Unfortunately, our last president was not the problem; our difficulties as a nation are deeper than that. Desperate and disoriented by the pandemic, our country is now at war with itself, and while the hateful violence continues, we must find ways to stop it. The recent proliferation of attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is unacceptable. In a way, it is dumbfounding to me. Who are these perpetrators and what motives could they possibly have? Though I’m sure my AAPI and BIPOC friends are not surprised. In truth, there is nothing new here, only that the pitch has intensified and more white folks are paying attention. But attention is not enough. We must speak out, and we must act, to stop the violence and to provide support to those being harmed. It’s hard to know how to continue the long and complicated process of dismantling white supremacy in the United States, but we shouldn’t feel angry and helpless; this is our chance to move the ball a little further down the field of justice.

Our national history is not a thing of the past to look back on with nostalgia or woe. It’s hard to see it when you’re just trying to get through the week - masks laundered, kids to school, make lunch, buy wine, feed the cat - but we make history every day. We are in it now, as we engage the issues of our time. Our parents and grandparents witnessed, and took part in, many crucial moments in our history, like the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Japanese American internment during WWII, and the Tulsa Race massacre of 1921. These events did not happen to another people. This is our story, and we need to remember every bit of it, and to own it, good and bad. We must study and learn from our past, and find ways to move forward with greater peace and equanimity.

What can we do? We can start by being vigilant and compassionate, and acknowledging that there is a problem. We can look more deeply within ourselves to root out the racism we harbor unawares. We can check in with our friends of color to find ways to make sure they feel safe in our neighborhood. We’re not talking about a far away land; these attacks are occurring right here in Temescal. We can attend a de-escalation course, to develop the skills needed to diffuse a dangerous situation. And we can voice support for the AAPI and BIPOC community among us and volunteer with, or donate to, an organization focused on racial equity, like Oakland Bloom, Good Good Eats, 18 Million Rising, or J Sei.

A sign at a recent Berkeley demonstration said it well: “It should not have to happen to you, for it to matter to you.” Please join us and seize this opportunity to strengthen our community, and change history for the better.

Oakland Yard will donate $30 for every $120 SEASONAL WINE SIX PACK sold during the next two weeks, as well as proceeds from our canvas TOTE BAG sales to GOOD GOOD EATZ, an organization dedicated to “Connecting ethnic food districts across Oakland towards a shared, resilient future.”

With love,
Max