tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56429507136997828552024-03-13T09:17:32.026-07:00revolutionary motherhoodevery mother is revolutionarymai'ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14656556134583235114noreply@blogger.comBlogger70125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-25936683709174911272012-08-27T08:19:00.003-07:002012-08-27T08:19:31.965-07:00Lex wants to be your revolutionary doula!!!!from Lex and her mom's new project: <a data-mce-href="http://lexandpauline.wordpress.com" href="http://lexandpauline.wordpress.com/">Dynamic Dou: A Mother/Daughter Doula Team</a><br />
"54. everyone is waiting<br /> to see what great thing<br /> you'll do next." -from <a data-mce-href="http://wakeupnew.blogspot.com/2007/12/wishes-fulfilled.html" href="http://wakeupnew.blogspot.com/2007/12/wishes-fulfilled.html">Wishful Thinking </a>by Alexis Pauline Gumbs<br />
<a data-mce-href="http://lexandpauline.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/smallerpaula.png" href="http://lexandpauline.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/smallerpaula.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img class="alignleft" data-mce-src="http://lexandpauline.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/smallerpaula.png" height="283" src="http://lexandpauline.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/smallerpaula.png" title="smallerpaula" width="275" /></a><br />
<a data-mce-href="http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true" href="http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true">http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true</a><br />
Following
in her mom Pauline's footsteps, Alexis will be participating in the
International Center for Traditional Childbirth's Full Circle Doula
training Nov 1-4th in Dallas, TX. Yay!!!!<br />
From Lex:<br />
<em>When
I was born my mother, like many young mothers of color, was forced to
have an unnecessary c-section. This was an act of disrespect by doctors
who put their convenience over my family's wishes and it did not honor
the way my mother and I wanted to come into each others lives. What
would have been different if there had been a black feminist doula (or
two) at the scene of my birth affirming my mother's power? My journey
to become a doula and especially to do doula work together with my
mother is a major act of healing. </em><br />
<em>It is my intention that every child
will one day be born into a world where the magic and power of black
women is revered and respected at every moment! It is also a necessary
act of revisiting my own birth that I see as a crucial part of my
journey to become a mother someday soon! :)<br /> </em><br />
<em>Becoming
a community supported doula is a dream coming true and a wish about to
be fulfilled. DO you believe that the world will be better with our
mother/daughter doula project? Do you believe in the power of a black
feminist love evangelist poet facilitator in the birthing room? Then
YOU are part of the community that I am accountable to!</em><br /> <em>I
am looking for 57 people to donate any amount that feels right to them
as an affirmation of the necessity and power of this work we are doing
together to rebirth the world! Each donor will receive an original
collage based around the 57 wish poem <a data-mce-href="http://wakeupnew.blogspot.com/2007/12/wishes-fulfilled.html" href="http://wakeupnew.blogspot.com/2007/12/wishes-fulfilled.html">Wishful Thinking</a></em>. <em>I appreciate your support and your love! Spread the word! And donate here:<br /> </em><br />
<a data-mce-href="http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true" href="http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true">http://alexispauline.chipin.com/rebirth-doula-dreams-coming-true</a><br />
<em>Love, </em><br />
Lexlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-54387461618834118132012-06-07T08:50:00.000-07:002012-06-07T08:50:24.206-07:00Birthing Behind Bars: A National Campaign for Reproductive Justice Behind Bars<br /><br />
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<a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birthingbehindbars.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1339084087_0">www.birthingbehindbars.org</span></a></h3>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />Birthing Behind Bars: <br />
A National Campaign for Reproductive Justice Behind Bars</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Twenty
years ago, as Mercedes Smith went into labor, guards shackled her in
chains and handcuffs for the ride from the jail to the hospital. At the
hospital, they handcuffed her to a bed rail. Smith was shocked by the
astoundingly cruel treatment: “I couldn’t understand where they thought I
was going, in so much pain." But it wasn't unusual.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Each
year, thousands of pregnant women enter jail or prison, and many of
them give birth behind bars. And as they struggle through the pain of
labor and the stress of delivery, some find themselves wrenching at
restraints. As of March 2012, only sixteen states and the Federal Bureau
of Prisons have passed legislation that limit or ban the shackling of
women during labor and delivery. "I have never heard a woman tell the
story of wanting to run during labor," says Tina Reynolds, co-founder
and chair of Women on the Rise Telling HerStory (WORTH). "It's just not
on their mind. Giving birth to our children in prison does not make
them co-conspirators to our crimes." </span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To
call attention to this gross injustice, WORTH is launching Birthing
Behind Bars--a national campaign to address pregnancy and other
reproductive justice issues in prison. Partnering with media justice
group Thousand Kites, we've developed a website that shares women's
experiences with prison pregnancies via video, audio and plain text. The
site,</span><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?key=-1&url_num=2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.birthingbehindbars.org%2F" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">birthingbehindbars.org,</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">also points to a hotline where visitors can record and share their own narratives.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">We'll
utilize these jarring accounts to push a state-by-state analysis of
the intersection of reproductive justice and incarceration. In 2009,
members of WORTH, other formerly incarcerated mothers and their allies
took up the fight to outlaw the shackling of women in labor in New York
State. Formerly incarcerated women spoke about being pregnant while in
jail and prison, being handcuffed and shackled while in labor, and
being hastily separated from their newborn babies.Their stories drew
public outcry and put human faces to pending legislation. Later, New
York State became the seventh state to enact legislation limiting the
shackling of pregnant prisoners.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The
fight is already roiling in Georgia and in Massachusetts, where
reproductive rights advocates, prisoner justice activists and formerly
incarcerated women are currently pushing for legislation to prohibit the
practice of shackling of incarcerated pregnant women during transport,
labor, delivery and recovery. Stories and testimonies of women's
pregnancies and birth experiences behind bars are powerful tools to have
in hand when educating the general public and confronting legislators
to support such bills.</span><br /> </td></tr>
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<tr id="yui_3_2_0_1_13390753867321203"><td id="yui_3_2_0_1_13390753867321200">To share your story, go to: birthingbehindbars.org or call <b>877-518-0606 </b><div>
<span>(NOTE: you'll get a recording hotline, not a live
person, but we do edit the stories so youmake a mistake or
want to back up and add a detail or something, feel free to do so. You don't say your story perfectly when you call.)</span></div>
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</tbody></table>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-42051154951460586492011-10-14T15:11:00.000-07:002011-10-14T15:15:03.079-07:00Chilean girls 5-month-long occupation of schoolto demand the return of free public university education:<br /><blockquote>It began early one morning in May, when dozens of teenage girls emerged from the predawn darkness and scaled the spiked iron fence around <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/chile" title="More from guardian.co.uk on Chile">Chile</a>'s most prestigious girl's school. They used classroom chairs to barricade themselves inside and settled in. Five months later, the occupation shows no signs of dying and the students are still fighting for their goal: free university education for all.<p>A tour of the school is a trip into the wired reality of a generation that boasts the communication tools that feisty young rebels of history never dreamed of. When police forces move closer, the students use restricted Facebook chat sessions to mobilise. Within minutes, they are able to rally support groups from other public schools in the neighbourhood. "Our lawyer lives over there," said Angelica Alvarez, 14, as she pointed to a cluster of nearby homes. "If we yell 'Mauricio' really loud, he leaves his home and comes over."</p><p>For five months, the students at Carmela Carvajal have lived on the ground floor, sometimes sleeping in the gym, but usually in the abandoned classrooms where they hauled in a television, set up a private changing room, and began to experience school from a different perspective.</p><p>The first thing they did after taking over the school was to hold a vote. Approximately half of the 1,800 students participated in the polls to approve the takeover, and the yays outnumbered the nays 10 to one.</p><p>Now the students pass their school days listening to guest lecturers who provide free classes on topics ranging from economics to astronomy. Extracurricular classes include yoga and salsa lessons. At night and on weekends, visiting rock bands set up their equipment and charge 1,000 pesos (£1.25) per person to hear a live jam on the basketball court. Neighbours donate fresh baked cakes and, under a quirk of Chilean law, the government is obliged to feed students who are at school – even students who have shut down education as usual.</p><p>So much food has poured in that the students from Carmela Carvajal now regularly pass on their donations to hungry students at other occupied schools.</p><p>Municipal authorities have repeatedly attempted to retake thhe school, sending in police to evict the rebel students and get classes back on schedule, but so far the youngsters have held their ground.</p><p>"It was the most beautiful moment, all of us in [school] uniform climbing over the fence, taking back control of our school. It was such an emotional moment, we all wanted to cry," Alvarez said. "There have been 10 times that the police have taken back the school and every time we come and take it back again."</p></blockquote><p></p><p>Full story is here: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/07/chilean-girls-occupation-school-protest">http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/07/chilean-girls-occupation-school-protest</a><br /></p>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-17945248710657174672011-09-27T10:32:00.000-07:002011-09-27T10:36:10.687-07:00there's been more than one occupation in NYCIn August 2011, immigrant mothers in East Harlem (NYC) occupied the office of Councilmember <span id="yui_3_2_0_1_13171360503091910" style="">Melissa Mark-Viverito to protest her ongoing promotion of displacement and negligent landlords in our community. In the face of police presence and hostility from office personnel, these luchadoras fearlessly speak truth to power and denounce Mark-Viverito for her profoundly anti-democratic attacks against her <span class="yiv263321850yshortcuts">East Harlem</span> constituents, our homes and community.<br /><br />With all the buzz about the Wall Street occupation, these mothers' actions and struggles risk being overlooked.<br /><br />Please circulate widely.