The Ojai Post

I was excited to look up my listing in the new, very handsome and handy phone book. I've struggled getting my company up on it's feet for the past 4 years and something as simple as being listed in the yellow pages under "theatrical schools," just made my day. Finally, a clearer description of what Peachtree Theater Company is.
At one point I got away from the den of cocktail chatter to huddle with the "bad kids" around the side of the building. There I was asked for the 100th time, "Why aren't there more black people here in Ojai?" Everytime I'm asked this I can never give a good answer. I did reply this time that, "There are more here than you think," and the conversation continued with trading the names of all the African Americans who live here. This was the first time that I didn't recognize the names I was given and the names I mentioned didn't ring any bells with anyone else. Which led me back to my original statement, "There are more here than you think." We went back to mingling but the question still lingered through the evening as my posse drifted from the mixer to Pangea to Movino to our final destination, The Hub. There, the jovial spirit of spring was still high in the saloon (no headbutting there, either) and the subject of Ojai's black population surfaced again. I met a gentleman who I thought I'd never seen before. He told me he'd seen me at least 20 times. When his son, who I do know, entered, I felt ashamed that I'd never seen him before. He told me, very sage-like, "When you're a minority in a small town you have to be especially observant." At that moment I noticed the bartendress seemed a little surprised at the site of 4 African Americans standing together at one time. Not a typical site in Ojai, is it? My new friend went on to say that at least 20 black families have moved here in the last couple of years. Which explained why I didn't recognize the names I'd heard earlier: I just haven't met them yet. Then I recalled an article I read online the other day from my hometown newspapaer, Chicago Sun-Times. The story said that black-owned businesses are the fastest growing in the nation. That gives me the feeling that I'm on the right track, especially since I'd been feeling panicky about everything lately. Starting a new business is hard work. Maintaining one is even harder. So, to all the Ojai business owners, I applaud you. And all yo theatre business, come to the chamber mixers, let everyone know who you are. And all the African Americans in town, we should have a mixer, too. I think it would be a blast!