Description

Calvin Peña works in the Restaurant and Service industry and is a Protest Organizer and Activist in Winston-Salem. In this interview, he discusses the recent Black Lives Matter protests in Winston-Salem and their context, occuring during a global pandemic. He notes how bars and resturants have been hard hit by the pandemic and how this has exposed systematic racial injustice: "[COVID-19] is exposing how little safety net there is for the most vulnerable and often the hardest working members of society." He explains how the quarantine period has given people time to slow down and understand the underlying systemic problems of society that cause minority groups to be disadvantaged. He is inspired by what protestors are willing to risk, especially in terms of COVID-19 exposure, for the benefit of the greater good, and explains how knowledge, including that about American History and current events, is the best way to arm people against injustice. Pe̱a speaks about tactical protest organization and the importance of appealing to people who might be indecisive about the movement, then about the high trends of evictions in Winston-Salem. He emphasizes the importance of being socially active on a smaller scale, through local government, voting, and personal conversations, and describes the Black Lives Matter movement as "everyone's fight," encouraging everyone to hear the call to support disadvantaged members of the community.

Record Contributed By

Wake Forest University

Record Harvested From

North Carolina Digital Heritage Center