</span> <div class="yiv263321850MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></div> <div id="yui_3_2_0_1_13171360503091898" class="yiv263321850MsoNormal"><a id="yui_3_2_0_1_13171360503091897" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA8vZUcpb9c">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rA8vZUcpb9c</a></div>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-71783874289691472762011-05-18T05:21:00.000-07:002011-05-18T06:07:44.121-07:00Don't Have to Do Nothing: Be Free (and still) Be Loved<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzllywq_YLnRAnVM4rGvD7FHcM42Pm-4-KuGN4NVlzEEVZQi3isw5UOJ_mPn9ruUPYaWs7zS7bjqwEGTG5VNWqpId_eNZcRggrec5nc-3Lh88SSHwdu4cMy4pryUG9ZmTvD81lsDPNNDX/s400/Lucille_Clifton_October_1975.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzllywq_YLnRAnVM4rGvD7FHcM42Pm-4-KuGN4NVlzEEVZQi3isw5UOJ_mPn9ruUPYaWs7zS7bjqwEGTG5VNWqpId_eNZcRggrec5nc-3Lh88SSHwdu4cMy4pryUG9ZmTvD81lsDPNNDX/s400/Lucille_Clifton_October_1975.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Y'all. Don't get sick of Lucille Clifton on my account but I swear she just don't run out of brilliant life-saving gifts. So here is another one. In 1985 in the special 15th anniversary issue of <a href="http://listeningproject.blogspot.com/2007/06/cheryll-y-greene.html">Essence Magazine</a> coordinated by <a href="http://womensvoicesforchange.org/poetry-friday-cheryll-y-greene.htm">Cheryll Y. Greene</a>, Clifton wrote about the true freedom that women can give to each other: "to fail and not be a failure."<br /><br />When Lucille Clifton, who stunned audiences with the stark clarity of her poetry from countless stages during her lifetime, was a little girl assigned to recite a poem for the Christmas program at her church, she choked. It was not foreshadowing, it was formative. As she stood unable to remember the poem in front of all the church mothers encouraging her and expecting her to perform her mother stood up for her. She felt pressured. She said "I don't wanna." And her mother stood up in front of God and everybody and smiled at her child and she said one small sentence that changes the meaning of life for black girls growing up in patriarchy and capitalism: "She don't have to do nothing she don't want to do."<br /><br />Can you imagine? Decades later when we were celebrating Lucille Clifton's birthday with her (we didn't know it would be her last) at the Furious Flower poetry center all of us black feminist poets, teachers, daughters gushed with open jealousy at the power and freedom of that statement. Imagine! She don't have to do nothing she don't want to do. So many negatives adding up to the positive clarity that black girls are inherently valuable, love-able, period. When had someone ever stood up and said that for us? When in a world of forced labor, coerced sex, billions of expectations? When had anyone even dared to suggest that we were not valuable because of what we produced, what we created, who we entertained, how well we pretended to be happy? When had we said it for ourselves? <span style="font-style: italic;">don't have to do nothing.<br /><br /></span>Now I was raised to know that I only <span style="font-style: italic;">have</span> to do two things: stay black, and live. But my interpretation of "stay black and live" has been contorted by internalized capitalism and a system that still judges me based on what my being produces for the market. The refrain that I thought was my heartbeat said "do something do something do something do something" interrupting any stillness with the imperative to produce, to prove, to perform. But here comes Lucille Clifton's mother: <span style="font-style: italic;">she don't have to do nothing.<br /><br /></span>And how much do we crave that freedom... in the eyes of black people we love who want us to perform blackness in a way that they can more easily consume, in the eyes of non-black people who want the same thing, in the faces of well meaning would be mentors who think we will only be happy with ourselves if we do it their way, in reflections we catch of ourselves in windows thinking we look lost because there is no name for where we are going.<br /><br />And so today. I need Lucille Clifton's mother, audacious and willing to stand up in front of anyone and say you do not need to stand on a stage to honor God. You do not need to say or do anything in order to be a reflection of divine love. You already are. Even in a puddle at the foot of your bed you are already supreme beautiful unlikely priceless example of the abundance of life. And you know what? Life if so abundant that it places refractions of that same brilliance in all of us, and so there is no need to do it all, there is no need to own brilliance, there is no need to prove and show and compete because life is so abundant that it happens in our honor even when we don't wake up and make it happen.<br /><br />Who knew Lucille Clifton's mama circa 1940 was an anti-capitalist? Because capitalism would have us believe that we only deserve to be here because of what we produce, and even in our counter-cultures, even in our movements we reproduce the same idea. We only deserve to be here because of what we can produce that other people will buy with their money, time or attention. Our experience of our own lives is secondary, it is only the means of production, it is the products that matter, and unless we make ourselves into both factories and widgets we are not valuable. We believe that. I know I push myself past that belief about every hour on the hour. One of the major lessons of the <a href="http://mobilehomecoming.org/">Mobile Homecoming Experiential Archive Project</a> has been that because of the steep lean (and lien) of capitalism on even our visionary hearts the tendency is to emphasize the documentary film, the photographs, the podcasts, the archived interviews, the presentations...the products over the experience, the priceless opportunity to be present with each other, which is not for sale. Which documents can only gesture towards. Which cannot be sold.<br /><br />But luckily Lucille Clifton listened to her momma and told us what she said. We can be free and still be loved. We can be still and still be a movement. We are not failures even when we fail. We are life. Miraculous irregardless.<br /><br />Maybe we can institute Lucille Clifton's mama moments for ourselves and for each other. Maybe we can step in and affirm each other just because. Maybe we can stand up for each other when even our own communities say to us <span style="font-style: italic;">how dare you not be superwoman every second of the day. </span>Maybe we can save the day in our own way in our own language. <span style="font-style: italic;">Nuh-uh. She don't have to do nothing she don't want to do. She don't have to do nothing. And she is still fierce fly and worth of all praise. All of it.<br /><br /></span>So here is a spare one for each one of you in the time when no one is there to say it, remember that I already said it: <span style="font-style: italic;">you don't have to do nothing to earn my love. nothing to earn all the blessings of the universe. nothing to earn a symphony in ever pore of your skin playing the song of you. nothing to deserve my deepest gratitude for your existence. nothing to earn a place in my heart that you can always come home to. nothing. you already have it. all praise. you have everything.<br /><br />love always and already,<br />QBG Lex<br /><br /></span>P.S. Get ready for a summer filled with opportunities to see the faces of those of us who will scream at the sight of you and open our arms:<br /><br />*TONIGHT: Young Black Gift: A Birthday Toast to Lorraine Hansberry (@ the Inspiration Station in Durham)<br />http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=145740925499014<br /><br /><br />*Sunday May 22nd 5pm (@ the Inspiration Station in Durham) Rainbow Reclamations: (Blue) Once I Was Pregnant: Abortion, Miscarriage and Rebirth<br />http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/2011/05/10/blue-once-i-was-pregnant-sharing-stories-of-miscarriage-abortion-and-rebirth/<br /><br />*Friday, May 27th (@ the Rush Center in Atlanta) THE GEMINI JAM/FIST PUMP FRIDAY featuring a performance by the LOST BOIS, gemini juice and dancing all night long!<br />http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=215303695165893<br /><br />*June 9-15 INDIGO DAYS in Durham, NC<br />http://indigodays.wordpress.com/<br /><br />*June 23-26 ALLIED MEDIA CONFERENCE in Detroit (featuring the Shawty got Skillshare, the Generations of Brilliance Track and the Visionary Sci-Fi Track)<br />http://alliedmedia.org/<br /><br />*Thursdays in June 6pm (@ the Eleanor on Rigsbee in Durham) Lucille Clifton Shapeshifter Sessions: http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/2011/04/17/announcing-lucille-clifton-shapeshifter-survival-school-summer-session-2012/<br /><br />*August 15-19th Juneteenth Freedom Academy Week-long Intensive: Rituals for Educators<br /><br />*September 1-4th Queerky Black Girls, Mobile Homecoming and ZAMI NOBLA Black Gay Pride Healing and Connection Retreat!!!lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-17580308743460531992011-05-09T13:12:00.000-07:002011-05-09T13:14:48.184-07:00Musings on Parenting and Protest: Then and Now<p>Taking <em>New Clear Vision</em> editor Randall Amster up on his challenge to dig up and dust off <a href="http://www.newclearvision.com/2011/04/22/partly-like-its-1999/" target="_blank">an old piece of writing</a>, I recently found this essay that I wrote a month before the Republican National Convention was due to hit town in 2004.</p><p>I had been feeling paralyzed by the news, by the draconian security measures promised by Mayor Rudy Giuliani, by the added fears as the mother of a small child. I had also been invited to read at a political cabaret in Baltimore that summer. Putting pen to paper reminded me of the importance of struggling to transform the world, especially as the mother of a child who will inherit and live under the policies made (and left unchallenged) now. It also inspired me to push past my fear and, with my daughter in tow (or rather, in stroller), join the week of protests once the Republicans came to town.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p> <p><strong><span style="color:#800080;">(August 2004, New York City)</span></strong>: I have been listening to the news all day. That, in itself, is an unusual occurrence.<span id="more-535"></span> I have a three-year-old daughter who does not allow me to ignore her for any stretch of time longer than a minute and a half. And I have a dislike for the news. I don’t buy newspapers, I don’t own a TV, I rarely listen to the radio, and I don’t look for it online. But today, my ear has been glued to the radio. All afternoon, I listened for reports from the Democratic National Convention in Denver on NPR.</p> <p>I imagine vast cages of cyclone fences and razor wires — conveniently located out of sight so as to maximize the futility of protest. The newscaster confirms this: “The protesters are literally caged behind cyclone fences…. You can’t see them when you walk in or out of the convention at all.” I imagine bag searches, ID checks, police with machine guns and snipers on rooftops.</p> <p>These images fill me with fear.</p> <p>What will happen here in the coming month? What can we expect from a police force that feels a wallet is justification for pumping 41 bullets into Amadou Diallo, an unarmed man simply trying to go home? Now add in the hype and the hysteria over terrorism and the Office of Homeland Security, the cyclone fences and razor wire and machine guns. Is it any surprise that my nerves freeze? That it seems safer to stay inside with my baby than to be out there risking this terrifying reality?</p> <p>Four years ago, I felt no such fear.</p> <p>Tear gas and rubber bullets? Not a deterrent.</p> <p>Possibility of a two-week detainment? I ain’t a-feared.</p> <p>Then I became a mother.</p> <p>And it suddenly became more important for me to build the things I want to see in this world, to raise my voice and protest and tear down the things that I don’t want my daughter to grow up with.