I moved to the Rancho Vista subdivision of Palmdale, CA in at the very end of 2004. The very first thing I noticed is that the heat I was expecting to blaze my skin ... didn't happen. Yes, it is hot, but it is not totally uncomfortable. Perhaps that is the 'dry heat' I always heard about. The second experience was seeing actual tumbleweeds blowing across the freeway -- wow -- tumbleweed -- like in the movies y'all.
My life experience is encapsulated in midwestern culture infused with a global mindset. After
23 years in Detroit's thriving advertising industry, I was used to a dominant influence of African American culture via the press, events, art, travel, church, work, major industry, leadership of the city and sports. Today, Palmdale is pretty much bereft of such things for the most part. It seems as though there are glimpses of new urban influence from Los Angeles or 'down below', as local high desert residents call it. I see/hear limited rumblings, but they don't seem to be woven into the fabric of the people in a meaningful way. The local Antelope Valley Press primarily contains urban coverage on two topics -- Black people in front of a judge or performing in front of a crowd.
So, I will seek to answer the first question anyone ... no ... everyone, not from here, asks when they find out I live in the Mojave Desert -- "what is it like living in the desert?" is the proverbial question.
Desert Black is designed to photo journalistic quest to highlight the richness that's currently unfeatured in our local media outlets. It will be a journalistic effort that progessively promotes the powerful aspects of the African American experience here in the Antelope Valley. Journey with me as I discover another perspective on living in America, through the eyes of Desert Black.
-- Juan
