Share: Dun-da-dun-da-dun. Dun-da-dun-da-dun. Mahogany hands transform into a blur as the fast beating of drums intensifies. The drums sounds are unfamiliar to the crowd, differing greatly from the drum sets typical of American bands and the like. They look different too; no fancy stands or complex attachments. They simply rest between the drummers’ thighs, made of plain wood and rawhide skin. And, like their players wearing African attire with intricate designs, the drums stand apart, similarly adorned in beaded patterns of their own. Although from …
PCC celebrates Lunar New Year with culture, calligraphy and confetti
Share: Red and gold paper lanterns and streamers could be seen strewn across campus quad while passersby joined the growing crowd to see two lions sprang to life, each puppeteers by two dancers. Streaked with pinks, greens, reds and blues, the lions danced along to the crashes of cymbals and the steady poundings of the drum. The necks of the lions stretched and their mouths opened wide to take envelopes from the hands of onlookers. Last Thursday, PCC held their annual Lunar New Year Event. …
Food reduced to ash after Eaton Fire contaminates science village crops
Share: Before the effects of the disastrous Eaton fire, PCC’s science village was home to an aeroponic garden planted and cared for by Agricultural Plant Sciences (AGPS), Botany, and Environmental Science classes that would have donated crops to Lancer Pantry. However, contamination from the fire unfortunately destroyed the garden, leading to the crops being removed. The garden planned to provide fresh organic produce for Lancer Pantry, while the science village served as both a hub for various learning activities and a community space, fostering hands-on …
‘Motown Vibes’ celebrates Black joy at Moonlight Rollerway
Share: The line outside the building wrapped around the parking lot, the music spilling out the doors with every new person that entered. From 8:00 to 10:30 p.m. on the Friday night of February 21, Moonlight Rollerway’s roller-skating rink buzzed with excited PCC skaters as well as members of the general public, all gliding in tandem to the smooth grooves of Motown music. Douglas Smith, a specialist for the Black Student Success Center, handed out free food and drink tickets, while appearing to be in …
From the ground up: Seeds for our future, climate, culture, and survival
Share: A steady rhythm of tribal sounds resonates throughout the gallery, blending with the faint, earthy aroma of dried amaranth and natural materials, evoking a time before the land was touched by metal and machine. Under the glow of gallery lights, a delicate web of indigo-dyed thread is displayed alongside tea bag filters and dried plants, shifting slightly as visitors walk past. A steel sculpture cradles ancient seeds, floating above as visitors look up at the airborne piece, with its curved metal appendages seeming to …
My Territory: A Glendale church where I connect with my past (and future) self
Share: On Sunday morning, I wake up from my bed, pick up a long-sleeved shirt and jeans, and drive down to Glendale Presbyterian Church (GPC) off of Louise and Harvard Street. GPC is home to many communities in the Glendale area. It is also home to a Korean worship service that begins afterward. Because of Glendale’s inherent diversity, the church accommodates the Christian faith to as many backgrounds as possible. One feature of the church I like is the stained glass inside the church. What …
My Territory: Where two communities found safety from an unlikely source
Share: Sunset Junction, bordering the neighborhoods of Silverlake and Echo Park, is one of the oldest and most vibrant neighborhoods in Los Angeles. It is known for its Victorian-style homes, its vibrant food scene, and its incredibly diverse historic neighborhoods. People from all walks intermingle with one another, drawn to its welcoming community. However, the prime location in the heart of the city has made it a center for gang activity. Growing up and attending junior high just down the street from Sunset Junction, I …
My Territory: Little Tokyo reaches for a handful of stars
Share: The roar of Godzilla will greet you when you disembark the train to Little Tokyo. The iconic kaiju’s voice was built into the train station to celebrate a special screening of the original 1954 film at the Aratani Theatre in Los Angeles on November 2. Pop-up shops in the neighborhood celebrated the city’s favorite atomic dinosaur, and were scheduled to end by Nov. 17. But as of today, Dec. 9, Godzilla’s roar is still in the Metro station. With how rarely Metro stations in …
Step right up for the Freeman Center’s Career Carnival
Share: A myriad of booths were scattered around the quad the Thursday before Thanksgiving each with a goal in mind: involving PCC students in engaging activities and discussions that would guide them in their career paths and connect them to career-related opportunities. On November 21, the Freeman Center hosted its inaugural Career Carnival, a themed event complete with games, prizes, and a variety of opportunities to meet Freeman Center staff, representatives from PCC’s Career Communities Departments, as well as Shatford Library staff and representatives from …
In the age of misinformation, writer-in-residence Lynell George values a reader’s trust
Share: South Los Angeles, 1992. Four LAPD officers were on trial for criminal excessive force, caught on video beating a man named Rodney King. Every Black person in the city was keeping an eye on the trial. Lynell George was a journalist at LA Weekly, working on an unrelated story about the Great Migration and the landscape of Louisiana migrants, which is one of the largest migrant groups to California from the south. “I’m sitting in this Louisiana [style] restaurant with this older woman and …