TCB July 22, 2021 — Boba Binge

JULY 22-28, 2021 TRIAD-CITY-BEAT.COM

BOBA BINGE Where it comes from, how to get it, what to order and everything else you need to know about boba in the Triad.

MAP E! INSID

BY SAYAKA MATSUOKA | PAGE 10

Wandering cop PAGE 6

Cannabis in nc PAGE 8

freedom summer PAGE 2

JULY 22-28, 2021

EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK

Short time at summer’s end

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e’re and next week, with a light eye towards running the future. If you can remember next year producwhat you did this year, you should be okay. tion a And in that way, the time goes by very day early because quickly. Then you start to realize that you half the staff will don’t have as much of it left as you used be traveling for to. the rest of the When I was very young, when I was

by Brian Clarey week. I’m staying rich in time, when I had a wealth of time, in Boston for a couple extra days so a so much time I could scarcely count it, couple of my kids can look at schools let alone conceive of the amount of time there.

I potentially possessed… I I’m back in town next never kept track of it, never week, just in time for another a watch or even a calendar newspaper production, and My days go by in my room. Summers then it’s just a few days lasted forever then. And so quickly before we’re off again, this if one summer could last now, like time to South Carolina for forever, the rest of your a long-awaited and welllife was simply beyond heartbeats. deserved family celebration. measure.

School starts for the college Until it wasn’t. kids literally a couple days My days go by so quickly after we return; our high-schooler goes now, like heartbeats, and the weeks don’t back just 10 days later. take long to pile into months. The seasons And just like that, the summer’s over. go by so fast they’re more like a fleeting Something happens to your concept feeling than milestones in the passage of of time when editing a weekly newspaper. time, distilled into one trip, one activity, I know this. You don’t dare look too far one meal. This past winter was beef stew ahead, because the sheer volume of the cooked in a Dutch oven. This summer is workload can swallow you whole. Best the one where I can travel again, quickly practice is to concentrate on this week as it goes.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

E x t re m i s t s h a v e a p p ro p r i a t e d t h i s p h r a s e and tried to apply it to any conversation about race in our schools.

— Sarah Green pg. 7

1451 S. Elm-Eugene St. Box 24, Greensboro, NC 27406 Office: 336.256.9320 BUSINESS PUBLISHER/EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Brian Clarey brian@triad-city-beat.com

PUBLISHER EMERITUS

Allen Broach allen@triad-city-beat.com

KEY ACCOUNTS

SPECIAL SECTION EDITOR

CONTRIBUTORS

Michaela Ratliff michaela@triad-city-beat.com Nikki Miller-Ka niksnacksblog@gmail.com

EDITORIAL ADVISOR

OF COUNSEL

Jordan Green jordan@triad-city-beat.com

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR

ART ART DIRECTOR

STAFF WRITER

SALES SALES EXECUTIVE

Jonathan Jones

Sayaka Matsuoka sayaka@triad-city-beat.com Nicole Zelniker nicole@triad-city-beat.com

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CHIEF CONTRIBUTOR

Robert Paquette robert@triad-city-beat.com

Drew Dix drew@triad-city-beat.com

TCB IN A FLASH @ triad-city-beat.com First copy is free, all additional copies are $1. ©2021 Beat Media Inc.

Chris Rudd chris@triad-city-beat.com Carolyn de Berry, James Douglas, Matt Jones, Jordan Howse, Jen Sorensen, Clay Jones

COVER: Boba tea is everywhere in the Triad.

[Cover design by Robert Paquette]

(As of Tuesday, July 20)

JULY 22-28, 2021

Coronavirus in the Triad: Documented COVID-19 diagnoses NC 1,026,697 (+5,684) Forsyth 37,277 (+131) Guilford County

48,198 (+274)

COVID-19 deaths NC

13,541 (+29)

Forsyth

427 (+0)

Guilford

711 (7 weeks no new deaths)

Documented recoveries NC

1,001,590 (+2,922)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

447,063 (+108)

Vaccinations NC

11,566 (+2,913)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

423 (+166)

Current cases NC

672 (+185)

Forsyth

*no data*

Guilford

*no data*

Hospitalizations (right now) NC First Dose

4,748,942 (+46,133)

Fully vaccinated

4,796,811 (46%, +44,872)

Forsyth First Dose

187,157 (+1,814)

Fully vaccinated 176,525 (46% for the last two weeks, +1,701) Guilford First dose

266,501 (+2,513)

Fully vaccinated

252,005 (47%, +2,347)

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UP FRONT | JULY 22-28, 2021

CITY LIFE JULY 22-25

by Michaela Ratliff

THURSDAY July 22

Raman Bhardwaj Exhibit @ Forsyth County Public Library (W-S) 10 a.m.

FRIDAY July 23

Single Day Art Camp: Paint and String Art (AR Workshop) GSO 1 p.m.

High Point Food Truck Rodeo @ Downtown High Point (HP) 4 p.m.

