Amenity

Amenity of Chula Vista, California was formed in 1986. They took their distinctive sound with impassioned messages to the hardcore scene, and became the first straight edge band to represent San Diego. With four 7″ albums released over a five year period, it is 1990’s This is Our Struggle (Vinyl Communications/Downside Records) that stands out as their best in my mind. The four song record starts off with the title track, followed by Down Mix, which features the voice of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. over a slow and grooving beat, with heavy guitars, leading up to gang vocals repeating the words, ” This is our struggle”. This shirt with the raised fist, surrounded by lyrics from the title track, embodies Amenity’s message of a unified stand against racism… ” When we free ourselves from the chains of hate, we will become one and we shall overcome!”I can say that this album had a profound impact on me when I was a teenager. Many hardcore albums have deep and meaningful songs, but this one in particular stood out for me. It spoke to me at my youthful age, and made me want to help enact change. The album came with a flyer that promoted a shirt and hoodie with “End Racism” on the front, and a picture of MLK Jr. on the back with the quote, “There’s a time to let things happen, and a time to make things happen”. I convinced five others at my high school to buy the shirts (including a teacher, Mr. Cox). As a kid, wearing that shirt, and seeing them around school felt empowering. It all comes back to Amenity’s This is Our Struggle, an album that sought to be a vessel of change. Thanks to Baruch, Sergio, Tim, and Mike of Amenity for doing this shirt with us, and putting this positive message back out there… “We are all brothers, regardless of color.. Yes, we are all brothers!” -John Burwood

LIMITED TO 150. Printed on Canvas soft cotton tees.