Japanese American author and poet Shizue Seigel promotes stories of “hidden narratives” within communities of color about their class, culture and history.
Through her multi-year effort titled Food for Thought and as founder of Write Now! SF Bay, Seigel hopes to shine a light on stories of race, class, culture and history to the Central Coast, KCBX reported.
“We want to empower ordinary people of color to value their own perceptions and experience and celebrate the richness they bring to the American story,” said Seigel to KCBX.
With 60% of the Bay Area’s population being composed of Black, Brown, Indigenous and other minority groups, Shizue Seigel and other writers hope to uplift their voices and artwork, Write Now! SF Bay reported.
“Since 2015, we have supported over 400 emerging and established BIPOC writers and artists. Their prose, poetry and artwork reflect the lived realities of people from all walks of life—educators, healers, activists, immigrants, LGBTQ, the formerly unhoused, and just plain folks with roots in Native America, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and beyond,” reads a statement from Write Now! SF Bay.
An exhibit, which showcases the art and poetry created by people of color, will be on display through June 5 in San Francisco, before relocating to Camp San Luis Obispo, Hancock College and other locations.
Seigel stresses the importance of showcasing the culture of people of color, especially in San Luis Obispo, according to KCBX. She noted that her and her family previously lived in the city’s Japantown before being forcibly incarcerated during World War II.
“We are working with the History Center of San Luis Obispo County, the SLO County Library to diversify the Central Coast narrative through film screenings, literary readings and exhibits of art and poetry by Latin, Black and Asian Americans. I invited established writers and artists from the San Francisco Bay Area and Watsonville inspire local folks by speaking to truth to injustice and sharing the powerful community and spiritual values that enrich their lives and those of the people around them,” said Seigel to KCBX.
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