</p> <p>And it also becomes more frightening. The stakes are higher. What if my baby gets tear gassed? What if she sees her mama shoved and hit and then taken away from her? Years ago, during the funeral of Patrick Dorismond — another unarmed black man shot to death by the NYPD — the police clubbed and arrested mourners. A mother was handcuffed and taken away. Her little boy — maybe only seven or eight — was left crying on the sidewalk, along amongst a panicked crowd. No one paused to help him.</p> <p>What if that mother becomes me? What if I get arrested and my three-year-old is left standing on the curb, crying for her mama whom she cannot follow? What if I get arrested and Child Welfare takes her away? What if she ends up in the foster care system indefinitely because, suddenly, my life is under a microscope and the things that I never thought I needed and never thought to obtain are now used against me?</p> <p>But then I remember — I have a daughter.</p> <p>One whose world, whose options in life in life will grow or shrink depending on whether the Mad Hatter or the March Hare is dictating policy.</p> <p>I have a daughter who may become a mother at sixteen because no birth control is available to her. Because her body is in the hands of nine wizened men and women who have decided that she has no right to control what she will do with it. And then, if she is a mother at sixteen, she will inherit a world in which she will be shamed on street corners and held up as a scapegoat for every societal ill and tax increase while the safety net that should be catching her and her baby will have long been cut into shreds and taken away to Bangladesh for girls her age to sew into Nike sweatpants.</p> <p>I have a daughter whose world might include daily disappearances, who might grow up knowing that if she says what she thinks and it is not what her teachers and her bosses and her news broadcaster and her politicians think she should think, she too may be buried behind high walls topped with razor wire and electric fences.</p> <p>I have a daughter who will inherit the world I leave her.</p> <p>I have a daughter. That makes it all the more crucial for me to push aside the fear, to shake off the paralysis that freezes between my shoulder blades, to raise my voice in protest, to begin building a world that I <em>will </em>want her to inherit.</p> <p>I have a daughter who will have her own fears and doubts and reactions to the world around her. I need to show her that she can feel anxious or scared and still push past those feelings to do what is important to her.</p> <p style="text-align: center;">* * *</p> <p>Almost seven years later, so much has changed yet so much seems to remain the same.</p> <p>My daughter is now ten. I feel less uneasy about taking her with me to protests and demonstrations, although I still would hesitate to take her to an anti-police brutality rally or an action likely to bring in the riot squad (not that it takes much these days). As a mother who has remained politically active (although sometimes on the margins), I have built a support system that I can ask to hang with my daughter when she doesn’t want to go (or when I deem it unwise to bring her). We can have conversations about the issues and I can explain why I feel strongly, passionately, about something. Raising a child to be a critical thinker, she often questions me, forcing me to explain, articulate, and defend my point-of-view. If anyone ever wishes to sharpen their debate skills, they should engage a ten-year-old raised in a social justice movement.</p> <p>On the political front, it seems that, while things have changed (and wasn’t the last election won on the promise of “Change”?), many things have remained the same, if not worse.</p> <p>While Lady Gaga encourages people to respect and honor themselves and all others (including transgendered people) with her song “Born This Way,” a transgendered woman was brutally beaten in a McDonald’s. The outcry about the attack focused on harsher punishment against her attackers, a fourteen-year-old and an eighteen-year-old. But where is the outcry around the lack of education about gender, gender identity and sexuality that would have prevented this attack — and future attacks — in the first place? Are such conversations even on the public radar or are we (once again) falling into the trap that safety equals harsher prison sentences?</p> <p>On the politics-as-usual front, attacks on reproductive rights have not stopped or even slowed, as demonstrated by the attacks on Planned Parenthood. Police executed Oscar Grant in Oakland; New York police fired 50 shots and killed the unarmed Sean Bell. Fahad Hashmi, a Pakistani-American charged with providing material support to terrorists after allowing an acquaintance to spend the night and store socks and ponchos at his apartment, spent three years in extreme solitary confinement under the Special Administrative Measures (SAMS), and is facing another fifteen years of never having human contact. Days before his trial was to start, the judge ordered an anonymous jury, using the call for people to attend and witness the court proceedings to bolster the fear that Fahad was, indeed, a terrorist.</p> <p>Sometimes it’s hard not to become overwhelmed by all these injustices. I still have days like that day in 2004 when I wanted to bury my head in the sand (or at least under a bunch of pillows) and pretend that nothing was wrong in the world or, if there were, I could do nothing to change it. But I also have days when I realize how important it is to find the strength to keep fighting (and, these days, to remember that transforming the world is a long-term struggle and that we need to take the time to revitalize and replenish our energy as well).</p> <p>And so, seven years later (and probably seventeen and seventy years later), I stand by those words I penned one fearful afternoon:</p> <p><em>I have a daughter who will inherit the world I leave her.</em></p> <p><em>I have a daughter. That makes it all the more crucial for me to push aside the fear, to shake off the paralysis that freezes between my shoulder blades, to raise my voice in protest, to begin building a world that I will want her to inherit.</em></p> <p><em>I have a daughter who will have her own fears and doubts and reactions to the world around her. I need to show her that she can feel anxious or scared and still push past those feelings to do what is important to her.<br /></em></p><p><br /><em></em></p><p><em>Originally posted on <a href="http://www.newclearvision.com/2011/05/09/musings-on-parenting-and-protest/#more-535">New Clear Vision</a><br /></em></p>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-36959571552594928232011-02-01T09:01:00.001-08:002011-02-01T09:01:52.519-08:00Bootcamp Podcast: The Sound of Mothering Ourselves<p><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/a/a8/20101126070652%21New-Rock-boots.jpg" _mce_src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/archive/a/a8/20101126070652!New-Rock-boots.jpg" title="boots" class="alignnone" height="416" width="362" /><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Loved ones!!!! For those of you who didn't get to participate in the MotherOurselves Bootcamp in Durham NC this January here is a podcast featuring the insights of the participants and some beautiful music!!! Playlist below.</p><p>[audio http://brokenbeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bootcamp-podcast-1.mp3]</p><p><br /></p><p>direct link:<a _mce_href="http://brokenbeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bootcamp-podcast-1.mp3" href="http://brokenbeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bootcamp-podcast-1.mp3"> http://brokenbeautiful.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/bootcamp-podcast-1.mp3</a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Also know that for the next week...if you become an Eternal Summerian (monthly sustainer of the Eternal Summer of the Black Feminist Mind) your first gifts will be a mixtape of the meditations of release we did during the bootcamp and the motherourselves manual so that you can <a _mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/motherourselves-materials-new-monthly-sustainer-gifts/" href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/2011/01/25/motherourselves-materials-new-monthly-sustainer-gifts/">bring this work </a>into your life and your community!!!</p><p><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SC7BFXM55KU3L"><img title="5 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/5-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TGAMZJ9DMBSA4"><img title="10 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/10-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PCEX9LWMV5AJ6"><img title="15 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/15-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=N8NH2G6LV9GWY"><img title="20 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/20-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TCCZS4ESC9QCA"><img title="25 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/25-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HBP7SNZ5SR6LE"><img title="50 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/50-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=V78Z5PAW5SBRS"><img title="hunit bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/100-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><strong>We can</strong> make something out of anything.</p><p>Insight from <em>Mariel Eaves</em> and<br /></p><p>The Revenge of Ricky Williams "Sweet Wolf Shirt"</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p><strong>We recognize and nurture</strong> the creative parts of each other without always understanding what will be created.</p> <p> "Dear Mom" by Adele Nieves and<br /></p><p>Climbing Poetree "I Wonder"</p> <p><strong>We establish</strong> authority over our own definitions.</p> <p> Affirmations from Miya Binta<br /></p><p>Doria Roberts "Dying Man's Wish"</p> <p><strong>We claim</strong> power over who we choose to be, knowing that such power is relative within the realities of our lives.</p> <p> Estas Mujeres: Covenant by Fabiola Sandoval<br /></p><p>Amel Larrieux "All I Got"</p> <p><strong>We provide</strong> an attentive concern and expectation of growth, which is the beginning of that acceptance we came to expect only from our mothers.</p> <p> "When I Crave Mama" by Fabiola Sandoval<br /></p><p>Me'shell Ndegeocello "Solomon"</p> <p><strong>We affirm</strong> our own worth by committing ourselves to our own survival in our selves and in the selves of other black women.</p> <p> "I Am My Mother's Daughter" by Rashida James-Saadiya<br /></p><p>Lauryn Hill "If They Only Knew"</p> <p><strong>We refuse</strong> to settle for anything less than a rigorous pursuit of the possible in ourselves, at the same time making a distinction between what is possible, and what the outside world drives us to do in order to prove that we are human.</p> <p> "Mother Ourselves" by Julia R. Wallace (JDub)<br /></p><p>Santigold "Unstoppable"</p> <p><strong>We recognize</strong> our successes and are tender with ourselves even when we fail.</p> <p> "My Mother Ourselves Covenant" by Dara Montaque<br /></p><p>Res "Bittersweet"<br /></p> <p><strong>We learn</strong> to love what we have given birth to by giving definition to, to be both kind and demanding in the teeth of failure as well as in the face of success without misnaming either.</p> <p>"Letter of Release to the Next Generation" by Miya Binta<br /></p><p>Erykah Badu "My Life"</p> <p><strong>We lay to rest</strong> what is weak, timid and damaged without despisal and<strong> we protect and support</strong> what is useful for survival. <strong>We explore</strong> the difference together.</p> <p> "Mother as Savior" by Miya Binta<br /></p><p>Georgia Ann Muldrow "Runway"</p> <p><strong>We stand</strong> toe-to-toe inside rigorous loving and speak what has always seemed like the impossible to each other.</p> <p> Truth Booth Conversation between Miya Binta and Manju Rajendran<br /></p><p>Tata Vega, "Miss Celie's Blues"</p> <p>As <strong>we speak</strong> the truth to each other it become unavoidable to ourselves.</p><p>ESG "Keep on Moving"<br /></p><p>Infinite love, </p> Lexlexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-27971889856481962252011-01-25T10:35:00.000-08:002011-01-25T10:36:03.532-08:00MotherOurselves Materials! Gifts for Eternal Summer of the Black Feminist Mind Monthly Sustainers!!!!