During this paint party perfect for children ages 7-14, they’ll create paint and string art on a 10x10 canvas. Participants can choose from AR Workshop’s vast array of paint colors. Visit www.arworkshop.com/greensboro to register.

Art Show Reception @ Ambleside Gallery (GSO) 5 p.m.

Jessica Yelverton is excited to announce that several of her watercolor collections are on display at Ambleside Gallery. Enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres while asking Yelverton about her craft. Learn more about Yelverton by following her on Facebook at HighBrow Hippie.

Greensboro-based artist Raman Bhardwaj currently has 16 paintings, featuring mythical creatures and deities, on display on the 2nd floor of the Forsyth County Public Library. Learn more about Bhardwaj by visiting www. artistraman.com.

Green Day’s American Idiot @ Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance (W-S) 8 p.m.

Dance From Above Presents: GRANT @ 306 Orville Wright Drive (GSO) 7 p.m.

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For their first in-person event in over a year, Dance From Above invites you to what they call the Track Yard for an evening of music and dance with DJ Grant. For more information, visit the event page on Facebook.

The Secret Life of Pets 2 @ Spring Hill United Methodist Church (HP) 8 p.m.

Grab your blankets and chairs and head to Spring Hill United Methodist Church for a free screening of The Secret Life of Pets 2. For more info, visit the event page on Facebook.

SUNDAY July 25

Cat5Band @ Baxter’s (GSO) 3 p.m.

Enjoy the open air at Baxter’s with live music provided by Cat5. Cover charge is $10. Learn more about Cat5 by visiting their Facebook page.

MusicConnects Series @ Winston-Salem Symphony (W-S) 12 p.m.

Join vocalist Jason McKinney and conductor William Henry Curry during Winston-Salem Symphony’s MusicConnects program, designed to bring people together through music. It features a series of free conversations about race, power and equality leading up to Bill Barclay’s The Chevalier: A Play with Music. To register for the Zoom webinar, visit www.wssymphony. org/musicconnects or follow Winston-Salem Symphony on Facebook to view live.

Indulge in craft beer, wine and meals from various food trucks such as Baconessence and Brick City Kitchen during High Point’s food truck rodeo.

Live music will be provided by Turpentine Shine and Bad Romeo. Visit the event page on Facebook for more information.

Kink Paint Party @ Club Orion 6 p.m.

Follow the tale of friends Johnny, Tunny and Will as they find the meaning of life post 9/11, heightened by each song from Green Day’s American Idiot album. The show is rated R for drug use, sexual content and adult language. Find more information and purchase tickets at www.theatrealliance.ws.

SATURDAY July 24

Reynolda Sidewalk Sale @ Reynolda Village (W-S) 10 a.m.

Shop with your favorite local business during Reynolda’s Sidewalk Sale.

Hours vary by merchant. For more info and a list of participating merchants, visit www.reynoldavillage.com/sidewalksale.

Whether it’s BDSM, leather or a fetish, everyone has a kink. Are you bold enough to put yours on a canvas? Prove it at Club Orion’s Kink Paint Party.

All materials needed will be supplied.

Parents in Winston-Salem seek to get ahead of national controversy around critical race theory

by Nicole Zeniker

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hough critical race theory is not a part of Forsyth County Schools curriculum, some parents are getting ahead of the national controversy by advocating for a comprehensive, truth-driven education for their children.

Over the past several months critical race theory has become a talking point amongst conservatives who are weaponizing the concept for political gain. In Greensboro, a vocal group of conservatives who misunderstood the term have threatened the superintendent and protested outside school board meetings.

This happened although Greensboro schools have never taught critical race theory and have no plans to implement it.

The concept of critical race theory dates back to the 1970s. It was conceived within legal and academic circles as a way to challenge traditional approaches to racial justice. The basic tenet of critical race theory is that racism results from complex, subtle and systemic dynamics.

And just like most legal theories, critical race theory is not taught in elementary, middle or high school.

But as it was in Greensboro, parents around the country are protesting a curriculum that does not exist. In WinstonSalem and Forsyth County, parents like Natasha Smith, who is Black and whose son is going into 6th grade at Wiley Middle School, worry about what that means.

“They don’t want to find out what it means, that critical race theory has never been taught to small children,” said Smith. “We had a horrible thing happen last summer with George Floyd and the country shifted, and people started talking about race in a different way. The conversations were starting to take hold.

And it scared people.

“Enter critical race theory as the perfect bad guy,” she continued. “People are against it because it sounds like something that will make them feel bad, but they don’t know what it is.”

Smith worries about what her son is hearing during this debate about critical race theory, and how he is being treated as a Black student.

“I have the opportunity to move back to the [Washington] DC area and it’s on the table,” she said. “I’m weighing

it. Do I want to move when COVID might be getting worse and get stuck in a new place and not be able to make a community? Or do I stay here where I have support, but what’s going on in our school system?”

Chief communications officer for the school district Brent Campbell told TCB that the district is not teaching critical race theory.

“There of course have been parents asking questions and we’re answering those on a one-to-one basis,” said Campbell. Campbell did not give details on the questions the school board is fielding. Campbell also stated that the school district supports “the learning and professional development of our team to understand inequities and we’ve worked to help them understand that for a long time now.”

