It’s nice being back at Zocalo. It’s one of my go-to cafes when I have serious writing and editing to do. It’s airy and bright, the staff is really friendly, and there are always plenty of places to plug in your laptop. Also, I enjoy the diversity of people I see there. It’s not just that there are lots of people of different ethnicities. It’s also that there are a lot of different occupations, ages, sexualities, genders, and classes represented within each of the many ethnicities I’ve observed there. This slim, young guy in this drawing was waiting patiently (more patiently than I was), while the person ahead of us was getting some sort of fancy coffee drink made. Since I don’t drink coffee, anything that takes more than a simple pour from pot to cup seems pretty fancy. I, by contrast, tend to stick with the basics—a bottle of sparkling water or a hot tea. When it was his turn, the man in this drawing didn’t really seem to care what he ordered. “I’ll take a cup of the regular,” he said. When the woman at the counter asked if he meant coffee, this guy said, “sure, if that’s what you’ve got.” I’m not sure if the man in this picture really wanted a beverage. Perhaps he just needed it to justify the three pastries he was purchasing. Personally, I think he had nothing to be ashamed of. Within any luck, they’ll put a little weight on him. It wouldn’t hurt.

Ajuan Mance

PS: Was that a bad thing to say? Was I “body policing”? I’d never heard it quite phrased that way until last night, and now I’m wondering if that’s what I’m doing here. It would be really rude of me to say that someone needed to lose weight, but is it equally problematic for me to suggest that someone could stand to gain a little? What if it was a woman? Would that be worse? This is definitely a case of projecting my body standards onto the subject of my drawing … but, then again, isn’t it only really a problem when I let my ideas about what’s beautiful and what isn’t limit the types of people I draw?

494 drawings down, and I think I’m becoming a little neurotic …

Ajuan

I passed this man as I was entering my current gym, 24-Hour Fitness near High Street. An imposing figure at well over six feet tall, he was really hard to miss. I tried to make eye contact with him, but he was focused on getting out the door and on to whatever he was going to do with the rest of his day. I’ve noticed that there are a lot of very tall men at 24-Hour Fitness. I initially thought it was because of their indoor basketball court, but that makes no sense. You don’t have to be tall to play pick-up ball. Also of interest is the number of middle-aged Black men who are exceptionally tall. I really want to ask one of them to tell me his story. Many of these guys are really buff for their age (they look to be in their 40s or 50s), and I am curious about how they’ve stayed so fit. The rapper Nelly once said that a great body is a gift you give to yourself (and last I looked, he was in amazing condition). I am very curious about why some of the guys at the gym have decided to prioritize their health and wellness in this way. Despite the widespread reports of Black people’s lack of interest in fitness and preventive lifestyle changes, these guys have chosen to gift themselves with health and athleticism well past the age of 40. Their efforts are inspiring, and I hope to follow in their footsteps (to whatever degree is possible for a very average height woman professor).

Ajuan Mance

Dear Zocalo Cafe,

I’m baaaaaack!

Ajuan Mance

Ensarro Ethiopian Restaurant, Grand Ave., Oakland, CA.

Ajuan Mance

Yes, we’ve been having some spring-like weather; but when I saw this shirtless brother–not running around on the basketball court or the soccer field, but standing on the sidewalk on a busy stretch of International Blvd–I wanted to say to him, “Homie, it ain’t that hot outside.”

Ajuan Mance

Basketball court, corner of Brookdale and High, Oakland, CA.

After some absolutely frigid days and nights (by California standards), we’re getting some real spring-like weather, and you can see it on the basketball courts and playing fields, on which the athletes are stripping down to their t-shirts and tank tops. It almost looks like summer.

Ajuan Mance

I was standing in front of this guy at the Wells Fargo Bank on Fruitvale. I always notice guys in coordinating work outfits. There’s something I really like about work clothes like these. They’re so sensible, no-nonsense, and made to be durable. You can really live in these clothes. They’re sturdy, but with classic styling that can be dressed up with a sweater or a button-down shirt. I used to own several pairs of Dickies double-knee work pants, and for two years that’s pretty much all I wore. I was absolutely in love with their comfort and simplicity. I also loved the little cellphone pocket on the hip. Eventually, though, I got a little concerned when a friend of my suggested that professors and other folks with advanced degrees were sorta kinda  “frontin'” when they wore this type of clothing. I haven’t given up on the Dickies double-knee work pants forever, but I have taken some time off from wearing them to consider the possibility that it might look like appropriation. Stay tuned…

Ajuan Mance

Near the intersection of 18th and Adeline, Oakland, CA.

Ajuan Mance

Yoshi’s San Francisco

I haven’t used a black background before, but I really like the effect. I think the addition of purple in this drawings keeps it from looking too much like Halloween.

Ajuan Mance

I always enjoy watching people who use particularly animated gestures during conversation. This guy is a perfect example. He was standing in line with a co-worker at the Los Pericos Taqueria near the Southland Mall in Hayward. He was describing a pass that he saw in some recent college basketball game. It made for an interesting contrast with his work attire.

Ajuan Mance