<p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/picture-1.png" _mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/picture-1.png"><img title="Picture 1" src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/picture-1.png" _mce_src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/picture-1.png" alt="" height="581" width="447" /></a><br /></p> <p>Happy January beloved and far-flung supporters of the Eternal Summer of the Black Feminist Mind!!!!!!</p> <p>Since it is a beautiful new year...we have a beautiful new gift for our beloved Eternal Summerian monthly sustainers! All existing Eternal Summerians and all NEW monthly sustainers who sign up before the end of the month will receive their very own digital copies of crucial priceless curriculum materials from the MotherOurselves Bootcamp:</p> <p>*The MotherOurselves Manual (including the mother ourselves manifesta, playlist, activity station descriptions and a 5 cycle meditation of release including direct quotes from across Lorde's body of work...especially Eye to Eye: Black Women Hatred and Anger.</p> <p>*The MotherOurselves Meditation/Dance Party Mixtape: guide yourself or your group through the cycles of meditation and release with music, poetry and the mesmerizing sound of my voice :)</p> <p><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SC7BFXM55KU3L" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=SC7BFXM55KU3L"><img title="5 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/5-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/5-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TGAMZJ9DMBSA4" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TGAMZJ9DMBSA4"><img title="10 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/10-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/10-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PCEX9LWMV5AJ6" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=PCEX9LWMV5AJ6"><img title="15 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/15-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/15-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><br /></p> <p>AND Eternal Summerians who sign up at levels of $20 or more will receive hardcopies of both the Manual and the Mixtape (well CD actually) and a one of a kind collage in the mail!!!</p> <p><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=N8NH2G6LV9GWY" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=N8NH2G6LV9GWY"><img title="20 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/20-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/20-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TCCZS4ESC9QCA" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=TCCZS4ESC9QCA"><img title="25 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/25-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/25-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HBP7SNZ5SR6LE" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=HBP7SNZ5SR6LE"><img title="50 bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/50-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/50-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=V78Z5PAW5SBRS" _mce_href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=V78Z5PAW5SBRS"><img title="hunit bucks" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/100-sustain.jpg" _mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/100-sustain.jpg" alt="" height="45" width="140" /></a><br /></p> <p>Hooray!!!!! Sign up today or on payday! Thank you for making another year of ETERNAL inspiration possible!!!!</p> <p>Love,</p> <p>Lex</p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-30913338687933351852011-01-20T06:30:00.001-08:002011-01-20T06:30:51.125-08:00Don't Leave Your Friends Behind #4 is here!<span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" id="internal-source-marker_0.7685782826299121">Don’t Leave Your Friends Behind #4 </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The latest issue of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Don’t Leave Your Friends Behind</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> is ready for your wintertime reading! Featuring over 70 pages of stories, experiences and tips on how to support families in your movement or community, including:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><ul><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Experiencing Critical Resistance 10 through the Children’s Program</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Organizing from within an Anarcha-Feminist Childrearing Collective</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Mothers Among Us: The Prison Birth Project</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A Mother’s Day of action with Young Women United and Mamas of Color Rising</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">On Fear & Commitments: A father’s reflects on his own childhood in England, Baghdad and the U.S. and the challenges of raising a biracial child in the anti-Muslim and xenophobic climate of the United States today. </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(153, 0, 255); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Call to Destiny: how even an early morning wake-up call can support </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">students with special needs</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Radical childrearing with a queer and sex-positive angle</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tips on supporting pregnant friends</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tips on supporting parents who have lost a newborn infant</span></li><li style="list-style-type: disc; font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Radical Childcare Weather Report: a centerfold from the “Building an Intergenerational Movement for Collective Liberation”</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">workshop at the 2010 US Social Forum</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">and much, much more</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">A pdf of these exciting 70+ pages is available here:</span><br /><a href="http://issuu.com/chinabodina/docs/zine_4_with_cover"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;">http://issuu.com/chinabodina/docs/zine_4_with_cover</span></a><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Please note that the centerfold is a separate file: http://issuu.com/chinabodina/docs/centerfold.zine4</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">I</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">f you prefer a paper copy, please send $3 (or $5 for two and give the second to an ally in your life!) to:</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">V. Law</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">PO Box 20388</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Tompkins Square Station</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">New York, NY 10009</span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Sad to have missed the chance to contribute your experiences and words of wisdom?</span> Fear not! We are turning this exciting zine series into a book! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Final Call for submissions: March 15, 2011. </span><br /><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Tahoma; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><br />See our blogspot for more details: dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-family: Arial; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"></span>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-23410999771224750742010-09-22T09:39:00.001-07:002010-09-22T09:39:12.659-07:00Everett Anderson's Goodbye as Read by Assata<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15191134" frameborder="0" height="225" width="400"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15191134">Everett Anderson's Goodbye: As Read by Assata</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1580195">Alexis Gumbs</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p>Part of the <a href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school">Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School </a><br /></p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-45402807967031665852010-08-04T07:44:00.001-07:002010-08-04T07:44:26.157-07:00This Bridge Called My Baby: Legacies of Radical Mothering<h1><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b>This Bridge Called My Baby:</b> Legacies of Radical Mothering</span></h1><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://thisbridgecalledmybaby.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://thisbridgecalledmybaby.<wbr>wordpress.com/</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><br /><br /><i>"We can learn to mother ourselves." </i>Audre Lorde, 1983<br /><i><br /></i>All mothers have the potential to be revolutionary. Some mothers stand on the shoreline, are born and reborn here, inside the flux of time and space, overcoming the traumatic repetition of oppression. Our very existence is disobedience to the powers that be.<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">t times, in moments, we as mothers choose to stand in a zone of claimed risk and fierce transformation, the frontline. In infinite ways, both practiced and yet to be imagined, we put our bodies between the violent repetition of the norm and the future we already deserve, exactly because our children deserve it too. We make this choice for many reasons and in different contexts, but at the core we have this in common: we refuse to obey</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">. </span>We refuse to give into fear. We insist on joy no matter what and by every means necessary and possible.<br />In this anthology we are exploring how we are informed by and participating with those mothers, especially radical women of color, who have sought for decades, if not centuries, to create relationships to each other, transformative relationships to feminism and a transnational anti-imperialist literary, cultural and everyday practice.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><i>"We don't want a space where kids feel that only adults can imagine ways to strengthen our communities and protect ourselves against the Architects of Despair," Sora said, "and we don't want adults to feel that either. We want to create a space where all of our imaginations help each other grow; but we realize that kids might get bored from sitting still the way that adults tend to do, so we set up the play room with toys and games." Regeneracion Childcare Collective 2007</i><br /></span><br /><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" >Sometimes for radical mamas, our mothering in radical community makes visible the huge gulfs between communities, between parents and non-parents, in class and other privileges <b>AND most importantly the wide gulf between what we say in activist communities and what we actually do.</b> Radical mothering is the imperative to build bridges that allow us to relate across these very real barriers. For and by radical mother of color, but also inclusive of other working class, marginalized, low income, no income radical mothers.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><i><br />"Parenting and being a role model to kids in your community is important because they will be the activists of tomorrow. And they will be our gardeners and mothers and bakers. They will question our generation, they'll write their own history, create new forms of art and media." </i>-Noemi Martinez 2009</span><br /><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><br />We find the idea of the "bridge" useful because we believe that the radical practice of mothering is at once a practical and visionary relationship to the future IN the PRESENT, a bridge within time that can inspire us to relate to each other intentionally across generation and space. We also acknowledge the not-so-radical default bridge function of marginalized mother in society. How our children in particular get walked all over in terms of public policy that criminalizes our mothering and movement spaces that claim to be creating a transformed future without being fully accountable to parents or kids.