Traveling around in #SanJose and #NearbyToSanJose at 825 mph on our spinning planet.
In San Jose, California
How many decades has this sign greeted the motorists heading south from downtown? The dollar amount has gone up over the years for the five burgers but the rest looks nearly the same. It was a rare treat to get take-out growing up but when this place was desired in my family, someone would say “go to bag-a-burgers.” I didn’t know the place had another name until I was an adult. I do recall the bag-a-burgers coming home on rare occasion, though.
A famous scene took place at the 1968 Olympics. At the podium, two medalists put on a black glove each, took off their shoes showing black socks, wore several symbolic items, and raised one hand each during the playing of the national anthem. The third athlete on the podium, an Australian who placed 2nd, also wore a human rights badge, matching those worn by the two Americans, in solidarity.
There is a lot that can be said about this moment. (You can get a start on it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Olympics_Black_Power_salute). The two black athlete Olympians, who stood with their hands raised during the anthem as a protest to unequal treatment of people, were students at San Jose State University. They were Tommie Smith who had just set a world record and won gold in the 200m race and John Carlos who had won the bronze medal. Peter Norman was the silver medal winner from Australia who stood in solidarity with them.
Today, at SJSU, you are invited to stand with these historic SJSU alumni on the podium in the spot where a supporter once stood with them before the world.
It is a powerful statue if you take it in. It is a powerful moment if you accept the invitation and stand with them on the podium. It is an impressive work of art. It is an impressive social stand that these men took. It came with great costs for all three athletes. It came with rewards too; rewards in thoughts, awareness, conversations, and changes for others that will affect generations.
Today, you can take your stand in the middle of San Jose State University.
This piece of art helps put into context another piece of art that can be found near by at the gas station on 4th street. It reads: “Thank You.”
I keep coming back to this one on West Santa Clara Street. This is just a part of it pictured above. I enjoy creating interpretations for the symbols. I enjoy seeing the historic San Jose light tower, the Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton, the Box on Mt. Umunhum, the house that looks right at home in San Jose… and then making the story of how these familiar landmarks ended up in a surreal version of the landscape that is in places anachronistic. I like to make up a story each time for the scenes in each part of the mural as I re-see them, and all versions leave me peacefully satisfied as I stare at this work and take it in.
