Multi-what?!

I believe “A people’s history of the united city of Sacramento” would have been an appropriate title for SN&R’s Best of Sacramento issue, which celebrated this town’s ethnic diversity. But the editors went and called it “Multi-Sac-Tual.” While the syllable “Sac” involves problematic sexual language, I must say that I was otherwise impressed:

Best of Sacramento 2007 was the most popular SN&R issue in years. Its runner-up in popularity was “The Pot Issue,” which hit newsstands two months prior. Readers, I completely respect your right as independent, free citizens of the world to “toke up” from time to time. But I’m proud to say that you love something slightly more than pot: You love diversity.

I’m swelled with even more pride when I think back on the 2007 Best of Sacramento issue’s aftermath.

Like the thank yous that poured in: How Jodette Johnson, a belly dancer by night who cooks Middle Eastern cuisine for the homeless by day, regularly visits SN&R with a series of “God bless you!”s for including her as the issue’s centerpiece story. Or how Youssouf Brodan, a Senegalese drum instructor, didn’t realize that he’d be the cover model until he saw his smiling face in print, and immediately showed up at SN&R to bear hug his thank yous.

And I can’t forget to mention the stunning press: A televised interview with SN&R, in which Channel 13 broadcasters Chris Burrous and Stephanie Cruz asked only one question about the bounty of “Multi-ethnic, Multi-cultural” writer’s choice winners in SN&R’s 2007 Best of Sacramento issue, preferring to focus on the more predictable “Readers Choice” winners. (I could tell you the “Reader’s Choice” winners in my sleep: Faces, Faces, Golden Bear, Golden Bear, oh, and Faces). Of course, Burrous himself was a “Reader’s Choice” winner, a fact that was duly noted for the camera.

So what was the one and only “Multi-ethnic, Multi-cultural” story topic that Burrous and Cruz asked about on that early, televised morning? They wanted to know about bloodless bullfighting.

Oh I’ll tell you about bloodless bullfighting. It’s entertainment for an unfairly established social hierarchy in which it is acceptable for human beings to treat other living creatures as lesser thans. (As any good Treehugger will tell you, it’s improper to assume that an animal is less intelligent that you are.) At least these bulls leave the fight in a state of annoyance at the Velcro dart attached to their side, rather than bleeding to death.

Still, that’s all beside the point. There are many people and places in Sacramento that also deserve mention: like the Ethiopian support network that is Queen Sheba Restaurant. Or Daniel Pont, who moved to Sacramento to be a father and grandfather first, and, secondly, to open what is arguably the best local lunch spot: La Bonne Soupe Café. Or Respect Integrity and Self-Determination Through Education (my kind of name, it really takes a no-adjective-left-behind approach), a Sac City College support system for the Tongan community. Or LGBTQI-friendly adult toy store Grind & Groove, which sells the most empowered dildos in town.

As anyone who actually read SN&R’s 2007 Best of Sacramento issue can attest, there are many wonderful reasons why Sacramento is multi-ethnic, multicultural and, oh all right, multisactual.