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><i>"I came into the Third World Women’s Caucus when it was well under way. The women there were discussing the caucus resolution to be presented to the general conference. There were Asian women, Latin women, Native Women and Afro-American women. The discussion when I came in was around the controversial issue of motherhood and how the wording of the resolution could best reflect the feelings of those present. It was especially heartening to hear other women affirm that not only should lesbian mothers be supported but that all third world women lesbians share in the responsibility for the care and nurturing of the children of individual lesbians of color...Another woman reminded us of the commitment we must take to each other when she said ‘All children (of lesbians) are ours." </i>-Doc in Off Our Backs 1979</span><br /><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><br />We see this book as a continuation of the accountability invoking movement midwifing work of the 1981 anthology <i>This Bridge Called My Back</i> in that it:<br />a. is the work of writers who see their writing as part of a mothering practice, as not career, but calling and who believe that their writing, and their every creative practice has a strategic role in transforming the possible world.<br />b. contextualizes contemporary radical mama practices in relationship to socialist and lesbian mothering practices experimented with and practiced in the 1970’s by writers including Audre Lorde, June Jordan, Adrienne Rich, Third World Lesbians conference, Salsa Soul Sisters, Sisterhood of Black Single Mothers<br />c. seeks to speak to those who participated in that earlier practice and who have been informed by it as a primary audience, and to connect those who have not have access to that work to it<br /><br />We invite submissions including but not limited to the following possibilities:<br /><br />*Manifestas, group poems, letters, mission statements from your crew of radical mamas or an amazing group from history<br />*Letters, poems, transcribed phone calls between radical mamas supporting each other<br />*Accounts of your experience as a radical mama<br />*Reflections on enacting radical mamacity at different ages<br />*Motivations for/obstacles in your practice of radical mothering<br />*Conversations with your kids<br />*Rants and rages via the eloquence of a mother-wronged<br />*Your experience of radical grandmothering<br />*Self-interviews, interviews with other mamis<br />*Birthing experiences<br />*Ending child sexual abuse<br />*Mothering as survivors (survival and mothering)<br />*Mothering with and without models<br />*Mothering and domination<br />*Mama to-do lists<br />*Mama/kid collaborations...<br />*Radical fathering<br />*Overcoming shame and silence in the practice of radical mothering<br /></span> <div style="font-family: garamond,serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">*Ambivilence, paradox, emotions, vulnerability<br /></span></div> <div style="font-family: garamond,serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;">*Experiences of state violence/CPS<br /></span></div> <div style="font-family: garamond,serif;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(68, 68, 68);">*Balancing daily survival</span><br /></span></div> <div style="font-family: garamond,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;" >*Loss of children, not living with children, custody arrangements and issues</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;" >*Sharing your stories from where you live</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div> <span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" >*Everything we haven't thought of yet! Take a deep breath and WRITE!!!!<br /><br />Please send submissions via email to<br />alexispauline@gmail.com<br /> <a href="mailto:maiamedicine@gmail.com" target="_blank">maiamedicine@gmail.com</a><br />and china410@hotmail.com<br />or via snail mail to<br /></span><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" > P.O. Box 4803 Baltimore Maryland 21211</span> <div><span style="font-family: garamond,serif;font-size:130%;" ><br />by <b>April 1, 2011</b>.</span></div>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-87313749015173378032010-07-18T16:13:00.001-07:002010-07-18T16:13:33.498-07:00A Dream of Foxes: Lucille Clifton Rebirth Broadcast 4<object width="400" height="300" style="display: inline-block; background-image: url(http://www.blogger.com/img/video_object.png); background-repeat: no-repeat; background-attachment: initial; -webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-color: black; background-position: 50% 50%; "></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13434637">A Dream of Foxes: Lucille Clifton Rebirth Broadcast 4</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1580195">Alexis Gumbs</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(65, 65, 65); line-height: 19px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">And don’t forget to sign up for the Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Poetry Intensive: http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/</span></span></p><p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;color:#414141;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; line-height: 19px;"><br /></span></span></p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-62387546284405520002010-07-11T13:31:00.001-07:002010-07-11T13:31:27.365-07:00Amazons: Lucille Clifton Rebirth Broadcast #3<object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13248193&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=13248193&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/13248193">Lucille Clifton Rebirth Broadcast 3: Amazons</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1580195">Alexis Gumbs</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><span style="text-align: center; display: block;"> </span> </p><p>This broadcast is part of the Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School. For more info see <a href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/" target="_blank">blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school</a>.</p> <p>To sign up for the Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival Poetry Intensive on August 21, 2010 in Durham, NC click here: <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3LH6G9J" target="_blank">http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3LH6G9J</a></p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-1953653308589035362010-07-09T05:03:00.000-07:002010-07-09T05:06:17.421-07:00rough draft of my thoughtsall mothers have the potential to be revolutionary -- all mothers are revolutionary. some mothers stand on the shoreline, we are born here, inside this flux of time and space. our very existence is disobedience to the powers that be. <br /> and that at times, moments, in different ways, some of which we have done and some of which we have not even imagined, we as mothers choose to be on the frontlines. and we make this choice for many reasons and in dift contexts, but at its core is a refusal to obey, even though we could obey. a refusal to give into fear. an insistence on joy no matter what and by any means necessary and possible.<br /><br />motherhood is love by any means necessarymai'ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01256661054898770450noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-80738546967706994712010-06-27T20:14:00.001-07:002010-06-27T20:14:31.924-07:00Lucille Clifton Sunday ShapeShifter Rebirth BroadcastL Birthday EditionThis week…in honor of Lucille Clifton’s first birthday since her transition to starshine I offer the first of a series of weekly Sunday Rebirth Broadcasts in honor of Lucille Clifton! Today’s exercise is based on her powerful survival poem “won’t you celebrate with me.”<br /><br /><br /><object height="300" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12903202&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=12903202&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/12903202">Lucille Clifton Sunday ShapeShifter Rebirth Broadcast: Birthday Edition</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user1580195">Alexis Gumbs</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p>This series of broadcasts is part of the Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School:</p> <p>In honor of the great poet Lucille Clifton, who was also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, a mother, an artist and self-identified Amazon warrior through her poetry, the <strong>Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School </strong>is especially designed for families that are committed to ending childhood sexual abuse and all forms of gendered violence. Informed by Generation 5 and the regional plan of the Atlanta Transformative Justice Collaborative, the ShapeShifter Survival School is part of a holistic process of ending child sexual abuse by creating healing community.</p> <p>for more details on the 4 components of the ShapeShifter Survival School look here: http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/</p> <p>And finally…no one delivers this poem better than Ms. Lucille herself.</p><br /><br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XM7q_DUk5wU&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XM7q_DUk5wU&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-15776189728125408922010-06-27T14:03:00.000-07:002010-06-27T14:04:18.594-07:00Happy Birthday Lucille Clifton: Announcing the Shapeshifter Survival School<p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/" mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/" target="_blank">http://blackfeministmind.wordpress.com/survival-school/</a><br /></p> <h1>Introducing the Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School in Durham, NC!!!!</h1> <p><img title="Lucille Clifton black and white" src="http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/pictures/lucille_clifton.jpg" mce_src="http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/pictures/lucille_clifton.jpg" alt="" height="480" width="357" /></p> <p>In honor of the great poet Lucille Clifton, who was also a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, a mother, an artist and self-identified Amazon warrior through her poetry, the <b>Lucille Clifton ShapeShifter Survival School </b>is especially designed for families that are committed to ending childhood sexual abuse and all forms of gendered violence. Informed by Generation 5 and the regional plan of the Atlanta Transformative Justice Collaborative, the ShapeShifter Survival School is part of a holistic process of ending child sexual abuse by creating healing community.</p> <p>The ShapeShifter Survival School has <b>4</b> components:</p> <p><b><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/photo-1.jpg" mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/photo-1.jpg"><img title="Photo 1" src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/photo-1.jpg?w=150" mce_src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/photo-1.jpg?w=150" alt="" height="112" width="150" /></a>Lucille Clifton Sunday Rebirth Broadcasts</b>: Every Sunday starting on Lucille Clifton's birthday (June 27th) and going until November 7th Lex will video broadcast a poem by Lucille Clifton and a survival reflection/activity.</p> <p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dsc_0046.jpg" mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dsc_0046.jpg"><img title="DSC_0046" src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dsc_0046.jpg?w=150" mce_src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/dsc_0046.jpg?w=150" alt="" height="99" width="150" /></a><b>ShapeShifter Poetry Intensive for Parents </b>(Saturday August 21st 10am-5pm) CHILDCARE AND MEALS PROVIDED (email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com if you want to do childcare or donate food or photocopies!)</p> <p>For all parents and caregivers and survivors of sexual violence who are committed to ending child sexual abuse this poetry intensive will allow participants to reflect on Lucille Clifton's ShapeShifter series and other poems that deal directly with her experience as a survivor of child sexual abuse and to write and share their own poetry of healing and transformation.