Happy James Baldwin Day
Make this happen: Let’s turn Independence Day into James Baldwin Day, and spend that time calling America on its unfulfilled promises.
An altered American flag in Seattle’s Capitol Hill Organized Protest (CHOP) zone, June 12, 2020
Much of the United States finally seems interested in learning how to be anti-racist, or at least interested in books about it. Why not keep the momentum going? Let’s have a federally-recognized holiday when Americans evaluate their anti-racist growth and make concrete plans and policy changes that would help us do even better. Think of it as love in action.
We’d also be honoring author James Baldwin’s lifelong dedication to holding this country accountable for its racism. It seems right that we follow up on the nationwide protests against police brutality by using Baldwin’s searing criticism as an action guide.
Don’t worry — we’ll still party for Freedom-with-a-capital-F with flags and hot dogs and raisin-free potato salad. We’ll just do it on Juneteenth — a celebration of actual enslaved people leaving bondage.
"Black Lives Matter" in Seattle
As I said to a friend a little while ago: "I'm really not angry all the time!" But you know... the summer of 2014 really made me worry about my children's safety once they're no longer little and cute. It just all hangs over my head... but fortunately, I'm not alone in my concern.
This altered book, "A Terrible Dream," grew out of that simmering anxiety and frustration. So when I found out about "Black Lives Matter: Humanity Not Negotiable," I leaped at the chance to submit some of my work. I'm proud to say the jurors chose two -- the one above, and "Janus: Restless."
I'd love to see you at the reception of this exhibit, if you're in Seattle. Details:
Yes, this exhibit is about serious ideas, but don't let that scare you off. Think of it as the opportunity for a thoughtful conversation, a chance to get out of your own head, and into someone else's for a while.
Why Black History Month is necessary
You know how sometimes you're scrolling through your Facebook feed, and someone you know posts a photo of themselves in blackface for Throwback Thursday?
Yeah.
The person in question had posted a childhood photo from a dance performance. Okay... REALLY bad judgement on the part of the teacher who dressed her up like that umpteen years ago. But in 2014, the person then added this illuminating comment:
"Couldn't dance white let alone..."
Yeah. I just can't even.
Yes, I contacted the person privately to explain -- just in case it wasn't clear -- why blackface is offensive.
Yes, the person explained, in a comment ("publicly," so to speak), she had posted the photo as one of several from her childhood dance days, and that the photo was not meant to offend.
Credit: Funnyjunk.com
Yes, the photo and post were taken down. I don't know if the poster did so, or Facebook did (another person reported the image as offensive).
Coincidentally, I recently confirmed that my work will be shown at Alki Arts Gallery as part of a Black History Month show.
My Janus collage portraits will be among the ones on exhibit. These are the two inspired by my great-grandfather, the Civil War veteran who was shot when he tried to collect his wages from a white farmer.
See, the thing about racism now, as opposed to my great-grandfather's lifetime, is that it's like a community-based infection such as the common cold. It's everywhere. Virtually everyone is a carrier, even if they're not showing "symptoms." And it's unusual (well, less usual) for someone behaving in a racist way to try, consciously, to do harm. Like when a person sneezes directly on you, not meaning to get you sick.
"I didn't mean to," of course, doesn't really fix the problem. Racism is a sneaky thing these days. If you're looking for ideas about how to support someone who calls out racism, here are some suggestions. And in February, when you see a "black history moment" on TV or elsewhere, I would ask you to dig a little deeper and read more about it.