Writings | DomingoYu.com - Hip-hop Education | Identity | Music

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Interview with Taiwan's Warren Fox

Taipei-based, Seattle-bred renaissance man talks about martial arts, hip hop, and being Black in Taiwan. (Martial Arts photos courtesy of Justine Wang)

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Pan Africana: Taiwan

A discussion with three members of the Pan Africana Cultural Troupe of Taiwan. Music was our entry point but hardly the focus of our conversation as we touched on a number of topics, including being Black in Taiwan and their impact on Taiwanese identity.

Music Journal Entry: Remembering one of hip hop's fallen

I was recently turned on to Abraham Borhóquez Sánchez of the Bolivian-based group Ukamau y Ké and spent hours listening to his music and reading about his career. Unfortunately, he passed away this past May. Yet I was so impressed that I felt the need to help promote his legacy.

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Finding Africa in Veracruz

So, where did all of of the Black people in Mexico go? The short answer is nowhere; one needs to know where to look. As I was told by Eric, an American ex pat in Veracruz, “Africa is everywhere and nowhere,” which made sense as I explored. For more background info this trip, click here. For more pics of Veracruz, click here.

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: You don't have to accept teenage dating abuse

Oakland Unity High School senior Jennifer Yanez addresses teen dating abuse. Article courtesy of the Oaktown Teen Times.

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Oakland teens shocked by police killings

Unity High School students expressed sadness, anger and indifference after four police officers and an East Oakland man were shot and killed on March 21, about a dozen blocks from school.-By Gabrielle Cabarloc, Karina Gonzalez, Brisa Padilla and Dolores Quintana / Unity High

While this article is a bit old by internet standards, the larger issues haven't gone anywhere. First appearing in The Oaktown Teen Teams, his particular article went national, which is quite an accomplishment for 9th graders! On the second page I also included comments from an Oakland police officer, whose quotes didn't make the article due to space limitations.

Music Journal Entry: Interview with Bay Area DJ Mac G

Words from one of the Bay Area's ground-breaking hip hop legends. Mac takes time to share some insider stories, reflect on changes in the industry, and how he's stayed relevant for more than two decades.

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Watchmen movie review

Oakland Unity High School junior Bradley Izaguirre shares his thoughts on this long-awaited graphic novel adaptation.

Identity/Culture Journal Entry: Interview with Oscar Grant Muralist Desi

The community response to the Oscar Grant shooting continues to impact all of us in Oakland, including a lead article in yesterday’s Oakland Tribune said that two of our students were arrested for graffiti. This actually ended up not being true, although two artists were questioned by the police. One of these artists, Desi, actually teaches in our after school program at Unity High. In a nutshell, they were painting a mural in honor of Grant, with permission from the owners of the building, and were harassed by the police. At some point, one reporter did interview students from our school, but later, as one of the adult artists was cuffed by police (but was released) another reporter was on site. Apparently, once the reporters got together they got their information mixed up. Desi and I briefly sat down the next day to discuss what happened and his views on the shooting, including if the BART train system should have police. Ironically, as I transcribe this interview I’m on the BART, delayed at the Coliseum station (one after Fruitvale, where Grant was shot) as a fight/attempted robbery just took place and our train operator is on the platform handling the situation. Apparently he’s the only BART employee at this station. (Please not that this is a bit rough as I’m in transit for an out of town trip but wanted to get it up before another week passed. I will add more pics and refine as time permits)

Music Journal Entry: Interview with hip-hop artist Rico Pabon

This past summer I spent a week as a guest of hip-hop artist Rico Pabon, a heavyweight in the Bay Area music scene, and his family in Puerto Rico, during which time I got to know him a little better as not just an MC, but a father, husband, and all around good guy. In full disclosure, I’ve known his wife Francis the past four years, but I had never actually sat down and had a full conversation with Rico until this trip. But through his work as the lead MC for groups O-Maya and Agua Libre, as well the co-owner of Sofrito, one of only a handful of Puerto Rican restaurants in the Bay, I was familiar with him outside of my friendship with his wife. I’ve been impressed with his body of work and one night we sat down and talked about life till the wee hours of the morning. Rico went way beyond music, talking about overcoming numerous obstacles in his life, community empowerment, and what it means to be a father and husband. There’s a lot here, but trust me, it’s well worth the read!