Moving On
In a month, I'm leaving my Midwest college town behind. I'll be on the move a bit for the next six months or so. After that I'll be starting again in Chicago.
I'm worried that I won't keep my commitment to being active in a (or is it the?) movement for social justice. I worry that my commitment won't continue outside of a college setting. Here, it's relatively easy to be "radical" because there are so many really public and popular institutions supporting white kids in our searches for justice. Of course our searches for justice are usually loosely veiled attempts at understanding ourselves, our alienation and eventually our comfort.
I don't want to be another liberal who talks the talk or organizes inside of the safe space of university (or university town), but doesn't act or extend themselves outside of that comfort area, like in non-white or non-straight or non-English speaking settings. I want to maintain my beliefs and continue my work even when it isn't handed to me in an organic, co-op produced, education based setting.
It's funny, but I wish I trusted myself and my commitment more, but like any attempt at trust building, I guess that can only be proved over time.
I'm worried that I won't keep my commitment to being active in a (or is it the?) movement for social justice. I worry that my commitment won't continue outside of a college setting. Here, it's relatively easy to be "radical" because there are so many really public and popular institutions supporting white kids in our searches for justice. Of course our searches for justice are usually loosely veiled attempts at understanding ourselves, our alienation and eventually our comfort.
I don't want to be another liberal who talks the talk or organizes inside of the safe space of university (or university town), but doesn't act or extend themselves outside of that comfort area, like in non-white or non-straight or non-English speaking settings. I want to maintain my beliefs and continue my work even when it isn't handed to me in an organic, co-op produced, education based setting.
It's funny, but I wish I trusted myself and my commitment more, but like any attempt at trust building, I guess that can only be proved over time.
Labels: activism, activist spaces
posted by wms at 11:44 PM
4 Comments:
Mae--
I made the move and found it was way easier to be politically active outside of Madison. It was pretty depressing being an activist in Madison because of all the factors you mentioned. Here in Chicago I'm part of a totally different community. Even if I just sit on my porch and help fix the bikes of kids in the neighborhood or work in a restaurant with men who have lived in the US for 13 years and still don't have citizenship/rights or if my new work is with a teen mom...all these are chances to talk, teach and learn a lot more than I did in school or at a protest meetings in Lothlorien.
And, Mae, remember some time ago. I don't remember when, but we made a commitment to each other to 'hold each other accountable' (to use some tag language there) to being involved in movement building throughout our lives. Woohoo! So we can help each other figure out what's going on where we live, how we can get involved, work through our struggles, etc. You can do it, chica! I see an amazing warrior budding in you! Ha!
hey
thanks for both of your comments. sarah, yours reminds that theres a whole world out there. i know thats totally cliche to say, but sometimes we need to be reminded to take a step back. my aunt nancy said things get a whole lot more interesting outside of the college bubble.
and kp as alwasy thanks for your commitment. i need it to help me grow.
i wanted this whole blog thing to be all annoymous and shit but so it goes, eh?
I live in Chicago and am African-American...I live in a "liberal" area. These white folks wear bright colors with dread locks and listen to Indian music in coffee shops. They talk the talk and refer to everything by its "PC" name. Ask me why when it comes down to it...they aren't living on the West side or South side of Chicago? Why aren't these people attending worship services with a whole different culture? I think it is hip to most white folks to watch BET and wear dreadlocks instead of really being a true advocate or truly intergrating themselves in the "others". None of them are giving away or dismantling their own priviledge. Wonder Why? Well, I know the answer.
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