"Hey Love, You Good?" – A Check-In for the Strong Friends

Black August didn't start as a hashtag. It started in the 1970s inside California's prisons, born out of the movement to free political prisoners and remember the ones who didn't make it. It marks the killing of George Jackson at San Quentin and his brother Jonathan's death a year earlier at the Marin County Courthouse. But before that, August held so many important moments in our people's fight for liberation: the raids that launched the Haitian revolt, Nat Turner's rebellion, Marcus Garvey's birthday, the beginning of slave revolts across the Caribbean, and even the March on Washington. So we study, some fast, and most importantly we connect and remember.

This year, Gladys gets to hold our first Black August, and we don't take that lightly.

We're opening the month with The Salon: A Black August Celebration, an evening of conversation that is an expansive mandate of our continued liberation struggle. Hosted by Audanda Reeve and Dinesh Shukur with local Chef Asia, we are proud to kick off the month in deep community with intentional discussions, book exchanges, food, and more. Throughout the month, we'll continue to celebrate liberation and put a spotlight on the Black organizations doing the everyday, unglamorous work of setting our people free.

In between journaling, tarot, comedy, poetry, nail art, book clubs, and more — our first Black August will hold space for the work of freedom. May we honor each other's magnitude and bond and none of us will be free until we all are free.

All events are on our website to RSVP. Happy Black August, beloveds! We cannot wait to host you at Gladys!