Tag Archives: activism

Jan16

birmingham.

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Letter from Birmingham Jail

In the spring of 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. organized a demonstration in downtown Birmingham, Alabama. With entire families in attendance, city police turned dogs and fire hoses on demonstrators. King was jailed along with large numbers of his supporters, but the event drew nationwide attention.

In his famous Letter from Birmingham Jail, King eloquently spelled out his theory of non-violence:

“Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community,

which has constantly refused to negotiate,

is forced to confront the issue.”

 

—

credits: biography, history channel, photo credit: the atlantic

Nov7

rally.

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another day, another rally!

big gretch

our governor

and

pete buttigieg

transportation secretary/new michigander

come to campus

to inspire and rally the troops.

—

“we can’t slow up because of our love for democracy and our love for america.”

-dr. martin luther king, jr. 

Jun20

finding dabls in detroit.

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i recently went with a group of colleagues/friends

to find the artist, dabls

working on his block in detroit

where we learned so much from him

an experience i’ll never forget

dabls’ installation-‘iron teaching rocks how to rust’ 

artist/storyteller dabls

uses materials as metaphors

to pass on his stories

of african and european art/cultures

open to everyone

he can be found working and sharing stories

on this abandoned block

that he has reclaimed

as his own and the community’s

most every day

dalbas mbad african bead museum

where each of his beads tells a story

dabls’ art has brought this house to life

—

 “Stories are able to help us to become more whole, to become Named.

And Naming is one of the impulses behind all art;

to give a name to the cosmos, we see despite all the chaos.”

-Madeleine L’Engle

—

The Kresge Foundation elected Dabls as “2022 Eminent Artist”

to recognize his accomplishments in the arts as well as his lifelong impact on Detroit’s culture.

—

to read his full story go to:

http://www.mbad.org/best-friends

or just stop by to see him.

Aug4

honor.

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no finer way to honor this hero

“the vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.”

-john lewis

 

 

—

image credit: michigan theatre, ann arbor, michigan, usa

Jul31

get in the way.

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The Bloodiest Sunday 

Bloody Sunday was a cruel incident that occurred on March 7, 1965  in Selma, Alabama. Six hundred orderly protesters were ready to march to Selma on a Sunday to support the Voting Rights Movement. They were led by John Lewis, SNCC, and SCLC activists. All six hundred of them crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge, but were blocked by Alabama State Troopers. The police commanded them to turn around, but the protesters refused. The police say ‘they had no choice’ other than to start shooting teargas into the crowd, and beating the non-violent protesters. Sadly, they hospitalized over sixty people. To this day, Lewis still has a visible scar on his forehead from Bloody Sunday. This week, I watched as you made one final trip over that bridge, in your casket, with Alabama State Troopers saluting you, and people holding you in their hearts for all you did for them. You will always be remembered as a brave and compassionate leader who truly led by example.

—

RIP, John Lewis, thank you for always getting in the way, and showing us how it’s done.

 

—

“you must be bold, brave, and courageous and find a way… to get in the way.”

-john lewis

Jul27

peaceful.

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 am – peaceful walk in the woods

 pm -peaceful protest on the streets

 

—

day 1, 99 to go.

—

“there may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest. “

-elie wiesel

Jul20

get on the bus.

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what an adventure it would be to travel on the ‘make america kind again’ bus

 

—

“human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the figure of a free people.

a nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”

-Franklin D. Roosevelt, 32nd President of the United States