Moving The Movement

Intergenerational Marchers for Workers Rights

One of the most inspiring aspects of attending the social forum was seeing the composition of the participants: probably about half were young - under 35 years old, and at least half were people of color – African-Americans, Latinos, Asian-Americans, and Native Americans. Last year I attended a conference held by an organization with similar values, and was disappointed to see the participants were almost completely white and only about 5% were under 30. The social forum felt authentically grassroots, young, vibrant, and committed.

In a Thursday morning session entitled, “Moving The Movement in The US”, members of the planning committee for the USSF discussed the history of social movements in the last 40 years and the state of current movements. Ruben Solis of the Southwest Workers Union explained that in the old paradigm, people of color needed white, progressive liberals, and their connections and resources before any real change happened. In the new paradigm, people of color are organizing, leading, and making change happen on their own, as the planning and success of the USSF aptly indicated.

After the session, I began to wonder, what are the conversations that need to happen between white communities and communities of color to develop healthier, more collaborative and mutual relationships? I posed this question to KC, an African-American social activist from Texas. He said that what would be most helpful is if white organizations simply ask organizations of color what they need, and provide solicited assistance, not unsolicited leadership or control. I also think the vice-versa is true as well – white organizations should begin asking communities of color for help, not simply grasping to fulfill diversity quotas.

Living in Seattle, I notice that there is still largely a divide between the environmental justice/climate change movement, which is largely white and middle/upper class, and the social/economic justice movements led by or involving people of color. The divisions are also apparent geographically in the neighborhoods of Seattle. I believe these movements are fundamentally connected and would love to see more collaboration between the two. I have to claim ignorance about what indigenous communities are doing, but I believe that they could be or already are a keystone in this collaboration, since environmental and social justice have never been separate for them.

The US Social Forum was a phenomenal space for these questions and issues to be looked at, and inspired by the diversity and youth of the participants, I believe that these movements will indeed continue to move forward in a positive direction.

Dreams And Nightmares

A photo installation outside the Civic Center brought the reality of war in Iraq much closer to home.

“What Would it Be like if the United States Were Iraq?

THE EVENING NEWS...

The deal toll is rising as major attacks continue in Northeast cities of Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Baltimore. The White House and other buildings near the National Mall remain under mortar fire...Every city in the U.S. has experienced a crime wave, with thousands of murders, kidnappings, burglaries, and carjackings. An estimated 275, 000 guerilla forces control Seattle, Portland, San Fransisco...In the last year, the Secretary of State (Condeleeza Rice), the President (George W. Bush), and the Attorney General (Alberto Gonzalez) were all assassinated...Displaced by the violence, about 16.5 million people have become internal refugees, and many other have fled to Mexico and Canada. “

Explore entire exhibit at American Friends Service Committee's website: http://www.afsc.org/eyes/experience/see-it.htm

Hip Hop - Music of the Movement?

Jay Woodson (center in white) facilitates workshop

On Friday I attended a session entitled "Counter-Culture Hip Hop" facilitated by Jay Woodson from the National Hip Hop Political Convention (NHHPC). It challenged my understanding about the history and nature of hip hop and the depth of conversations happening within the Hip Hop community. The session, attended mostly by 20-30 somethings, was a dialogue with Jay posing questions, and the group hashing out answers. What is Hip Hop? What is our dominant culture? What does it mean to be counter cultural? What is the difference between mainstream Hip Hop and underground Hip Hop?

Hip Hop started around 1974 in the Bronx in New York City, in the socio-economic context of the urban black and latino ghetto amidst increasing gang power. It began in public places, as a way to bring peace, love, unity, and fun in the lives of the community members. Hip Hop, however, has become a mainstream phenomenon, marketed by record companies as a culture of materialism, consumerism, sexism, and gangsterism. Meanwhile, underground artists removed from the machine of big record companies, “keep it real” by creating an alternative culture of social and political conciousness, and the original principles of peace, love, unity, and having fun.

One of the participants, a hip hop artist himself, said that the social movements of today need 21st century movement music – “We Shall Overcome” should be honored and remembered but has lost some of its relevance. I commented that the nature of current movements, being so diverse in cultural basis, and covering so many issues from environmental justice to social justice to indigenous rights, may struggle to find music that unites all. Another participant suggested that hip hop could indeed be that music, since it is now a global culture, and incorporates other music forms like reggae, jazz, and rock.

I think the questions and struggles happening within the hip hop community are directly parallel to the questions and struggles of these movements themselves, and am convinced they deserve more attention.