With documentary, San Diego couple commit to anti-racism work

For many people, last year’s protests and uprisings against police brutality and other forms of systemic racism were a catalyst for their own awareness and acknowledgment of these problems. It was the killing of George Floyd, specifically — he died during an arrest in Minneapolis, Minn., when a police officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill — that led to an increased interest in understanding and fighting systemic racism, and recognizing the need for more active allyship supporting Black people.

For La Jolla couple Mary Wescott and Tom Gegax, Floyd’s death served as a significant spark in their anti-racism journey. Wescott and Gegax, who have a home in Minneapolis not far from where Floyd was killed, got out and protested. They came across other like-minded friends and people along the way, and got everyone together to create the 33-minute documentary “Spark: A Systemic Racism Story.”

“Spark” takes a brief look at some of the roots of racism, historical context around systemic racism, and potential solutions. The film aggregates clips and interviews of activists, politicians and other prominent people, including Spike Lee, Oprah Winfrey, and former President Barack Obama. The film can be viewed for free at sparkdoc.squarespace.com.

Gegax is an entrepreneur, author, speaker and consultant who co-founded Tires Plus before selling the business and co-founding the venture capital firm Gramercy Fund. Wescott, who was born in Minneapolis and graduated from the University of Minnesota, is senior producer of the film, previously worked in media, and leads the Gegax Family Foundation, an organization that allows the family to invest in causes they believe in, including racial justice. They took some time to talk about their work on “Spark” and their commitment to being anti-racist allies. (This interview has been edited for length and clarity. )

Q:

Your documentary, “Spark: A Systemic Racism Story,” is a brief exploration of the root causes of systemic racism in the United States, with the killing of George Floyd as the catalyst for this exploration. Police brutality and the killings of unarmed Black people have been taking place for generations. What was it about Floyd’s death that prompted you to respond in this way?

A:

Our house in Minneapolis is located near (the location of ) George Floyd’s brutal attack. Watching the officer’s casualness and never-ending knee on an unarmed, handcuffed man’s neck as he called for his mother, caused us intense sadness and anger. Floyd’s death was different from a statistic, story or blurry video. News of this catalytic moment sparked the largest global protests in history. In June, we participated in a La Jolla protest march, and that inspired “Spark.” We were inspired again when we recruited a small group of like-minded, racial justice-seeking friends and neighbors that we had seen at the protest. This group brought filmmaking experience to our “quaran-team.” We challenged each other to reach higher and worked feverishly day and night. Our group included associate producers Stephanie Ramirez, Julie Manriquez and Mitzi Mayer, and production supervisor Joan Whitney Flagg.

Q:

On the website for your film, you talk a bit about allyship. What’s your understanding of what it means to be an ally?

A:

To really make a difference in fighting the scourge of systemic racism, it takes not only Black people, who’ve been fighting this fight for generations, but also White people committing to actively live as anti-racists. Allyship carries the power of intention, which calls forth the old refrain: Intention plus attention equals manifestation.

Q:

In the film, you touch on systemic issues like the role of bail reform and private prisons, the criminal justice system, redlining, voting bans for convicted felons and other forms of disenfranchisement. What kind of knowledge and awareness did you have about systemic racism and the ways in which it manifests, prior to “Spark”? And what have you come to understand about systemic racism since?

A:

No question, the breadth and depth of our awareness was heightened by making “Spark.” One ah-ha moment in our research was how every time a racial justice milestone was achieved — the Emancipation Proclamation, the 13th Amendment, the Civil Rights Act — racism’s tactics adapted for selfpreservation. Our research made us more aware of how racism’s root causes still operate in plain sight today, of the creative remedies to stamp out this evil, and of steps to become allies. Yep, “Spark” has changed us.

Q:

There’s a line in the film in which someone says, “It’s not enough to not be overtly racist.” Why isn’t it enough to simply not be racist? What more is necessary?

A:

You can declare yourself “not racist” without doing much to help solve systemic racism. If we transition to being “anti-racist,” then we are part of the solution by doing things like confronting friends or colleagues if we hear racist comments, fostering close friendships with people of color, and using our resources to support Black causes, candidates and businesses.

Q:

What would you say to others who are uncomfortable with the topic of systemic racism, or those who simply deny its existence?

A:

For doubters, seek out resources and historical analyses around systemic racism. To become more familiar with the topic, consider having uncomfortable conversations with Black friends and colleagues, reading books and articles on the subject, and investing 30 minutes to watch “Spark” (spark-doc.com). If they watch, it’ll help them decide whether systemic racism exists. If they decide it does, they’ll be inspired to get off the sidelines. One thing is for sure: George Floyd’s death sparked a fire that, unlike other racial justice events over our country’s history, won’t fade into the background.