Sure, here it is:
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So, here’s the thing. Rep. Maxine Waters, right? She’s always got something to say, but when she heard about Jewel Thais-Williams passing away at 86, she just went kinda quiet. Jewel — she’s this legend in the Black and LGBTQ+ scenes, you know? Founded this nightclub, Jewel’s Catch One. Opened way back in 1973, and yeah, big names like Grace Jones and Madonna would show up. Total hotspot.
But, funnily enough, Waters wasn’t just reminiscing about the club. Nope, she was thinking about the bigger picture — like, the real impact Jewel had. “Jewel was a warrior,” Waters said. “People talk a lot about making changes, but she just did it. No permission, no delays. Just got on with it. Total wonder woman.”
Okay, wanna get the full picture? You gotta dive back in time. So, 1961, the Supreme Court had this rule: women couldn’t tend bars unless they were related to the owner. Nuts, right? Fast forward a bit to the ’70s, and, even with the Civil Rights Act, things were still pretty messy for women and Black folks.
Plus, Jewel was a lesbian. In 1973, California was no safe haven for the queer crowd. Clubs were picky, asking Black and brown folks for, like, three IDs and stuff. It was wild. And yet, Jewel’s Catch One made history. First Black lesbian to own a bar in the country.
Waters remembers meeting her there. Jewel was out there helping folks with AIDS. Families had turned these guys away, and she was like, come here, let me help. Feeding them, getting them treatment. Then she even studied medicine. Truly one-of-a-kind.
Keith Boykin, another notable figure, mentioned that Jewel taught him a lesson: building community while under pressure is a form of resistance. In 1993, he helped get the first meeting between a president and the LGBTQ+ community. Like, how was that not a thing earlier, considering how bad AIDS hit folks?
Oh, and there’s a documentary, “Jewel’s Catch One,” if you wanna see her story. C. Fitz made it to highlight Jewel’s influence beyond just the club — like her Village Health Foundation, offering different kinds of health treatments. Took six years to make, and Fitz says Jewel taught her the value of laughter in tough times.
Wait, quick detour back to the present. This week kicked off with armed forces showing up in MacArthur Park. Scary vibes, but no mass arrests, more like a political show. Waters, trying to help union leader David Huerta not too long ago, got the door shut in her face. Quite the scene.
The government’s got this long history of being harsh on people, like the LGBTQ+ community, women, minorities. Weird how it echoes today, right? Especially with recent stuff against immigrants and Latinos.
Waters had been busy in meetings when she heard the news about Jewel — broke her heart, honestly. She called Jewel a fighter. But hey, Waters is a fighter too. Maybe that’s why they clicked, but really, it’s about what they fought for, you know? Fighting’s one thing. Fighting for something meaningful? That’s where it counts.
Jewel’s more famous for her club, sure, but it’s her fighting for the vulnerable that defined her life.
Catch more at: YouTube: @LZGrandersonShow
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