From Protests to Peace: J-MAL on Art, Activism & Oakland Legacy | A.R.T. Episode #20

In this powerful and unfiltered episode of A Regular Thing (A.R.T.), we sit down with Oakland’s own JJ—artist, photographer, documentarian, and frontline activist. From risking his life during the George Floyd protests to live-streaming conflict resolution in East Oakland, JJ’s story is a raw reflection of art, purpose, and the price of truth-telling. We talk legacy, community impact, and how sometimes, the most revolutionary act is just showing up with a camera and telling the real story. Whether he's capturing stars like Drake and Kamala Harris or standing in the middle of protest zones with a gas mask and a shaky livestream, JJ’s commitment to his people never wavers. This episode is a must-watch for anyone passionate about creativity, activism, legacy, and healing. Timestamps: 0:00 – Remembering Relationships & Boundaries How we navigate old memories, co-parenting, and digital footprints. 2:00 – A.R.T. Officially Begins + Guest Intro Meet JJ—activist, artist, and documentarian rooted in Oakland. 3:30 – Why JJ Deserves His Flowers Community service without the spotlight and being overlooked. 6:15 – From Oakland Hoops to Humble OG Growing up together and recognizing the shift into elderhood. 9:00 – Capturing Celebrity Moments JJ talks photographing Drake, Lauryn Hill, Kamala Harris, and more. 11:00 – Protest Work: From Oscar Grant to George Floyd The turning point that made JJ put down the day job and pick up the livestream full-time. 14:00 – Livestreams That Changed the Narrative How Facebook Lives became tools of truth—and why his platform was ultimately suppressed. 17:10 – Shadowbanned and Silenced JJ’s social media reach was destroyed after streaming police violence in real time. 18:30 – From Oakland to Portland to DC How JJ was flown out to protests across the country, including the March on Washington. 20:00 – Meeting the Central Park 5 + Behind the Scenes Raw, funny, and real stories from the frontline and backstage. 22:15 – Police Surveillance and Personal Risk Being named by masked officers and tagged in digital databases. 24:00 – Turning Down the News Why JJ refused to sell his footage to media outlets who wanted to spin the story. 25:15 – Arrested but Misrepresented Out of 200+ arrests, only JJ’s face aired—showing the manipulation of mainstream narratives. 27:00 – “It Wasn’t for the Money” Losing money and missing work to serve the truth with his camera. 28:15 – Guns Down, Gloves Up JJ documents Rico the Kid’s boxing events in Oakland as an alternative to gun violence. 30:00 – Conflict as a Catalyst for Respect Running fades with structure, respect, and resolution. 31:30 – Hood Diplomacy: Fight, Shake Hands, Move On Stories of fights ending in handshakes, hugs, and deeper respect. 33:00 – The Culture of Healing Through Confrontation Letting aggression out today so it doesn’t fester into tomorrow. 34:30 – Legacy Over Likes JJ’s mission to capture truth, teach youth, and protect the culture by any means necessary.