Ray Ryda walks into Oakland’s Souley Vegan restaurant–six foot two and lanky, a plush forest green jacket, bright jewelry, and glasses adorned in gold. He carries with him and a presence that’s felt. He gives a hug to the restaurant owner, award-winning chef Tamearra Dyson, and then shakes the hand of a guy sitting at […]
Written Piece
Don’t underestimate the power of a change in perspective. Simply rephrasing the question “why did this happen to me?” to “why did this happen for me?” created a whole new worldview for Adimu “WolfHawkJaguar” Madyun, an Oakland-based lyricist, filmmaker and father of six. Don’t underestimate the power of a change in perspective. Simply rephrasing the question […]
Wright, who is also a singer, dancer, filmmaker and manager for the Chiller Gang collective, says the title of Dark Magician isn’t necessarily about what he does, but more about what he’s experienced in life. “I’ve gone through a lot of darkness,” says Wright. “But I’ve learned how to transmute it into light.” The heroic title […]
In April of 2025, just days after her 40th birthday, Jackie Keliiaa stood on stage at Chico State University’s Laxson Auditorium. She was hosting the Good Medicine comedy showcase, with a lineup that featured comedians Brian Bahe, Monique Momoreau, Marc Yaffee, and Deanna Mad. Jackie addressed the crowd, warming them up prior to the evening’s […]
In a city constantly being rebranded and resold, La Doña remains one of its truest storytellers. For Cecilia Cassandra “La Doña” Peña–Govea, music is a tool you offer your community to grieve and celebrate. Growing up in San Francisco’s Mission District and Bernal Heights, Peña-Govea, whose fans know her as La Doña, has had plenty […]
Loveli Mohair and the Radical Legacy of Black Drag Let’s talk about realness. The first person I came out to in my family was my Uncle Ronnie. He came up in San Francisco in the 1960s and 70s, a Black boy whose teachers wrote worried notes on his report cards with concern about his preference […]