</p> <p>Suggested donation: $25-100 (monetary and in-kind donations welcome at any point in the process...we encourage asking for donations from your families of origin and communities as a way to share your vision with them of creating a world free from child sexual abuse)</p> <p>On <b>Tuesday August 24th</b> participants and allies will reconvene over tea to check-in in a loving affirming space and to make handmade ShapeShifter booklets as a fundraiser for the continued work of the ShapeShifter Survival School .</p> <p>On <b>Wednesday September 15th</b> we will have another check-in about the process of sharing this work and bringing up the topic of child sexual abuse in our communities.</p> <p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/51xt7d6ydhl-_sl500_aa300_.jpg" mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/51xt7d6ydhl-_sl500_aa300_.jpg"><img title="51XT7D6YDHL._SL500_AA300_" src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/51xt7d6ydhl-_sl500_aa300_.jpg?w=150" mce_src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/51xt7d6ydhl-_sl500_aa300_.jpg?w=150" alt="" height="150" width="150" /></a><b>Everett Anderson Storytime Week! </b>(Monday September 20-Wednesday September 22) (ALL AGES INCLUSIVE DONATIONS WELCOME!)</p> <p>Lucille Clifton wrote a series of books called the "Everett Anderson Books" for her children and other children that discuss difficult issues, including the loss of a loved one, internalized racism and sexism and witnessing abuse as child. With dinner and cookies and milk we will read these stories together and do a series of activities designed to help us create ways of sharing difficult and important stories across generations in our communities. We believe that sharing stories, truthtelling, is a key practice towards ending child sexual abuse and all cycles of violence in our communities.</p> <p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/img_2355.jpg" mce_href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/img_2355.jpg"><img title="IMG_2355" src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/img_2355.jpg?w=150" mce_src="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/img_2355.jpg?w=150" alt="" height="112" width="150" /></a><b>All Souls ShapeShifter Story Making Day </b>(Sunday Oct 31st 11am-6pm) (ALL AGES INCLUSIVE...SWEET DONATIONS WELCOME!)</p> <p>Replete with costumes, candy and storymaking stations this will be a chance for us to make our own collaborative illustrated community story about transformation, facing what scares us and creating a world free from child sexual abuse and all gendered violence. Our beautiful story and our beautiful process of creating together will be a resource for us and for superheroes everywhere.</p> <p>Applications for the poetry intensive coming soon! Email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com to express interest in participating, donating a scholarship or donating food, money, photocopies, DV tapes and other forms of love!!!!!</p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-80067999915813396702010-06-26T16:15:00.001-07:002010-06-26T16:19:39.143-07:00Notes From Kansas: by MobileHomeComing Interviewee Angela Denise Davis<p>from <a href="http://mobilehomecoming.wordpress.com/">http://mobilehomecoming.wordpress.com/</a><br /></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><b>*Note: We are thrilled to be practicing intergenerational love and we are learning from the best. This piece is a beautiful reflection by MobileHomeComing Interviewee <i>Angela Denise Davis</i> about FINDING her mother's garden.</b></p><p><b><a href="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/35758_1269779199717_1686960113_565570_2249957_n.jpg" mce_href="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/35758_1269779199717_1686960113_565570_2249957_n.jpg"><img title="35758_1269779199717_1686960113_565570_2249957_n" src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/35758_1269779199717_1686960113_565570_2249957_n.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://mobilehomecoming.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/35758_1269779199717_1686960113_565570_2249957_n.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /></b></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>I know there is a poem in this somewhere. It almost got lost this evening when my mother did a final spray over her garden and did not notice that my laptop was on the patio table.<br /><br />My mother’s back yard is full of flavor: an old kitchen, ceiling fan turned sideways on a patio column, a black mailbox that peeks from the grapevines, an umbrella on the deck that leans to kiss the umbrella on the patio, and a striped snake whose presence is the reason for a container of mothballs on the table. I wish I had a camera.<br /><br />Her back yard is her sanctuary. I find shelter in a chair that is snuggled by a palm plant and a family of pots – terra cotta, green plastic, clay, metal, and those invented out of found objects.<br /><br />She is out there in the morning and in the late evening when the sun is less brutal than at mid-day.<br /><br />I watched this evening as she cut down wandering vines and swept the patio clean. My father will have work to do tomorrow. I ask if I should put the cut greenery in the garden trash can.<br /><br />“No,” she says.<br /><br />“Mama, dad ain’t gonna like seeing this stuff on his fresh cut lawn,” I tell her.<br /><br />She just replies with a chuckle that he needs to see all the work he should have done. She said he would never recognize her work if she didn’t leave the pile in the yard. She is right, of course. My father says she works too hard, but he enjoys the creation of vines structure and spirit as much as she does.<br /><br />I listen as the water from the faucet trickles into a bucket she has slid under the attached hose.<br /><br />“I don’t like to waste water,” she informs me and I take the bucket into her garden. The Marigolds did not get rain last night. They will thrive in their homes made of the holes in the cement blocks that line her rows of tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and okra.<br /><br />There is always work to do in this space my mother has created. This evening she wants to place hooks on the beams of her patio roof.<br /><br />“Who does this when I am not here, Mama?” I ask with the answer already in my head.<br /><br />“Oh, your dad,” she says. I know that she does not always have the patience to wait for him, though. Tonight, I make sure that she does not over exert herself and reach for the drill in her hand.<br /><br />I step on the small, metal stool and place the drill over my head, reaching as high as I can. Three hooks later, we place the ferns and other potted plants just beneath the lattice covered with wild vines. She tells me that anyone from Alabama or Mississippi would know the name of the mass of greenery that hangs from the patio roof like a blanket of leaves. I tell her that I will ask Mary Anne about the vine which my mother thinks may be named Ms. Astor.<br /><br />The night was closing fast around us, but I would not go in the house until my mother was trailing behind me. I knew that she could always find more work to do before calling it quits. She will be 70 years-old next January. She has more work in this life than she will ever finish.<br /><br />“We’ll get the rest in the morning,” I tell her.<br /><br />This week has been full of heart work. We have grieved the loss of her niece, my cousin. It has been a loss that has made our distance more regretful. Here, in her green world we seem to be finding our way back home to each other. We are two women working on reconciliation. Perhaps, we are planting new ways of being mother and daughter. I hope so, but do not invest too much time in expecting what the harvest of these days will bring. I am simply satisfied with the knowledge that we have planted something new between us here in her back yard even though there is more work for tomorrow.<br /></p>-Angela Denise Davislexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-55232953930127390112010-06-08T19:11:00.000-07:002010-06-08T19:13:50.828-07:00making a slight change in our livesthis is a speech/presentation given by my heroine, a palestinian woman/mother who lives in a village in the south hebron hills and organizes women from six neighboring villages in a women’s co-operative. she is a leader and for me one of the most amazing organizers i have ever met. she is the woman who sparked my vision for revolutionary motherhood. her fierceness, perception, vision, sense of humor, and commitment to her community’s life is my inspiration.<br /><br /><br /><br />(in this she mentions some of my favorite people from the village, hafez, nasser, her husband, and saber. these three men will always hold a special place in my heart for how much they taught me and supported me .)<br /><br />shukran ktir to <a href="http://inpalestine.blogspot.com/2010/05/what-do-you-do-when-settlers-are-living.html#links">joy</a> for posting this.<br /><br /> I want to speak to you about the position of the women in At-Tuwani village. First of all, women in this village suffer from very conservative cultural traditions. In regards to education, which is a right of women to have, unfortunately most of the women in At-Tuwani are illiterate. They have only managed to study through third grade. The role of the women is to work on the fields with the men and to have children and care for them. Five years ago, we gathered the women and decided we needed to make a slight change to our lives.<br /><br /> You should that know that women have rights and even though women’s rights have not been meet, we have decided to form a women’s cooperative. Even though, when we meet and decide what we wanted to do, we still had to consult with the men of the village. At first, they objected very strongly and they said, “Your role is just to care for your homes and your children, and to work in the fields.” We did not accept their rejection and therefore we had to think of activities to do, things that do not get in the way of the traditions and the culture that we live in. So we agreed, as most of the women are quite skilled in embroidery, even though they were not taught it but are skilled because many generations of tradition, we could use that as a starting point.<br /><br /> We came up with the idea of doing embroidery work to improve the economy of the village because of the settlers and the settlements around us and the way they confiscate our land and attack our homes and flocks. All of these was effecting the women of the village and our children. So we had to again bring it to the men of the village because of we had some support, but not a majority. The most important support for me was from my husband, Hafez, and Saber, the mayor of the village.<br /><br /> (…)<br /><br /> Now many girls are able to finish high school and there are three girls in university.<br /><br /><br /> (…)<br /><br /> The women here feel that they have two types of nonviolent resistance: one is against the occupation and one about men. For example, at first the men objected to our work, but slowly they came to see it differently. I see this as our victory. We did it without posing difficulties or causing problems in family or separations in marriages. Gradually, the idea grew.<br /><br /> In terms of the rest of the village, another example of our nonviolent resistance is the building of the school. Initially, the Israeli government forbid it and the Israeli army was arresting the teachers as they were coming to build the school. Despite that, we continued with it. The teachers and the architect would work on the building in the evening and the women would work in the day to make the cement for the school. Whenever the military used to come to see if there were men working on the site, they would see only women. So, they would just pass by. First we built three classrooms. Then we built another nine and now our children have access to further education.<br /><br /> When the Israeli army said that the school was under demolition order, we said ,“Fine. You can do that. We will rebuild it.” The same happened with the mosque up the hill. They demolished it and we rebuilt it. The same thing happened when we built the clinic. The men would work at night when the army was not watching carefully and during the day the women would work.