Opinion Piece
by Luckie Lovette
When I was nine, I scorched myself when flipping French fries: bubbling grease splattered onto my face. LESSON LEARNED: never stand close to hot grease.
I used to cook with my mom, but now the tables are turned and I’m the only person who cooks in my household. My menu is growing as I take this responsibility seriously, cooking for my aunty and brothers: I’ve graduated from old standbys like Mac and cheese on to more gourmet teriyaki chicken, vegetable medleys, baked chicken and meatloaf.
It’s not what you’d expect of a high school senior, who should be focused on homecoming, senior ditch day and prom. Not many MALE students at McClymonds become master chefs; we don’t even have a barbecue club like at Berkeley High and at Bishop O’Dowd. Only 16 percent of high school males know how to cook.
The first time I cooked something was when I was 6 years and dreamed of IHop, so what did I make: big golden fluffy pancake. Not messy, sticky or runny. Unlike other kids, I succeeded the first time around. My future was sealed.
I began paying close attention to what my grandmother would whip up: soul foul, fried chicken, greens, potato salad, hot water cornbread, roast beef, fried fish, and macaroni salad. Grandma Gina inspired me to take risks, get dirty. She would chop celery, onion and bell peppers and throw them into the meat, with me by her side, staring.
What I like most about cooking is company, community. Sitting down at the table, I share (jokes, ideas, and stories) and food with my family and chew over the day. The meal is what binds us together: even the cats get involved, nibbling on leftovers. And they are clever – they smell and hear me cutting onions and gather around, because they know that meat is coming next.
I’m not very talented in working with my hands so this gives me an outlet for that, because I don’t stress when cooking, my main focus is to listen to the sizzle, to inhale the garlic.
I love good food but that’s not why I cook. Cooking is my artistic expression. Even though I cook for the entire time I’m at home, I feel recharged at the end.
Why “Licks” was powerful: it’s based on a true story
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by Janaya Andrews
It was no ordinary Friday afternoon at McClymonds, as 25 students and community members talked to the Berkeley director who filmed the award-winning “Licks.” He was with two of the actors, who both grew up in the Lower Bottoms.
The event was organized by Alternatives in Action and featured a panel on “manhood.”
“The movie shifted between humor and sadness and anger,” said freshman Dazhane Labat, who attended the event. “It had moments of redemption; like when the baby is brought to a family to save him from his drug-addicted mother.”
The movie hit home. It actually shows us teenagers how life is in Oakland and how things work out; with the realistic scenes of places you know, and dialogue that rings true, you recognize how the hood works.
The movie follows guy named “D”, as he moves back to his hometown Oakland where he was charged with robbing a store and wielding a gun.
The most compelling scenes centered on personal relationships. At home with his girlfriend, she told him,”Promise me you wont hit up no more places. His response: baby, look i’m with you now and she expresses her doubts and warns him not to bring back his stolen merchandise.”
In his oustside life, friends become more prominent, asking him, “Are you ready to go make hit this lick.” He answers, “Yea, man let’s go to their approval, “alright that’s my boy.”
Minutes later, they drove to a meat market and went in the store with a black masks on. Then they told the store clerk to get on the floor; they held his head down on the counter making sure he couldn’t get a good look at their faces.
“Licks” touched us all, because of the real hard times we face and the choices we make: the film shows, with great compassion, that thugs have problems with money and only rob because they are trying to get money for their families.
For Jonathan Singer-Vine, a 24-year-old writer and director who was born and raised in Berkeley, California, “Licks” is his first feature film. It opened in Oakland’s Parkway Theater in November and won several awards.
He said the film was aimed at 16-year-olds because they will understand how and why the movie was made and its real message.
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Posted in Commentary, community, Gangs, Lower Bottoms, opinion, School News, Trends, violence, West Oakland, Youth
Tagged film, Jonathan Singer-Vine, Licks, Lower Bottoms, manhood panel, McClymonds, youth