San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
THEATER TO PRODUCE SEQUEL ON LOCAL BLACK PIONEERS
Second show planned for February will pick up where first one left off
Oceanside business owner Rushell Gordon stopped by the Oceanside Historical Society to look at books on Oceanside history. While chatting with historian Kristi Hawthorne, the conversation drifted to the stories of early Black residents in Oceanside who became trailblazers.
The two women wondered how many others knew about the contributions of these pioneers, such as Charles William Fletcher Tapsico, Charlesetta Reece Allen, Adele Foreman and George Mitchell of the early 1900s.
That conversation sparked an effort to bring to life the stories of some of the first Black residents in Oceanside.
Their efforts came to fruition in the Oceanside Theater production “Generational Black Pioneers, featuring Oceanside Entrepreneurs.” The play features nine pioneering Black business owners over the past century — their “trials and triumphs.” The production made its debut last February, and all 198 seats sold out.
“My hope is that everyone will be better educated about the history of Oceanside and inspired by the stories of the African American leaders,” Gordon said. “So often we celebrate famous historical figures for Black History Month. But we can also celebrate our local pioneers throughout history as well as our current leaders.
“When we share the production in the local high schools, we hope to inspire them and help them realize that they are also pioneers,” she said.
Gordon has established Generational Black Pioneers as a nonprofit and plans to create a framework that other cities can use to celebrate their local pioneers.
Now a sequel to last February’s production is planned for February. The second production of Generational Black Pioneers will feature “Oceanside Firsts.” It will continue where the first one left off. The focus will be on re-creating events from the 1960s to the present, “depicting challenges and turmoil that brought change.”
The play is set during the Civil Rights Movement and Vietnam War. The production highlights milestones of Black residents taking on leadership roles in Oceanside.
“The production seeks to show parallels to the very real struggles that still exist today,” Gordon said.
The play will bring to light stories of the first Black teachers in Oceanside’s school district in the 1960s; Oceanside’s first Black mayor, Terry Johnson, who was the first Black resident who served as a mayor in San Diego County; the first Black police chief, Kedrick Sadler; and the first Black president of the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce, Robbie Hass.
The productions are written by Hawthorne, director of the Oceanside Historical Society; produced by Gordon, owner of Bliss Tea & Treats in Oceanside; and directed by Linda Bisesti, professor emeritus of Cal Poly Pomona’s Department of Theatre and New Dance.
The productions are described as a nonfictional narrative and fictional dramatization. Four actors, who were students of Bisesti, present the play. The performance is sprinkled with humor and song and includes quotes from local newspapers and historical records of the time. The play features vignettes that highlight significant events in the pioneers’ lives.
The cast of both productions includes Valynsia Sims, Myles Gambit Cox, Joejoe Mckinney and Roslyn Glasco, who each play multiple
roles. The vocalist is Tiffany Vakilian; the dancer is Iris Gordonsmith.
“The piece is ensemble of actors, singer and dancer,” Bisesti said. “My hope is to inspire an unearthing of stories of communities that are underserved, marginalized, and feel that they may have no voice.”
The seeds for the productions were planted a year and half ago during a meet-up between Gordon and Hawthorne at the Oceanside Historical Society. Gordon knew Hawthorne from the Oceanside Chamber, and the two women talked about early Black history in Oceanside.
“After a few conversations, we thought it would be worthwhile to do an event centered around some of the early Black residents that made history in our city,” Hawthorne said.
Gordon, Hawthorne and local businesswoman Robbie Hass reached out to longtime community members, such as Yolanda Mitchell, Glenda Howard and Eddie Parks, to learn more about Oceanside’s Black pioneers.
“Rushell’s inquiry and interest was the catalyst to what came into being as a stage production,” Hawthorne said.
They called on Bisesti to help.
Bisesti, who has directed more than 50 productions, knew Gordon from when they worked together on a Shakespeare piece in fall of 2021 that was performed at Gordon’s tea house, Bliss Tea and Treats.
“Bisesti has a great passion for these stories and pours her heart into them” Hawthorne said.
Among the Black pioneers highlighted in the first production was Charlesetta Reece Allen.
Allen was born in Texas in 1913 and came to Oceanside in the 1930s. She opened one of the first Black-owned restaurants in town. Allen’s restaurant was a popular gathering place for Black military members based at Camp Pendleton.
Allen was the first president of the North San Diego County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People Branch and founded the Oceanside Girls Club. She helped established the Church of God and Christ in the Eastside neighborhood and was a mentor for many in Oceanside for years. Oceanside’s historic downtown post office on Seagaze Drive is set to be named after her. Rep. Mike Levin spearheaded the effort. A representative from Levin’s office had attended the production in February and given certificates of acknowledgment to families of those featured in the play.
“When his office contacted me looking for someone to recognize, I reminded the representative about Charlesetta Reece Allen and all of her accomplishments and contributions and ultimately Charlesetta was chosen,” Hawthorne said.
The first production included not only early pioneers such as Allen, Oscar Culp, Roosevelt Campbell and Pearl Duncan, but also more recent Black entrepreneurs, such as Felix Berry and Gordon herself.
“One of the most challenging parts of the production, I think, is choosing the persons and stories, because there are so many people worthy of spotlighting, but we can only select a few. But the great part is, we have more stories to tell in coming years,” Hawthorne said.
The Oceanside Historical Society is looking for additional stories from the community about pioneering Black residents.
“The Oceanside Historical Society has stories and photos about Black pioneers in our digital database that we have collected over the last 35 years or so. However, there are many stories we are missing, and this is a great way to stir up interest and create a way for people to share their own stories or that of their family members,” Hawthorne said.
The second production, “Generational Black Pioneers - Featuring Oceanside Firsts,” will be staged in two shows slated for 7 p.m. Feb. 17 and 2:30 p.m. Feb. 18 at the Brooks Theatre, 217 N. Coast Highway, presented by the Oceanside Theatre Company, Oceanside Historical Society and Bliss Tea and Treats.
The Oceanside Historical Society is providing $3,500 as a sponsor of this production. But the group is looking for more sponsors.
“I’m proud of the Society and mostly Kristi for telling the whole story of our history. It is not just a bunch of old white guys that built our community and added to our culture. I think under Kristi’s leadership we have begun to look at all of our community to find stories,” said John Daley, vice president of the Oceanside Historical Society and third-generation Oceanside resident.