<br /><br /> Now we also have nonviolent resistance about electricity. When Tony Blaire visited Tuwani he said “We have to bring electricity to Tuwani.” The Israeli authorities informed Tony Blaire that it was not forbidden for them to get electricity. The electric company started to work to put up the pylons and the power lines, but then they were forced to stop and haven’t started again. On a winter day in December, we noticed that that was a lot of activity at the bottom of the road, while they were putting up the electric pylons. The whole village went down to the main road and saw that the army had brought bulldozers and police and everything necessary to take down the pylons. They said that they wanted to enter the rest of the village to take all of the pylons. The mayor of the village told us to block the road with stones. The military whenever they saw a man from the village wanting to speak with them, they were ready to arrest them. So the women said to the men, “You stay at home where you are so you are not arrested and we will go in front of the military and deal with them.” It was a very cold, rainy winter day. All of the women went down in front of the army jeeps, arm in arm, with our children in front of us, and forbid the army from entering the village. The commander order the soldiers to throw tear gas to frighten the women away. They were also revving the engines of the jeeps to scare us, but we said “We’re really cold! The warmth from the jeep is good!” Then they opened the door of the jeeps and we were surprised to see many female Israeli soldiers with their army gear. They were ordered to face the women of the village. The military women came towards us. They were ordered to start beating us. We said, “Come on! We’re ready! We’re not wearing the gear that you’re wearing. All we are asking for is our rights and all we are asking for is electricity.” One of the women soldiers guested to the commander, saying “No.” Then she returned for the jeep. The women of the started saying to woman soldiers, “Come, are you afraid? Are you afraid to talk with us? Come and talk with us!” But I said that I believe that they returned to the jeep because they knew what they were doing was wrong and that we weren’t asking for much. The soldiers took down two pylons but they weren’t able to enter the village to remove the rest of them. God willing, we will be continue our struggle to get electricity. Whether by solar power or by something else, we will continuemai'ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14656556134583235114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-56211162768482753402010-06-05T06:00:00.001-07:002010-06-05T06:00:40.343-07:00Poetry is Not a Luxury: The Remix (by School of Our Lorde Poetry Webinar Participants)<p><a href="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/" mce_href="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com" target="_blank">www.summerofourlorde.wordpress.com</a></p><p><a href="http://summerofourlorde.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/photo-128.jpg" mce_href="http://summerofourlorde.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/photo-128.jpg"><img title="Photo 128" src="http://summerofourlorde.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/photo-128.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://summerofourlorde.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/photo-128.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a></p> <p>(Lex's wardrobe provided by Ammoliscious and sister-comrade Leah Burke)</p> <h2>I LOVE THE SCHOOL OF OUR LORDE WEBINARS!!!!!!</h2> <p>After reading and discussing Audre Lorde's "Poetry is Not a Luxury" the participants in the School of Our Lorde Poetry Webinar collaboratively created these two poems about what poetry IS and what it IS NOT!!!! Much love to Monchel, Chantal, Rosa and Leana for being badass cyber cypher warriors!!!!</p> <h1><b>not</b></h1> <p>poetry is not a mask</p> <p>poetry is not a commercial</p> <p>poetry is not homogeneous</p> <p>poetry is not an excuse</p> <p>poetry is not perverse</p> <p>poetry is not linear</p> <p>poetry is not just for white guys with nothing better to do</p> <p>poetry is not canonized</p> <p>not a classroom unit</p> <p>poetry is not a bunch/of line breaks/in random/places</p> <p>not a grade</p> <p>poetry is not taught or learned--it's the language we were born with</p> <p>not death without a birth</p> <p>poetry is not inhibited</p> <p>poetry is not brought to you by hallmark</p> <p>a competition</p> <p>poetry [will] not be televised</p> <p>not a "10"</p> <p>poetry is not about meter</p> <p>poetry is not an accessory in a psuedo-revolutionary lifestyle</p> <p>poetry is not oppressive</p> <p>poetry is not convenient</p> <p>poetry is not always easy</p> <p>poetry is not boxable</p> <p>not a bindi on a dreadlocked white girl's forehead at a powwow</p> <p>poetry is not the destination -- it is the journey</p> <p>poetry is not standard english</p> <p>poetry is not patchouli</p> <p><b> </b></p> <h1><b>is</b></h1> <p>poetry is my son's smile</p> <p>my fingers walking across his belly and squirming back</p> <p>poetry is a heartbeat</p> <p>yes</p> <p>poetry is what i say to my reflection when i think no one is listening</p> <p>poetry is a place to live</p> <p>poetry is goosebumps!</p> <p>poetry is breath</p> <p>poetry is prayer</p> <p>poetry is a breath of fresh air</p> <p>poetry is italian ice on a 90-degree day</p> <p>lol</p> <p>poetry is your hand in mine</p> <p>poetry is laughing out loud :P</p> <p>hee!</p> <p>poetry is an ecosystem</p> <p>YES</p> <p>poetry is painful but not in vain</p> <p>poetry is a lifeline</p> <p>poetry is family</p> <p>poetry is an open heart</p> <p>poetry is a safe space</p> <p>poetry is knowing when you've met The One (or The Ones)</p> <p>poetry is an exorcism</p> <p>poetry is jabberwocky</p> <p>poetry is knowing when you've met yourself</p> <p>poetry is a new spelling of my name and everything else</p> <p>poetry is the sound of sitting still</p> <p>the sounds of getting up</p> <p>poetry is raw</p> <p>sdrawkcab si yrteop</p> <p>poetry is forwards</p> <p>poetry is a yes followed by an oh yes!</p> <p>poetry is circular</p> <p>poetry is everpresent</p> <p>poetry is old</p> <p>is silent when we're not listening, but still persistently there</p> <p>poetry is about to happen</p> <p>poetry is our only hope</p> <p>poetry is wanted and feared</p> <p>poetry is your skin knitting itself back together</p> <p>poetry is omnipresent</p> <p>poetry is an open door</p> <p>this language is beautiful</p> <p>poetry is love</p> <p>poetry is stinky funky lust</p> <p>poetry is knowing when to stop</p> <p>and start again</p> <p>poetry is what makes you say "aww" when you see a little kid</p> <p>poetry is putting into words what had no words before</p> <p>poetry is putting into words what never existed before</p> <p>poetry is what my heart is saying to my hand</p> <p>poetry is constantly naming what is so it doesn't get lost</p> <p>poetry is mothering myself</p> <p>poetry is how my mom calls my cell phone whenever i say (or type) the word “mother”</p> <p>poetry is calling for my attention</p><p><br /></p><b>to join the School of Our Lorde Poetry Webinar email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com</b>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-28142725534390115032010-05-12T11:17:00.001-07:002010-05-12T11:20:12.980-07:00CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Don't Leave Your Friends Behind #4<p style="margin: 0px; font-family: Tahoma; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS:<br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com/2009/01/dont-leave-your-friends-behind-call-for_28.html" target="_blank">Don't Leave Your Friends Behind</a> a Handbook for Radical Parenting Allies</span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>Deadline: September 15, 2010!</b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Leave Your Friends Behind</span> is a book geared toward the non-parent radical community about how to be an ally to the parent(s) in their midst.</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p face="'Trebuchet MS'" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">This book is going to be a collection of some of the best minds out there. We're looking for activists, allies, and radical parents to submit the most kicking stuff to make this the best book ever for getting down to business: let's make a better world WITHOUT leaving out the mamas (and papas, partners, child-care providers) and children this time!</p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p face="'Trebuchet MS'" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">We want to know how you do support children and their caretakers in your collectives, organizations or communities. </p> <div><div><p face="'Trebuchet MS'" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:'Trebuchet MS';font-size:13px;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Parents: What concrete things can those around you do to support you and your family? Send us your list of suggestions! </span></p></div></div><div style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Radical Childcare Collectives: What are your concrete tips on how you organize with your collective? How do you organize childcare? </span></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><div> </div></blockquote><div><br /></div><p face="'Trebuchet MS'" size="13px" style="margin: 0px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);"> We are especially interested in experiences that also take into account factors such as race, class, gender, single parenthood, immigration, disability, and/or mental health issues. </p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">Word limit is from one sentence suggestions to 5.000 word essays.</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">E-mail questions and submissions to:</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">china410 at hotmail.com<br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">vikkimL at yahoo.com</p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">For more information about <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Leave Your Friends Behind</span>, including links to download past issues, go to<br /></p><p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);">http://dontleaveyourfriendsbehind.blogspot.com<br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13); min-height: 15px;"><br /></p> <p style="margin: 0px; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; color: rgb(192, 19, 13);"><b>Deadline for Zine #4: Sept. 15, 2010</b></p>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-29149054354584112572010-04-29T06:52:00.000-07:002010-04-29T06:54:01.486-07:00Issue #3 of Don't Leave Your Friends Behind!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">Issue #3 of <span style="font-style: italic;">Don't Leave Your Friends Behind</span> is finished!!<br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><br /></h3>41 pages of ways to support families in radical and social justice movements, including:<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">organizing the Kids' Track at the Allied Media Conference</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">a group interview with Revolutionary Motherhood's own Noemi Martinez, Fabiola Sandoval and Maegan "La Mala" Ortiz on supporting single mothers of color</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">an interview with Diana Block on raising children while underground</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">what other organizers can learn from La Leche League</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Kidz' City!</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">holistic first aid for all ages</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">babyproofing for punks</span></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />and much much more!