JULY 22-28, 2021 | NEWS

NEWS

‘We have to supplement their education’

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ne WSFCS school employee and STOCK IMAGE parent, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of repercusCritical race theory is not part of the Forsyth schools curriculum, but people are talking sions at her job, said that she works a about it anyway. lot with teachers about race. She said the teachers often fight back against her ried about being treated differently due Katie Sonnen-Lee, who is on the board when she talks about equity in the classto the color of her skin. of Action4Equity. “They don’t want room and incorporating more accurate “She doesn’t understand why people to recognize that it could be harder for history into the curriculum. look at her differently,” she said. “It someone else.”

She says she does discuss race theory makes me cry. A 6-year-old shouldn’t Sonnen-Lee’s children are entering with these teachers to help them underhave to deal with this.” first and fourth grade. As an advocate for stand the needs of all students, and that Local organizations are doing what teaching racial equity and accurate hisshe has seen a lot of eye they can to educate the tory in schools, she is frustrated that her rolls while discussing the community about what children are not getting the education ‘People are concept. She says it is critical race theory actualshe believes they deserve. hard to get through to the against it because ly is and make sure teach“It feels like we have to supplement teachers regarding this ers are not constrained their education,” she said. “Race has it sounds like topic. in teaching U.S. history. never been taught in schools very well something that As a parent, she Action4Equity is one of and we’re going to continue to crealready sees how her will make them those organizations. ate adults that don’t understand racial young daughter struggles Action4Equity started wealth gaps and why race is so predictive because of local attitudes feel bad...’ as Action4Ashley, an of life outcomes. If we’re not going to – Natasha Smith, parent about race. She and her advocacy group for Ashlook at those systems, it’s not going to daughter are both Black. ley Elementary School, change.”

“I don’t feel like we’ve done enough,” which is predominantly Black, when said the mother. “Our students of color The statewide debate school officials would not take care of a are still being left behind. It’s not equihe North Carolina Senate is mold situation in school buildings. table at all. My daughter had a teacher currently debating HB 324 that Now, the organization is sharing petiin Kindergarten this fall, and she was would ban critical race theory tions and advocating for racial equity in rude to the students of color. We had from being taught in Kindergarten schools. parents who didn’t speak English and the through 12th grade. No Guilford or For“Lots of people don’t want to recteacher would just fuss at them.” syth County representatives sponsored ognize that white people’s lives can be This coming year, her daughter is hard, but being white hasn’t made these afraid to go to school because she is worCont. on pg. 7 things even harder to overcome,” said

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NEWS | JULY 22-28, 2021

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The officer who shot and killed Fred Cox Jr. was suspended and demoted in the past

by Sayaka Matsuoka

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ine years before Davidson County Sheriff’s deputy Michael Shane Hill shot and killed Fred Cox Jr. in High Point on Nov. 8, 2020, Hill was suspended from the Kernersville Police Department. Three days later, Hill resigned from that post. That’s according to public records received by Triad City Beat, which detail Hill’s previous stints at other law enforcement agencies before his current posting at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office. According to the data collected by TCB, Hill has been suspended as a law enforcement officer twice and demoted once. His most recent suspension took place for more than a month, from Nov. 8-Dec. 15, after he shot and killed Cox. As outlined in TCB’s previous reporting, Hill had been attending a memorial service in High Point when cars driving past the church started shooting towards the building. According to a witness, Hill, who had been on the other side of the church, began shooting at individuals who were running into the church for cover. That’s when he shot Cox Jr. in the back, killing him. According to the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office, Hill was not wearing a body camera during the incident as the department just started their body camera program this summer. Requests for employee timesheets from the day to see if Hill was on-duty when he shot Cox Jr. were also rejected by the sheriff’s office, who claimed they are not public record.

However, email records obtained by TCB show that the High Point Police Department was aware of Hill’s attendance at the memorial service on Nov. 8. In one email dated Nov. 5, 2020, sent at 8:12 p.m. Hill updates High Point police Lt. BJ MacFarland Jr. on his plans to attend the memorial service on Nov. 8. “Lt. MacFarland, the funeral arrangements for Jonas have changed according to the family. The service has moved to the Living Water Baptist Church in High Point with the service time being at 2 p.m.

Family said there should be about 75 or so to include family and those close to the family in attendance, but supposedly no gang members. Stay safe and thanks again for all your help.” The email was then forwarded by MacFarland to Police Chief Travis Stroud as well as two other HPD employees.

Another email from Nov. 5 from

MacFarland to other HPD employees at 3:23 p.m. note that “Davidson County Deputy Shane Hill will be in attendance in Suit and Tie. It is supposed to be a small private family event but because of the gang ties there is potential for uninvited guests.” Lastly, an email by Police Chief Travis Stroud to his employees on Feb. 1, 2021, after the shooting, appears to warn his officers from repeating Hill’s “mistake.”

