests to enjoy themselves as they took part in yoga practices, dancing lessons, hair care tips, essential oils, music and laughs Saturday night, Feb. 16.

Sangria, chocolate and other treats displayed on a table for guests to have. Feb.16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

The night started off with a short yoga practice instructed by Fletcher. Yoga mats were placed in a small circle, inviting all the guests to come together and share the space. Fletcher is an instructor-in-training, with a focus in teaching Afrocentric-based yoga. She led the session beautifully; taking deep breaths and loosening up the muscles proved to be an excellent way to begin the event.

After relaxed guests finished one more deep breath, a workshop with essential oils was next on the list. The air quickly smelled of citrus and peppermint as Rosemary Grady, longtime friend of both Fletcher and Desir, shared the benefits of natural medicines and oils in a short workshop. Grady has had an interest in essential oils for a while. After discovering what different smells can do to a person’s sensory memory, she dove in deeper with her research.

Essential oils scattered around the room for all guests to see and smell the different scents. Feb. 16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

Grady said citrus reminds her of the times she would visit the orange trees with her family in Riverside. She also mentioned that lavender has helped her many times with anxiety and stress. Natural resources also help benefit your health, instead of using products that contain harmful chemicals that can affect your body.

Rosemary Grady leading a workshop with essential oils and other natural medicines. Feb. 16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

Later, after a choreographed dance lesson uplifted the room with many smiles, Desir and Fletcher shared helpful tips for those struggling with different hair types such as thick, curly hair. As participants created hair masks, they suggested using coconut oil in your hair last rather than first, because it blocks out other products from entering your hair, and, for curls, it’s best to wash it once a week to prevent it from getting dry and brittle.

Desir presented an easy recipe for a hair mask consisting of Mayonnaise (vegan mayonnaise is an option), honey, extra virgin olive oil and coconut oil. An avocado or banana can be added to make it thicker. Everybody was given a sample to use at home along with a homemade sugar scrub.

Ingredients being used to create a homemade hair mask. Feb. 16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

After that, the circle opened up about their experiences with their hair and other difficulties that they’ve gone through being women of color.

“I straightened my hair for a really long time throughout middle school and high school,” Grady said. “It wasn’t until I went to college… it was actually black women telling me what to use for my hair; it wasn’t until I lived in that environment where I was supported by women of color, I started to embrace myself and love myself a lot more.”

With an entire county that lacks in diversity, Fletcher and Desir wanted to establish reliable and entertaining spaces for people of color to express themselves without having to feel restricted because of an uncomfortable or unfamiliar environment.

“Every month we try to find new themes and innovative ways to be together,” Fletcher said.

Body High Pole Dance studio sign. “Love Ya’ Self Queen” was held at a POC local owned business. Feb. 16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

Black Humboldt normally holds events in black-owned businesses, to promote and give the black community a variety of places to visit and so people of color can explore new spaces and find more diversity in this county. “Love Ya’ Self Queen” was held at the Body High Pole Dance Studio, owned by Naomi Leitu and Natalie Abeja, both women of color.

“We specifically chose this space because it is black-owned,” Fletcher said.

Desir said that they hold events in black-owned businesses to support and display a positive place for people of color to attend.

“This is a POC owned facility,” Desir said. “I think a big emphasis we are trying to do is to create that safe space.”

Mo Desir and other women taking a break in between workshops. Feb. 16. | Photo by Skylar Gaven.

Fletcher and Desir both knew that having a group that works toward building a strong black community in a largely white population would be great for Humboldt. They want to share inviting environments as well as values and support for local people of color.

“We are hoping to create a strong black community, create black economic empowerment for black businesses the most that we can,” Desir said.

Look for more events from Black Humboldt by checking out their official website.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Transgender is not a trend, it’s tough

Transgender professor identifies how legislation hurts the trans community

Dr. Loren Cannon, an award-winning HSU philosophy professor with numerous published essays, presented a talk focused on trans-directed injustice to a room overflowing with students and community members on Thursday, Feb. 7.

HSU students Elijah Patterson and Summer Gilstrap, who identify as trans, were inspired by Cannon’s experience and wanted to show their support.

“[Cannon’s] a successful, fully transitioned male and it’s a goal [for me],” Patterson said.

Students and community members gather to hear Loren Cannon talk about trans injustice on Thursday, February 7. | Photo by Christina Samoy.

Cannon believes the Obama administration had an understanding of Title IX, a law that protects people from being sexually discriminated against, which he said the Trump administration does not.

“Title IX should be interpreted how the Obama administration did,”Cannon said. “They did it correctly.”
[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Summer Gilstrap” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]”It’s a blatant attack against trans people. They’re not interested in protecting people.”[/perfectpullquote]
Gilstrap, a political science major who identifies as a trans woman, agrees that the Trump administration is silencing trans people, not allowing them to be heard.

“It’s a blatant attack against trans people,” Gilstrap said.. “They’re not interested in protecting people.”

After showing “Keeping Massachusetts Safe,” a commercial made to inflict fear that trans people will assault cisgender people in restrooms, Cannon shared a story where he found himself in a similar situation.

A couple months into transitioning, while teaching at Arizona State University, Cannon went to use the restroom, not knowing two little girls were in the stall next to him. A woman ran out alerting the girl’s fathers that a man, Cannon, was in the restroom. Cannon, gender ambiguous looking at the time, tried to look as womanly as possible, smiling as he exited.

“I preformed femaleness well, so I didn’t get hurt, but the option isn’t always there,” Cannon said.

Some people eventually choose not to go out because they can’t participate in society because they’re prohibited from using restrooms due to their gender identity. Cannon found studies showed trans people are likely to develop PTSD due to fear of bathrooms, which can lead to urinary tract infections.

“A lot of other trans people have debilitating dysphoria around restrooms that can cause real psychological harm,” Gilstrap said.

In response to a student asking how HSU can improve the safety of trans lives, Cannon said gender neutral bathrooms on the BSS side of campus is needed, as well as a LGBTQ+ center funded by professionals as a permanent position so administration can be there to advocate for LGBTQ+ people.

Students and community members gather to hear Loren Cannon talk about trans injustice on Thursday, February 7. | Photo by Christina Samoy.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Neesh Wells” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”There’s still a lot of things trans folks that are affected by. We just want to be respected as people.”[/perfectpullquote]
While HSU has made improvements like allowing students to change their preferred name and pronouns in their student center, there are still improvements that can be made. Neesh Wells, a non-binary-identifying student, wants others to know that they don’t have to be afraid of trans folks or non-binary people.

“There’s still a lot of things trans folks that are affected by,” Wells said. “We just want to be respected as people.”

Offering classes that bring awareness to the LGBTQ+ community more often in course rotations may help people from outside the community gain more knowledge about people within the community and the struggles they face.

“I personally think it’s super important to continue involving folks who don’t identify as cis gender,” Wells said.

Maral Attallah, who planned the event, pointed out that Lisa Bond-Maupin, the College of Arts and Humanities dean, was the only university administrator to attend the talk. Attallah, like many other supporters, highlighted the importance of representation and support from allies outside of the community to help advocate for issues the LGBTQ+ community faces.

Having representation is important for groups who don’t always feel welcomed. Giving Cannon a platform to share his stories and knowledge allows others to use that safe space to share their own thoughts and experiences.

“It’s inspiring to see someone be successful, who I can relate to,” Patterson said.

Correction Feb. 20 5:25pm: This article previously listed Lisa Bond-Maupin as the only faculty in attendance.

Friday, February 8, 2019