<br /><br /><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">We made a PDF to better share it, so you can print, and distribute as you like: it</span><a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://issuu.com/strongwindsahead/docs/don_tleaveyourfriendsbehindzine3.bw.final" style="cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;"><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">http://issuu.com/strongwindsahead/docs/d</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;"></span><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10pt;">on_tleaveyourfriendsbehindzine3.bw.final</span></a></span></h3><br />If you want a paper copy sent to you, please send $3 (or $5 for two and give the second to an ally in your life!) to:<br /><br />V. Law<br />PO Box 20388<br />Tompkins Square Station<br />New York, NY 10009</span>Victoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-55711759685606029082010-01-05T08:56:00.001-08:002010-01-05T08:56:20.544-08:00Apply for the School of Our Lorde Poetics Unit by January 25th!: Available in Durham and the Diaspora!<p>The <strong>School of Our Lorde </strong>is comprised of 4 units of Thursday evening sessions that allow participants to deeply engage and build on the work of Audre Lorde as transmitted through the committed (obsessive) research of Alexis Pauline Gumbs on the poetics, teaching practices, political implications and publishing interventions of Audre Lorde’s work (and to enjoy delicious local desserts together) on Thursday evenings. Participants will also get coursepacks with some exclusive and unpublished materials on/by Lorde. Participants can choose to participate in one 3 week semester or the entire 4 month process. Engaging, interactive poetic childcare will be provided at every session with amazing activities imagined with and implemented by Beth Bruch!!!! <strong>No one who completes an application and can attend will be turned away.</strong></p> <p><strong>February 2010: Poetics ****Applications Due January 25th 2010**** </strong></p> <p><a href="http://raceprivilegeidentity.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/audre_lorde.jpg"><img title="lorde lectern" src="http://raceprivilegeidentity.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/audre_lorde.jpg?w=342&h=300" alt="" height="300" width="342" /></a></p> <p><strong>Poetics</strong>: Audre Lorde is best known as a warrior poet. In February, School of Our Lorde participants will get a change to deeply engage Lorde’s poetry (with the benefit of Lex’s archival research on her revisions) and write their own poetry. We will meet over dessert on Thursday February 4th, 11th and 18th (Audre’s b-day!!!!) and the poets will perform their own new or transformed work at a community reading on Saturday February 20th.</p> <p>Apply for the poetics course here: <a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/school-of-our-lorde-poetics-application.pdf">School of Our Lorde Poetics Application</a> (pdf version)</p> <p><a href="http://blackfeministmind.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/school-of-our-lorde-poetics-application.doc">School of Our Lorde Poetics Application</a></p> <p>email applications to brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com or drop them off at the Inspiration Station (email for directions)</p> <p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Distance Learning</span><br /></p> <p>For those of you who are not lucky enough to live in Durham, NC right now...don't worry. Audre Lorde and I both believe in long-distance love.</p> <p>You can participate in the School of Our Lorde long-distance in 3 ways:</p> <p><a href="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/img_2943.jpg" mce_href="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/img_2943.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-53" title="IMG_2943" src="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/img_2943.jpg?w=300" mce_src="http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/files/2008/08/img_2943.jpg?w=300" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></a><br /></p> <p><b>Host Your Own Satellite Campus!:</b></p> <p>Why not have School of Our Lorde at your organization or in YOUR living room!? If you can gather 5 or more people to participate in any unit you can get a course packet with the course readings and worksheets to guide you through each session. You can also participate (along with other satellite campuses) in a monthly interactive BrightTalk session and office hours on LiveStream.</p> <p>Our vision is that each Satellite Campus will be able to make a sliding scale contribution of $75-200 per unit. No group will be turned away.</p> <p>To become a host, email brokenbeautifulpress@gmail.com with what session you'd like to host and your vision!</p> <p><b>Independent Study:</b></p> <p>Let us know how the School of Our Lorde poetics, pedagogy, politics of publishing process can support something you are working on with/for your community. You will get a course packet and worksheets. You can also participate (along with other satellite campuses) in a monthly interactive BrightTalk session and office hours on LiveStream.</p> <p>Fill out the application for the appropriate unit here: http://summerofourlorde.wordpress.com/registration/</p> <p>and get 7 people to financially support your participation. Our hope is that each independent student will raise between $50-150 to contribute to the School of Our Lorde. No one will be turned away!</p> <p><b>Lorde as Our Witness:</b></p> <p>You can participate in the School of our Lorde through this blog. There will be weekly video blog updates and reflections from the local participants and you can always post comments and questions here and I'll respond. Feel free to spread the good news in your community so one day you can host a School of Our Lorde institute where you live!</p>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-82634183775011166212009-11-30T10:17:00.001-08:002009-11-30T10:17:53.830-08:00AZ Sheriff Joe Arpaio Forces Woman to Give Birth While ShackledThe news team for Telemundo 52 recently reported on Alma Minerva Chacon, a women who was terrorized by Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Unfortunately, she is just the latest in a long line of Latinos who have suffered at the hands of the ruthless Sheriff whose personal goal is to rid Arizona of all "illegals" and just maybe, all Latinos. Arpaio has repeatedly stated that he is breaking no laws and just enforcing the constitution by arresting more than 600 Latinos a year. But the problem with his tactics is that less than half of those arrested are even in this country illegally.<br /><p><br />The most recent atrocity committed by the self-proclaimed "America's Toughest Sheriff" involves a woman who was detained while 9-months pregnant. Alma Minerva Chacon's case has been receiving media attention due to the brutality with which she was treated. The very same night of her arrest, Chacon went into labor and found herself afraid and alone, being rushed to a local hospital with her hands and legs chained in shackles.<br /><p><br />Once she reached the hospital, nurses repeatedly begged the Sheriff's staff to allow them to unchain the mother, but they refused and Chacon was forced to give birth while still shackled to the bed. At one point, the nurse asked for them to release her so that she could be escorted to the bathroom for a urinalysis, but even that request was denied. But the worst came once Chacon gave birth to her baby girl.<br /><p><br />Still chained to the bed, Arpaio's police staff refused to allow Chacon to hold her newborn baby and then warned her that if no one came to pick up the child within 72 hours, she would be turned over into state custody. Telemundo 52 sat down with Chacon and let her tell her side of the story.<br /><p><br /><br />Check out the interview <a href="http://www.latina.com/lifestyle/news-politics/video-sheriff-joe-arpaio-forces-woman-give-birth-while-shackled">here</a> and if you don't support Sheriff Arpaio's barbaric practices sign the petition at www.SheriffJoeMustGo.comVictoria Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12797588356508585150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-55370527578323960942009-10-29T20:51:00.000-07:002009-10-29T20:52:06.493-07:00Be Bold Be Re(a)d: The Podcast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://abookwithoutacover.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/wearred.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 523px; height: 519px;" src="http://abookwithoutacover.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/wearred.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />3 years ago women of color came together and transformed what it meant to transform terror on Halloween, declaring October 31st Be Bold Be Red Day, a day for women of color and allies to speak out against violence against women. And 30 years ago women of color came together to respond to violence in the same critical and poetic spirit.<br /><br />Towards the world the we all deserve, fully transformed from the misogyny and internalized racism we face in popular music to the frightening expendability of the lives and bodies of women of color this podcast places the brave voices of women telling the truth about gendered violence over the remixed sounds of Miles Davis. This year we take every sound back, starting with our own voices and the background that seeks to silence them.<br /><br />Listen with your community, your class, your friends, your study group, your church, your crew, pass the link on or listen by yourself and see, hear and wear red.<br /><br />listen here<br /><br />[audio http://brokenbeautiful.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/real-be-bold-be-red-podcast.mp3]<br /><br />or download here: <a href="http://abookwithoutacover.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/wearred.jpg">http://brokenbeautiful.wordpress.com/files/2009/10/real-be-bold-be-red-podcast.mp3</a>lexhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08265539602839655150noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5642950713699782855.post-26939146593141437092009-08-31T00:36:00.000-07:002009-08-31T00:37:02.016-07:00the divine survivors clinic<div class="entry"><div class="snap_preview"><p><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-1519" title="Screenshot-2" src="http://guerrillamamamedicine.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/screenshot-2.png?w=300&h=187" alt="Screenshot-2" width="300" height="187" /></p><p>welcome to the <a href="http://divinesurvivorsclinic.wordpress.com/">divine survivors clinic!</a></p><p>my name is mai’a.</p><p>i am offering free reiki treatments to us– the lovers, the fighters, and the survivors. a way to reduce pain, cleanse and strengthen the body, balance the emotions and experience more clarity and vitality in our lives.</p><p>the divine survivors clinic began as a vision i had at dawn listening to the fajr call to prayer.</p><p>i have seen that many of us as doing amazing life-changing work and yet suffer from long terms and short term illnesses. we do not have the time, money, energy to eat well, laugh, meditate, move, and mother ourselves. we live on the edges of society, enduring and resisting with every breath, the various and connected forms of violence.</p><p>reiki is a specific frequency or wave of energy. i tune into this energy. connect with your mind and body (no matter where you are in the world). and then reiki vibrates throughout your being. allowing you to relax, de-stress, and transmutate toxins in the body.</p><p>selah.</p><p>The quality of light by which we scrutinize our lives has direct bearing upon the product which we live, and upon the changes which we hope to bring about through those lives.<br />–Audre Lorde</p><p>* is a safe, gentle, non-physical healing practice that reduces stress and promotes relaxation and transformation of all kind of ailments and disease.<br />* can never act harmfully.<br />* is not controlled by the practitioner, but by the needs of recipient’s bodymind.<br />* is not limited by time nor space. and thus can be activated across distances and times, allowing us to commune across oceans, heal the past and create a joyous future.<br />* transforms toxins and illness in the physical, emotional, and psychological systems.<br />* is not a religion and belief in reiki is not necessary for it to work.</p></div></div>mai'ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14656556134583235114noreply@blogger.com0