“We need to learn from this incident,” Stroud writes. “Make sure we do not replicate ‘mistakes’ from LE side. This is far, far from over and we should be in consistent discussions on ‘what if ’ scenarios when word comes down on what the DA is going to do. In the meantime, we will not be allowing any of our officer to attend funerals, visitations, wakes, etc…other than in full uniform security mode, in our jurisdiction.”

Attempts to reach Hill were not successful for this story. As of earlier this month, Hill was still employed by the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office.

Is Michael Shane Hill a “wandering officer”?

FACEBOOK

Michael Shane Hill (circled) is pictured here after being hired by the Salisbury Police Department in 2011.

on any given year during their study, an revious employment records for average of just under 1,100 officers who Hill, whose voter registration were previously fired — 3 percent of all shows that he is a 43-year-old, officers in the state — worked for Florida white male who is registered as a Repubagencies. lican, reveal that Hill fits into the mold Michael Shane Hill began working of what some academics call a “wanderas a police officer for the Kernersville ing officer.”

Police Department in January 2000, According to an April 2020 study by according to public records. For the next Duke law professor Ben Grunwald and 11 years, Hill worked for the departUniversity of Chicago law professor ment, with incremental raises every year John Rappaport, a wandering officer is a until September 2011, when he was law enforcement officer who is “fired by suspended with pay. He then resigned one department, someon Sept. 30. While the times for serious misdate of any suspension conduct, who then finds or demotion is public ‘We need to learn work at another agency.” the reason for the from this incident. record, According to the study, disciplinary action is not. which was published in Make sure we do If an officer is dismissed, the Harvard Law Journal, the reason for the disnot replicate wandering cops are more is public. However, ‘mistakes’ from LE missal likely to be fired again in this case, because it in the future and also to side.’ appears Hill resigned, the have complaints lodged – High Point police Chief Travis reason for his departure against them compared Stroud is not public record. to other officers. For the After being suspended purposes of the study, and resigning from the Grunwald and Rappaport looked at data Kernersville Police Department on Sept. for 98,000 full-time law enforcement 30, Hill was hired by the Salisbury Police officers employed by almost 500 differDepartment on March 19, 2012 — less ent agencies in the state of Florida over than six months later. There, Hill started a 30-year period. Their study found that as a master police officer where he

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received incremental raises. In February 2016, he was promoted to corporal until Jan. 4, 2019, when he left. The reason for Hill’s departure was not provided by the department. Less than a month later, he began working at the Davidson County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 28, 2019.

A little more than a year later, in February 2020 — less than nine months before he killed Cox Jr. — Hill was demoted.

The details of his demotion are not public record. Hill remains employed by the Davidson Sheriff’s Office as of earlier this month.

According to the Harvard Law study, officers who were once fired from their jobs typically have a hard time finding work again. However, that pattern does not hold for officers who were fired earlier in their careers. Based on the timeline of Hill’s employment records, he would have been about 22 years old when he first started working at the Kernersville Police Department, meaning his suspension in 2011, when he was about 32, could be considered early on his in career. The study also notes that law enforcement agencies “do not always conduct thorough background investigations before hiring.” And even when they do, “past employers are not always forthcoming and sometimes conceal the

Cont. from pg. 5 “C.R.T.”

makes it more like for the officers to secure a job in the future because “hiring agencies might view these officers as rehabilitated.”

To be employed in North Carolina, an officer must be certified by the NC Department of Justice. Occasionally, when an officer engages in misconduct, their licenses can be revoked. An employee working in the Office of Administrative Hearings with the NC DOJ told TCB that Hill was not in their records for having had a hearing in the past.

While complaints against officers are not public record in North Carolina, the Harvard Law study shows that officers who had been previously fired from a position were almost twice as likely to receive complaints against them. These

include complaints about violence, sexual misconduct or integrity.

On June 1, a Grand Jury failed to indict Hill on two bills of indictment for voluntary manslaughter and felony assault with a deadly weapon. Since then, Cox Jr.’s mother, Tenicka Shannon, has begun working with the attorneys who assisted in the George Floyd case, Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci. In a statement from June, Jennifer McGuffin, an employee who works with Romanucci and Crump said that “civil litigation is being carefully prepared and will be filed upon completion of a thorough review of the facts to ensure accountability for the death of Fred Cox.”

JULY 22-28, 2021 | NEWS

real reasons for an officer’s separation.”

When asked if the department knew about Hill’s prior suspension at the Kernersville Police Department, a public information officer with the Davidson Sheriff’s Office noted that “pre-employment records are not public record.”

The study also noted that those who were fired once were twice as likely to be fired again as compared to those who had never been fired before. However, in the case of Hill, his termination was listed as “resigned” rather than a dismissal. The study notes that “anecdotal evidence suggests that officers who commit misconduct are often allowed to resign, with a guaranteed positive work reference, in exchange for forgoing legal action.” This, the study hypothesizes,

this bill. As of mid July, 26 other states have considered similar bills.

As HB 324 stands after passing through the House, it would prohibit teachers from helping students understand systemic racism.

