Sights + Sounds: 'The Compton's Cafeteria Riot' immersive play

SHOW: Nurturing Belonging, Progress, and Pride

Today, one school program in San Francisco is connecting ethnic studies and environmental science, to nurturing belonging. Then, an immersive play that brings audiences to an important moment in local trans history. And, we hear about a little piece of fabric that represents the living history of San Francisco, and LGBTQ+ pride.

Combining ethnic studies with outdoor ed to foster connection, inside and out

The Bay Area is known for its beautiful natural places and for being the birthplace of many social movements. One school program has found common ground between the two. For over 25 years, two high schools in the city have combined ethnic studies with environmental studies. Reporters Paula Sibulo and Olivia Mendez are recent graduates of San Francisco State. In this story, they wanted to explore how this helps young people feel a stronger sense of connection and responsibility to the land and themselves.

Sights + Sounds: 'The Compton's Cafeteria Riot' immersive play

Late on a summer night in 1966, a cop put his hands on a customer at a popular gathering space for trans women and drag queens. Coffee was thrown in his face, and a riot erupted right there at Compton's Cafeteria in the Tenderloin. This moment was one of the first documented acts of LGBTQ+ resistance in the country.  For the past year, an immersive play called The Compton's Cafeteria Riot has been bringing audiences into the historic event as diners inside the cafeteria. The play is produced by the Tenderloin Museum. One of its co-writers, Donna Persona, is a trans rights activist, and Mary Vice is an actor turned drag queen in the play. They spoke to KALW's Jeneé Darden, host of the Sights and Sounds show. Here's an excerpt from their conversation.

Oldest San Francisco: Pride Flag

San Francisco laid many of the bricks that built the road to LGBTQ+ liberation, equality, and Pride. One of them takes the shape of a piece of fabric, that’s also a piece of living history.  In this story from 2023, by reporters Sandra Halladey and Alastair Boone, we hear about how the first Pride Flag came to be. And how the bit of cloth, the iconic rainbow, and the pride movement, live on.  On the corner of 18th and Castro Street, images of the rainbow flag are ubiquitous. They’re hanging in store windows, they stud the escalators in Harvey Milk plaza, and even make up the stripes in the crosswalk. But as we’ll learn, the rainbow flag has only been a symbol for the Queer community for less than 50 years.

SHOW: Cultural Explorations and Tributes

Today, we’ll hear how Bay Area listening bars have their roots in World War II Japanese culture. Finding a space just for music. Then, we’ll unpack the throughline that connects the different Chinatowns around the world. Plus, a poetic ode to the Mission.