upper waypoint

The Activist History of Japanese American Care Homes; Singing Corridos in Compton; SF Hosts Trans Self-Defense Class

Save ArticleSave Article
Failed to save article

Please try again

El Compa Negro performs “Yo Soy Compton” in front of the Compton Art and History Museum.  (Aisha Wallace-Palomares for KQED)

Listen to this and more in-depth storytelling by subscribing to The California Report Magazine podcast.

J-Sei Home Closes After 30 Years, Leaving Bay Area Japanese Seniors in Need

The 1960s and 70s was a pivotal time for community activism, with the civil rights and anti-war movements, the Black Panther Party and student protests that established ethnic studies on college campuses. That activism led to a decades-old critical lifeline for Japanese American elders: culturally sensitive senior care homes.  But in recent years, these kinds of homes have been closing down -including one in the Bay Area. As Cecilia Lei reports, the closures  highlight how the Japanese-American community is at a crossroads.   

El Compa Negro Plays Traditional Mexican Music, Straight Outta Compton

Compton is known for being the heart of West Coast rap from Dr. Dre .to Kendrick Lamar.  But, Compton has changed– a lot. According to census data, the city’s demographics show over 70% of its residents identify as Latino or Hispanic. This shift can be seen and heard in an artist from Compton named Rhyan Lavelle Lowery, aka El Compa Negro. He’s a Black musician who sings corridos or Mexican storytelling songs. Reporter. Aisha Wallace Palomares takes us on a trip to meet him. 

Amid Rising Threats, Transgender Community Builds Bonds at This SF Self-Defense Class

Many transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive people are feeling vulnerable because of anti-trans policies from the Trump administration. There are a lot of efforts to fight for trans rights on the legal front but there’s also momentum to make sure trans and nonbinary people can defend themselves from threats of physical violence. KQED’s Bianca Taylor takes us to a free self-defense class in San Francisco’s Transgender District, the first legally recognized cultural district of its kind in the world.  

Sponsored

lower waypoint
next waypoint