“The whole idea is questioning whether or not we’re living up to our ideals so we can further the democratic experiment and make it better,” said Sarah Green, who has rising 6th and 8th graders at Wiley Middle School. “All of it is a dogwhistle. There is obviously extreme frustration by parts of the population that seem to be susceptible to misinformation. It’s all part of this misinformation campaign.”

Green, who is white, spent time in college and graduate school as a competitive policy debater talking about critical race theory. She emphasized that students in Kindergarten through 12th grade are unlikely to learn about it in the classroom.

“If you’re not studying the law, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter critical race theory,” she said. “Extremists have appropriated this phrase and tried to apply it to any conversation about race in our schools.”

Green’s 8th grade son said he was confused as to why conservatives are so opposed to the idea of teaching race in schools.

“He said, ‘Well that should be taught,’” said Green. “We don’t give our kids enough credit. They can think for themselves. They are taught to critically think. That’s the core foundation of the curriculum that we use in the United States and in North Carolina.”

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OPINION | JULY 22-28, 2021

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OPINION EDITORIAL

NC cannabis bill denies reality

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here are no fewer than eight past its first committee hurdle is that cannabis-related bills workthe bill is sponsored by Bill Rabon, a ing their way through the powerful Republican from a coastal disNorth Carolina legislature trict who has successfully used cannabis this session. This is nothing new — bills in his own battle with colon cancer. to legalize marijuana in some format Legal weed really should be a Repubhave been written every session going lican issue. It implies states’ rights, small back to at least 2009-10. What’s unique government, personal responsibility and is that one of these bills, SB 711, the fiscal reality, as recreational marijuana Compassionate Care Act, has this year generates a significant tax-revenue actually advanced past its first commitwindfall for the states that enact it. tee stop and may even But even this bill is loadpass. ed with big-government Legal weed And like most attempts initiatives — an advisory really should be a by the NC Legislature to board, a commission, a Republican issue. keep up with progress — registry with cards, strict like the lottery, for instance It implies states’ regulation of the supply — the bill is a ham-fisted line, a verification system rights, small govhalf measure that doesn’t and several other imposiernment, personal tions on the free market. do what it needs to.

SB 711 is a medical-mar- responsibility and And it never acknowlijuana bill that, in its own edges the elephant in the fiscal reality. words, “[I]s intended to room: As of this month, make only those changes recreational cannabis is to existing North Carolina laws that are legal in Virginia, our neighbor to the necessary to protect patients and their north with which we share almost 400 doctors from criminal and civil penalties miles of state borderline. Even if NC’s and is not intended to change current medical marijuana bill passes, which is civil and criminal laws governing the use still no guarantee, everyone who wants of cannabis for nonmedical purposes.” easy, legal weed will just drive across the It’s worth mentioning here, to the border, like they used to do for lottery officials in our representative governtickets, where their state tax coffers — ment, that fully 54 percent of North and their big tobacco company — will Carolinians support legal, recreational benefit instead of ours. cannabis, according to an Elon poll.

The only reason SB 711 has gotten

Claytoonz

by Clay Jones

claytoonz.com

by Nicole Zeniker

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Freedom Summer’s ’60s story about passing resonates today

he lights don’t go up in a traditional sense, as most of the audience is watching the show on a screen. But as soon as the video starts, they can see a large living room. The walls are painted blue and purple and a vanity to the right boasts a number of makeup products, including a skin-lightening cream. On the other side of the stage is an old radio; it will broadcast news of the Civil Rights movement throughout the show.

Freedom Summer, written back in 2018 by playwright Cynthia Grace Robinson, streamed this past week as part of Appalachian State University’s Summer Festival. The show is based on Robinson’s short play “Peola’s Passing” and takes elements from the writer’s own life.

A red-leather couch sits center stage in front of a door through which Carrie, played by Nikyla Boxley, will re-enter her sister’s life. Nora, played by Mariah Guillmette, is decidedly unappreciative — and fearful — that her sister came all this way.

Both girls are Black, but Nora has decided to pass as white for the last two years, a privilege afforded to her by her light skin. Carrie, meanwhile, plans to leave Nora’s place and head straight to Ohio to join the Civil Rights movement.

The play is in the same vein as Nella Larson’s Passing and, more recently, The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. They playwright, Robinson, had told the cast early on that her aunt, a light-skinned Black woman, had very different privileges than her mother, who was darker.

In the play, Nora, afraid that she will be found out, tries to convince her sister to stay in their hometown with their mother. Meanwhile, Carrie argues that there will be nothing for her in Jackson, Miss., where the two women grew up, unless she fights for change.

“It was hard coming into the room some days when we were working on some of the longer monologues to the end of the acts,” says Nikyla Boxley, who plays Carrie. “Some of the things that Nora says to Carrie, it was hard to go through every day. I would remind myself that this is a play, not real life, but it was still hard to put myself in that position.”

The show was originally supposed to premiere in March 2020. Though it ended up being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the play was always going to be online.

