Presented in partnership with Lower Bottom Playaz “Government Housing 2”
Calling Up Justice was honored to collaborate with the legendary Lower Bottom Playaz for a mask mandated presentation of their powerful production of Government Housing 2, written and directed by Dr. Ayodele Nzinga. The show starred the brilliant Cat Brooks and Juenee Simon, who brought fire and nuance to a story that travels through Afro-futurism, ancestral memory, time travel, and the raw fight for agency. Set in a housing project in Berkeley, this play challenges systems while honoring Black resilience and dreaming.
Our Why Mask installation was hosted in the lobby of the Black Arts Movement Business District’s BAM House, welcoming the audience with love and care. The setup offered free high-quality masks and COVID safety information to all who entered—and the response was overwhelmingly positive. People came dressed in stunning Afrocentric fashion, adorned in cowrie beads, vibrant prints, and headwraps that matched the regal spirit of the event. And just as powerful as their fashion was their readiness to protect one another.
We were deeply moved by how easily and enthusiastically the Black audience embraced the offering. Folks said “thank you” and meant it—graceful, generous, and deeply community-minded. Many arrived already masked. For those who weren’t, the opportunity was met not with resistance, but with appreciation. It was a reminder: when care is rooted in culture, it doesn’t feel like a burden—it feels like love.
One audience member jokingly said, “It’s a gift with obligations,” and we thought—yes. This wasn’t just about wearing a mask. It was an invitation to carry the practice forward. To continue performing acts of collective care.
Inside the theater, the set was alive with details that evoked ritual, history, and homage. The dancers added an unexpected and transcendent layer to the experience—embodying time, transformation, and magic. It was a deeply satisfying performance. We hope the story continues—these characters, this universe, deserve more chapters.
After the show, Claudia Alick of Calling Up Justice captured portraits and environmental images to begin building the Digital Black Arts Movement House, a companion space that will launch its groundbreaking ceremony on Juneteenth and open officially for the August Black Arts Movement Business District Festival.
We could not imagine a better way to begin this partnership. This Why Mask installation wasn’t just a pop-up—it was an offering of community care, a cultural affirmation, and a love letter to Black theatergoers who show up for themselves and each other.
Thank you to Dr. Nzinga, the cast and crew of Government Housing, the BAMBD team, and every radiant audience member. We look forward to more collaborations, more care, and more revolutionary joy.