The LA I Sometimes See

As I think about these issues of what multicultural education is and what it isn't I am struck by an episode that happened to me last summer. A good friend of mine was able to get a hold of 2 free tickets to the Playboy Jazz Festival. With a little reshuffling of my schedule I was all set to go. As we got to the venue it was like any other festival. Lots of people checking out the bands still hundreds more outside of the venue eating, talking, grabbing a beer or a glass of wine as the sun beamed down upon us. It looked like any other great day of music in LA. I looked on the bill to see who would be playing next when my friend reminded me that Ozomatli were on the bill. I had seen them many times I thought to myself and to be quite honest I just sort of shrugged my shoulders at the thought of seeing them again. Hey don't get me wrong I think they are a great band. From the first day I saw them I was hooked but they had not released a new album yet and they are not exactly jazz. I wondered how the crowd might react to them. I figured I would catch their first two songs and then find myself outside with a beer in hand people watching.

The stage started to revolve and MC Bill Cosby announced the next group............OZOMATLI!!!!!! The group emerged from the middle of the crowd marching and banging on drums. They hit the stage and went into their first tune and completely electrified the audience. Everyone seemed to be on their feet cheering. The entire crowd suddenly came alive. People were up dancing in the aisles. I couldn't help but notice the older African Americans and Latinos who if you asked them would probably say they don't like Rap pumping their hands in the air to the blast of the Rap tunes the group performed. I saw Black, Brown, Asian, Indian and White moving their hips in time to the Salsa beats the group churned out. The aisles seemed to be filled with folks of every shade dancing to the music. By the time they got to their last tune a multiracial conga line formed and was making its way through the crowd.

As the last song played I thought to myself, what have I just witnessed? Why have I been so moved by this performance today? It was because I saw the potential we have in the city of Los Angeles. It was because I was bearing witness to how we can come together and cross lines and barriers to create a new community, one that beats vibrantly under the hot summer sun. One that understands and respects difference but sees the power of unity. How amazing to see this type of display just weeks after a divisive mayoral election that some say pitted Black against Brown. Do we sometimes clash over issues of race and class? Yes. Do we sometimes come together thanks to the cultural, social and political ties that bind? YES!!! We are an interesting city with our changing demographics, our posturing politicians and our fear of change and the unknown. Yet time and time again we are able to let down our fear and seek out our similarities and move the ball of racial unity and understanding forward. Hey, we're not holding hands and singing Kumbaya but we are not at war either. There are in fact two LA's vying for our hearts and minds. There is the LA in which separate ethnic enclaves exist and all it takes is a crafty commercial to raise fear and doubt and push the race card to a new low in order to preserve the status quo. But there is another LA I see. An LA in which issues of race and class can be dealt with openly and honestly. An LA where African Americans listen to Salsa and Latinos dance to Hip-Hop. An LA in which for Cambodian and Armenian immigrants being American means playing basketball, celebrating Cinco De Mayo and break dancing (yes Virginia, break dancing is back). The LA I see is one where we deal with our differences but we are compelled to deal with each other because of our sameness. That's the LA that deserves a chance to thrive. It's the LA I try to find. It's the LA I love. It's the LA Antonio Villaragosa wanted to be mayor of. It's the LA Jim Hahn needs to recognize if he wants to be re-elected.

As I sat back down in my seat after the performance, my friend next to me talked about how great the performance was and how he was ready for the next one. I sat speechless, on the verge of tears. All I could think of was thank you. Thank you brothers Ozo. Thank you for showing everyone the LA I sometimes see.

Peace...........