JULY 22-28, 2021 | CULTURE

Culture

COURTESY PHOTO

The sisters in Cynthia Grace Robinson’s Freedom Summer are Black, but one is passing as white.

COURTESY PHOTO

The show streamed online during Appalachian State University’s Summer Festival this past week.

“Someone said this the other day when we were doing this talk back,” says Boxley. “People never would have seen this play across the country if we hadn’t filmed it, and this is a story that needs to be told. It didn’t take place that long ago.

It’s a great tool, and I can’t wait until one day it’s in a theater somewhere.”

When at last those working on the show were able to film it for an online audience in January 2021, there were still many precautions they needed to take. The set designers were not allowed to be in the same room as the cast and crew, and only the actors were allowed to discard their masks.

“It was crazy, but these rules were important and needed to be followed,” says show director Jackie Alexander. “The small cast helped us quite a bit. It was complicated, but we believed in the piece and knew we could do it.”

The show finally premiered in February before returning to the Appalachian Summer Festival this past week for a onetime showing.

Though the show takes place in the 1960s, the characters

touch on many themes that resonate today. The women talk about the intersections of race and class, and the fact that Nora has more wealth available to her by passing as white compared to their mother, who was also light skinned but refused to let anyone think she was not Black.

And just like today, as communities are having more conversations around race and police brutality, Nora recalls that just because white people are marching in the Civil Rights Movement now, that does not mean that these issues are new.

As Carrie mentions, President Johnson has just signed the largest sweeping Civil Rights Act to date into law. At the same time, Black men and Civil Rights workers of different races are dying for justice. Both sisters have a hard time wrapping their heads around this juxtaposition.

“It seemed like she wrote it for [our] time,” Alexander says of the playwright. “I think a lot of people were open to it because of that.”

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CULTURE | JULY 22-28, 2021

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Culture

By Sayaka Matsuoka

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Boba binge: Triad boba shops cash in on national trend

t’s a bit unclear how it all started.

Some claim it was created when a tea room’s owner added white tapioca balls to his milk tea. Others say it was concocted when a female teahouse employee experimented with tapioca balls and iced milk tea to create the first iteration. Either way, the rise in popularity worldwide of boba or bubble tea is indisputable. After being introduced from Taiwan to the United States in ’90s, boba has gained a cultlike following in large, Asian-dominated cities across the country. And in the last few years, shops in the Triad have joined in on the trend.

So what is it? Boba or bubble tea refers to a tea-based iced drink — normally made with black or green tea — that comes with any number of adornments shaken together and served with a signature fat straw. Often times, the drinks include some form of milk, creating a creamy texture. The most recognizable versions have black, chewy tapioca balls that sink to the bottom of the cups. Still, other popular versions of the drink are sans dairy and are more fruit-forward with little chunks of jellies or popping balls that have fruit juices in them.

The word “boba” is slang for big breasts in Taiwan while others say bubble tea refers to the foamy texture created when the drinks are mixed up.

Another key feature of a boba drink is the vacuum-sealed plastic lid through which users will stab their thick straws through. Christopher Edwards, coowner of Café Gelato in Winston-Salem, has some tips for boba newbies when it comes to piercing their drinks.

“Don’t hold the bottom of the straw,” Edwards advises.

Instead, he recommends holding the top third of the straw and lining it up with the center of the lid. Then, he says to use your other hand to push down on the straw. Too often, Edwards says he sees customers crack the walls of the cup because they end up smashing the edges of their drink, resulting in wasted boba.

“It took me years to figure it out,” he admits.

And as the temperatures continue to climb and summer maintains its grip on us all, here are just a few local places in which you can get your boba fix to keep you cool and hydrated throughout the season.

WINSTON-SALEM

Café Gelato 1612 S. Hawthorne Road 336-725-9110 cafegelatowinston.com

Intown Donutz

508 E. Mountain St., Kernersville; 167 Jonestown Rd., W-S 336-992-7707; 336-331-3414 Facebook.com/IntownDonutz Popular flavors: Taro, green tea Price: $3.99

Notes: With a Kernersville location open since 2011, Intown Donutz is a staple for sweet treats. A few years ago, they added boba teas to their menu. While there isn’t a menu online, staff says there are more flavors available at the Winston-Salem location. For those that want an extra sweet combo they could pair the shop’s most-popular donut, the apple fritter, with the coffee boba tea. The shop also has boba options such as the classic tapioca ball, bursting fruit boba or jelly boba.

May Way Dumplings Popular flavors: Mango, strawberry, Tiger tea Price: $4-8 Notes: While there are two locations of this shop in WinstonSalem, only the café on Hawthorne Road sells boba. According to co-owner Christopher Edwards, they sell more boba teas than they do their homemade gelato at this location despite being named for the latter. One of the shop’s unique offerings is a milkshake-like boba float which comes with either one or two scoops of gelato inside of your boba tea for a thicker, dessert-like experience. The shop also sells fruit teas with different flavored popping pearls as well as their tiger milk tea —made with brown sugar, milk and boba — one of their most popular items on the menu.

