Afternoon lectures today at the University of London via colleagues River Baars and Lola Olufemi. River's lecture was about British Asian Youth Movements (AYMs), and as promised, they "seamlessly" integrated the supreme court decision about Palestine and the biological definition of woman into their lecture. Students were blown away by Lola's radical revisioning of time and multidirectionality. "I feel like my brain grew three sizes," I heard someone comment.
In our morning session we connected the cosmopolitan threads linking a bunch of stuff from Eddy Grant's dancehall hit "Electric Avenue" and the Brixton Uprising to Stokley Carmichael/Kwame Ture sparking the Black resistance in the UK. The cross-cultural solidarities amongst everyone "politically black" in the UK is particularly heartening with British Asian Youth Movements supporting everything from Black Lives Matter to the Bradford 12. Today's post title is one their lasting slogans. But I like the one they borrowed from The Children of Soweto too: Don't Mourn; Organize!" I know that'll play in my head the next time I'm worried about the world.
Pic: A mural at the top of our street with the words "No child should be a part of war. Ever." I expected to get homesick and sad next week, but I'm--inexplicably--already there. AND after I wrote that, I found out from a text DV sent me just now that India and Pakistan are at war. I called my family, and they tried to calm me by saying the south is usually safer. But also that they're having "mock drills" today to prepare. It all feels so surreal.
22 comments:
I thought about you when I heard about the conflict between India and Pakistan. I hope your family remains safe. But it sounds like you are having such an inspiring week! I hope the homesickness is manageable!
I don’t even know what to say about India and Pakistan. I’m so horrified about what this could mean for people there and everywhere. Shit shit shit.
I hope you have a wonderful time in London, I know it’s hard with everything going on.
Take care.
I immediately thought about you when I heard the news and hoped that your family was safe. Sending love. xo
Hoping your family is and stays safe.
'My brain grew three sizes"- how cool is that. I want my brain to grow three sizes!
Sending all the thoughts ad prayers to your family and all the innocent people in countries at war. Hope everyone can stay safe.
I'm glad to hear your family is in the safer part of the country and that's more re-assuring because India is a big country, but still, I'm sure it's scary for you.
You (your parents) were the first thing that came to my mind when I heard about India and Pakistan. I hope they are in a safe spot. How very frightening. The lecture sounds fascinating and clearly one that made an impact. What a terrific experience for your students.
Ooof. There is so much hard news. Pausing to pray for the specific situation you mentioned, your family, and the innocent civilians on both sides. War hurts us all. 💔
-Steph
I did NOT expect to see an Eddy Grant "Electric Avenue" reference in a post from you! That's a blast from my past, for sure.
My thoughts were with you immediately when I read about India/Pakistan today. I'm glad you had news of your mom and her assessment of the situation thus far.
Your students sound so engaged and bright. What a great trip so far!
Like Nance, I enjoyed the ‘Electric Avenue’ reference…Eddy Grant is from Guyana, which is where my husband’s family lived for several generations, though he has never lived there.
Thanks, Lisa! People already seem to be getting used to the new normal, and that's such a terrible thing.
Thanks, J. I'm looking at the people on the news websites and terrified for how much MORE horrible their lives may become.
Thank you.
Thank you, Nicole. This means a lot. XO
Thank you, Suzanne <3
Thank you, Jenny. That's where my mind keeps going too--all the innocent people pulled into this because the Indian leader wants to be a macho douche.
It is, Steph. I was already worried about how life is changing on the subcontinent because of climate change...
Thank you, Jeanie. The Indian PM is a fan of T and seems to be taking lessons in aggression from him too, unfortunately.
Thank you, Steph. I have anticipatory grief about all the hardships to come...
I love that song so much (even before I knew of it's radical roots), Nance. And the next generation seems to know it too!
Thank you for the good vibes.
J--I knew of Ted's Canadian connection but not his Guyanese one--what a storied family journey!
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