"This United States of America has maintained a dual personality, writing of freedom in a Declaration of Independence with one hand, lashing the backs of enslaved peoples with the other, and all while on stolen Indigenous land. These deep and abiding contradictions have marked the country's laws and traditions, which offer the hope of inclusion and opportunity if only one works hard enough. At the same time, the country kills dreams with obstacles of discrimination, classism, and violence that are intentionally placed along the path, making protest a natural response."
In her Introduction to her brilliant A Protest History of the United States Gloria J. Browne-Marshall tells it like it is. America's constant violent undermining of declarations and promises makes protest a natural and necessary response. At this time in American history if you're anything like me you're probably engaging in some kind of protest.
"Protest helps connect current social justice issues with past battles for freedom, equality, fair wages, the end to wars, and desegregation. This historical context is crucial for readers, for activists and for those questioning the forces aligned against progress, forces that fear inevitable change. Their use of violence, by even the seemingly staid members of the status quo, is evidence of a simmering rage against the inclusion of others. It is the lives and livelihoods lost in this war of attrition that propels the writing of this book."
And what a book it is! It covers a wide span of time from the arrival of the first settler colonists to the current century. And it covers a myriad of protests: the Indigenous struggle for sovereignty and self-determination, the many ways enslaved peoples subtly and openly defied those who denied them freedom and humanity, the bravery of union organizers in courtrooms and on picket lines and so much more. It's a gem of a read for those who want to understand today's ills and resulting protests within the larger historical context.
I'm terrified by the actions of the current White House occupant and his cronies. But the other party isn't exactly reassuring me. Toward the end of the voting on the "big beautiful" budget bill the Democrat legislators were doing a gleeful rendition of make sure they remember who did this to them. The immense suffering this will cause for so many, if considered at all, is seen as acceptable collateral damage because the bill is the key to mid term election successes. What the fuck, people.
The crisis we're in didn't start with Trump's election. It started well before he was born. It will continue even if we elect all Democrats. The prez who ended welfare as we knew it and created the draconian laws that fill prisons with boys and men of color was Democrat William Jefferson Clinton. And both parties are bought and owned by the wealthy and their corporations. Why do you think we're the only industrialized nation without a single payer health care system--paying more for much worse outcomes.
Anyway if you really want a better America for us all please read A Protest History of the United States and let it help you grasp the big picture. You'll be glad you did.
On a rather long but hopefully interesting purrrsonal note, I've been protesting just about all my life. I've bussed to DC and marched and done all the traditional stuff. But a lot of what I've done was different.
1) When I was in elementary school I protected immigrant kids from mini nativists on the playground. I was runty but FIERCE. When I swooped in fists up the bullies backed off. Also I aggravated the teachers by pointing out the lies (the pilgrims and the Indians were friends) in the curriculum.
2) I refused to be confirmed at 11 because of the racism and classism I saw in my family's country club Episcopal church. It was a big deal because, as director of religious education and organist, my parents were just below the minister in the hierarchy.
3) I spent two years as a volunteer school librarian so a school in a low income including projects could keep its library open. I used my connections to raise money for library books and brought in free programming. In terms of solidarity those were two of the best years of my life.
4) I ran for school committee so lower income kids and families could have representation. I had to face classist hate speech (trailer park trash). But the third time I won and served for 11 years, over half as vice chairman.
In applying for grad school I was protesting ageism. In performing in drag shows I celebrate my non binary essence. As long as I can I will be protesting in traditional and non traditional ways.
A great big shout out goes out to dedicated protesters around the 🌎
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my U.S.Cellular© Smartphone