113 Reynolda Village 336-782-8773 maywaydumplingsvillage.com Popular flavors: Lavender, mango, Thai tea Price: $3.99 Notes: As of publication, this location is still closed for dinein. Customers can either order online or call to place their orders and pick up outside the shop. Besides having the most extensive boba flavors in town, May Way is known for their delicious dumplings. Our recommendation is to get a few orders of dumplings, a boba tea and then sit in the grassy area across from the shopping center and enjoy your meal under a shady tree.

Momo Ashi (coming soon)

Boba House

GREENSBORO

332 Tate St. 336-379-7444 Bobahouse.com Popular flavors: Mango, passionfruit, taro, Thai tea Price: $4.68

JULY 22-28, 2021 | CULTURE

1961 N. Peace Haven Road 336-546-7808 Momoashinc.com Popular flavors: TBD Price: $4.50-4.75 Notes: While the shop isn’t open yet, once it does, it will be serving boba teas as well as a number of Asian snacks that aren’t widely available anywhere else in the area.

Some notable foods on their menu include onigiri, or Japanese rice balls, as well as something the shop calls “wamochi,” a combination of waffles and mochi. The shop will also sell thick slices of toast with dessert toppings as well as sandwiches.

Rena Marie’s Coffee and Bubble Tea 545 Trade St. NW 336-897-6507 coffee975.wixsite.com/rena-maries-coffees Popular flavors: Taro, coconut, honeydew, mango Price: $6.95

Notes: Open since 2003, Boba House is likely the oldest shop in the Triad that has been offering boba. As such, they are a known staple around the community and also the only fully-vegetarian restaurant in Greensboro, for now. Boba enthusiasts might want to order a few options from this location and then compare to the drinks at May Way across the street.

Gong Cha (Inside Super G Mart)

Notes: While the shop has some of the wonkiest hours in town, it might be worth it to stop by just to try some of their unique flavors like their Vietnamese iced coffee boba or their Yuan-Yang tea, otherwise known as their Hong Kong style milk tea coffee which combines iced coffee with their house black tea.

4927 W. Market St. #3 336-763-3861 Gongchausa.com Popular flavors: Earl grey, pearl milk, brown sugar milk tea Price: $3.75-5.95 Notes: A franchise location like Kung Fu tea in High Point, this shop located inside of Super G Mart is the newest addition to Greensboro’s boba scene. In addition to classic milk teas, the shop also has milk foam teas, slushies and yogurt drinks. Because of its location, it’s recommended for while you’re shopping for groceries or as a pick-me-up afterwards.

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CULTURE | JULY 22-28, 2021

MasterTea Café and Bites 5103 W. Market St. Suite D 336-579-8363 Masterteanc.business.site Popular flavors: Classic, strawberry, taro Price: $4.50-5.75

Moshi Moshi Boba Café

2418 Spring Garden St. 336-617-7611 Facebook.com/moshimoshigso Popular flavors: Purple cloud, Oreo twister, ichigo (strawberry), Drop it like it’s hot Price: $4-5.50

Notes: Like MasterTea, Moshi Moshi is one of the most Instagrammable locations on this list because of its neon signs and selfie wall complete with a wooden swing for customers to sit and take pictures on. They even have a recently completed anime mural next to their back patio with characters from One Piece, My Hero Academia, Attack on Titan and Sailor Moon, to name a few.

Pika Tea

Notes: Since opening in 2018, this shop has increased in popularity for their extensive drink menu which features everything from milk teas to fruit teas to frozen coffee drinks. The shop also sells Asian snacks and lunchy items like fried tofu, chicken wings, and banh mi. For our full article on MasterTea, visit here. The same owners also run Tik Tok Snow and Tea further down this list.

May Way Dumplings

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948 Walker Ave. 336-291-8481 Greatmayway.com Popular flavors: Taro, mango, honeydew, lychee, lavender, vanilla Price: $3.99 Notes: Newer than the Winston-Salem location, the Greensboro outfit offers a larger dine-in space, although at the time of publication it was take-out only. It also has more food options than its sister location. Like Boba House, this spot is conveniently located next to UNCG’s campus.

1611 Stanley Road 336-763-0800 Facebook.com/people/Pika-Tea/100057038217053 Popular flavors: Brown sugar milk tea, taro Price: $5.50-6 Notes: The thing that sets this shop aside from the others on this list would have to be its signature milk swirl drinks, particularly the strawberry yogurt latte. The shop also serves macaroons and flan cake.

Tik Tok Snow and Tea

3808 W. Gate City Blvd.

336-285-8975 Facebook.com/tiktoksnowtea Popular flavors: Brown sugar milk, strawberry, Tik Tok signature which is a Black milk tea with crème brulee Price: $4.25-5.50 Notes: Open since June 2020, this shop has the same owners as MasterTea. Because of the that, the interior aesthetic of the shop is trendy and airy with neon signs and small succulents gracing a wall. The shop also features multiple colorful desserts, many of which feature grass and pandon flour jellies.

