Our streets and roads are facing a public health crisis and, as with many other public health crises, Black lives are disproportionately affected. BIKING WHILE BLACK: CONTINUING TO RIDE THROUGH DECRIMINALIZATION, DISENFRANCHISEMENT, AND GENTRIFICATION is the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2021 short film BIKING WHILE BLACK: HOW SAFE ARE BLACK LIVES CYCLING?, which has been shown to audiences worldwide and received the Best Bicycling Film award at the 2022 UN-Habitat Better Cities Film Festival in Katowice, Poland.
In this second episode, filmmaker and Otis College alum Yolanda Davis-Overstreet (’84 BFA Communication Arts, Illustration) takes us on a journey to explore the devastating realities of Black lives on bicycles from community members most impacted, from over-policing to loss of life. We learn from local experts how this problem has been progressing and whether it is getting any better.
As a longtime activist and advocate, Yolanda knows that this problem requires more than action, but also a fountain of hope. Next, we hear from community members and faith leaders about their actions to fight for safer streets, going up against city hall and the LAPD.
Finally, we are encouraged by the possibilities when communities stand together. We hear from outdoor enthusiasts across Los Angeles why Black communities are historically left out of so many outdoor activities and the importance of claiming and making safe spaces. There is so much potential for Black joy in cycling and other outdoor activities. Through love, hope and the power of grassroots community involvement, we can make the streets safer for Black lives. Please join us on this ride!
Sponsored by: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Office
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