JULY 22-28, 2021 | CULTURE

Greensboro

Winston-Salem High point

Bubbleful Tea

HIGH POINT

2401 Penny Road #103 336-882-5748 Facebook.com/Bubbleful Flavors: Thai tea, milk tea, green tea, coffee, mocha, strawberry, watermelon, honeydew, avocado, taro, coconut, mango, lychee Price: $3.99 Notes: Open since 2016, this small shop sells boba teas as well as small cakes and desserts.

Ninja Café – Kung Fu Tea 5815 Samet Drive #111-113 336-781-3233 Kungfutea.com Popular flavors: Classic Black tea Price: $3-5

Notes: While this location is technically a chain, we would be remiss if we didn’t mention it because of its popularity and significance as a national brand. Started in 2010 in Queens, NY, Kung Fu Tea is the country’s largest bubble tea brand with more than 250 locations across the US In 2018, they founded National Bubble Tea Day — now on April 30 every year. The shop’s main appeal is likely the fact that customers can build and choose their own teas, starting with the base and adding all kinds of toppings from the classic tapioca beads to different flavors of jelly to red bean.

Tea Time Lounge

1800 N. Main St. #116 336-991-5280 Teatimeboba.com Popular flavors: Taro, original black milk tea, brown sugar milk tea Price: $3.50-5.25 Notes: This shop offers more than 30 flavors of boba including unique ones like cookies n’ cream, chocolate, guava and jackfruit. In addition to their extensive menu, the shop also offers rolled iced cream, mangonadas and sweet crepes.

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SHOT IN THE TRIAD | JULY 22-28, 2021

SHOT IN THE TRIAD

Levi Coffin Drive, Greensboro

CAROLYN DE BERRY

The Eastern Music Festival is back! Seen here is the Young Artists Orchestra in rehearsal at Dana Auditorium at Guilford College.

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CROSSWORD

by Matt Jones

1 Skids laterally 10 Indifferent individual 15 1968 album whose first single was “Think”/”You Send Me” 16 Decoy customer 17 Comic commentator on both the U.S. and Australian versions of “Holey Moley” 18 “O Pioneers!” author Cather 19 Anna Mill/Luke Jones 2018 graphic novel about robotic cities 21 Room 204, at the Roman Holiday Inn? 22 Lying beneath 23 Gp. that supports summer reading 24 ___ kama (imitation crab used in California rolls) 25 One-liner, e.g. © 2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords (editor@jonesincrosswords.com) 26 Drive out on the prairie?

28 San Francisco Bay structure 29 “Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth” author Rick 31 “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test” stuff 32 “Right?”

33 Culatello or Black Forest, e.g.

36 Sponge cake seen on “The Great British BakeOff” (and named for an Italian city) 37 Streaming service that sounds like a Haitian religion 38 Microsoft hybrid product announced in 2001 Answers from last issue 41 30-miles-per-hour runners 42 Regional butter substitute (I swear nobody 14 His Final Jeopardy response was “Who are three calls it this on the West Coast) people who’ve never been in my kitchen?”

43 “___ Poetica” (Horace work) 20 Shaw who sang “Puppet on a String” for the 44 Lesson at the end U.K. at Eurovision 1967 46 Imperfection 25 Research ctr. that co-manufactured the 47 Leaders of the bunch?

Curiosity Rover 50 Paleontologist’s big find 27 2021 role for Mayim 52 Fake (like with lip-synching or air guitar) 29 Go off on 53 Flee, in a way 30 Rubbing alcohol variety 54 Embarrassed acknowledgement 32 Small, but cute 55 Small, but cute 33 Focus of much genetic research 56 PBS series of programs for at-home education 34 Flatterer 35 Letters before nus Down 36 Well-rounded positive makeovers 1 ___-CoV-2 (virus that causes COVID-19) 37 Supervillain who’s queen of the Skrull Empire, 2 “Confederacy” of Native American peoples in the Marvel Universe 3 Explained as false 38 Heath bar ingredient 4 Web-based stock follower, maybe 39 Alternative form of a gene 5 Hobbits’ home, with “The” 40 Long jump gold medalist Bob 6 Red Stripe is one 44 Skill demonstrated on the U.K.’s “Countdown” 7 “Splendor in the Grass” Oscar winner William (that isn’t seen much on U.S. game shows) 8 With “The,” Dallas indie-pop group that often 45 “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” reporter April has up to 27 members 48 Reporter’s assignment 9 Tiny candy brand with the slogan “Be Both” 49 Scattered, as seed 10 London-to-Madrid dir.

51 WWE wrestler Mysterio 11 Get set 12 Early carrier tank on the tracks 13 “Fighting” NCAA team

SUDOKU JULY 22-28, 2021 | PUZZLES

Across

‘Free Up Space’—another themeless, for these times.

©2021 Jonesin’ Crosswords

(editor@jonesincrosswords.com)

Answers from previous publication.

If you read

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Little Light Bread & Soup Co.

Scratch-made soup and bread for everyone - regardless of ability to pay.

Seasonal Italian menu available for dine-in and takeout.

3205 Yanceyville Street Greensboro, NC. 27405

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