Activist Resolutions
by Racialicious special correspondent Latoya Peterson
What do you hope to accomplish in 2008?
What do you want to do? What do you want to study? What actions do you want to take?
We are not yet half way through the month of December, but resolutions are already on my mind. Heavily into self-evaluation, I tend to make resolutions at New Years and promises to myself on my birthday. I also make career goals and life goals on a regular basis.
However, this year is the first year I will be making activist resolutions. Over the course of 2007, I started blogging for Racialicious, started to immerse myself in the blogosphere, spent time honing thoughts and ideas, started researching trends in gentrification, discovered hundreds of great sources for information, started attending the various films and discussion groups over at Busboys and Poets and kept up with the changes going on abroad.
Still, even with all I accomplished, I feel like some things are a bit lacking. So far, all my research goes into blog posts – I would like the research to have a farther reaching effect. And while the blogosphere is great fun, and we have built a great community here, I wonder about taking more steps out in the real world. I also realized I have huge gaps in my knowledge base, which I seriously want to rectify. So, I decided to roll these things into action items.
In 2008, I will…
…work on myself
*I will dust off that old paper I did for a business law class and figure out how to best educate people about the roles of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization. There is a lot of misinformation floating around about these institutions and they each have had powerful effects on the rise and fall of nations.
*I am going to stop saying “Africa.” Africa is not a country. It is a continent. Talking about the problems in Africa is not as effective as talking about the problems that currently plague individual countries like Malawi, Zimbabwe, Chad, and Sudan.
*I am going to continue to study the trends of gentrification as it manifests in each individual region, paying particular attention to New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. I will also be searching for mixed-income communities around the nation and how urban planners treat social and environmental issues.
…work on the world
* I am going to get more involved in the gaming industry. I am not sure exactly how I will do this – through writing or through some other means – but I feel like the gaming industy is in the unique position to set the tone of entertainment in the next few years. As such, it would be amazing to see gaming break away from the exclusionary model that Hollywood pioneered and make greater strides toward including people of different backgrounds – both behind the scenes and in the actual gameplay.
*I am going to reconnect with my city council members to find out what is happening in my community, particularly in reference to urban planning. Montgomery County has been going through an ongoing remodel and I want to get an in-depth understanding of what urban planners do and how they make decisions.
*To get more involved with youth outreach through the arts. I know people who work in three very different areas and I want to help them all in some way. I have one friend who does youth outreach through hip-hop (music and culture), another who works with Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and the head of my yoga studio has just started a foundation to outreach to young women and women in prisons. All worthy causes that I feel compelled to help with in some way.
So, that’s what I plan on doing in 2008.
What about you?
Carmen Van Kerckhove is co-founder and president of
LM wrote:
Latoya,
Your blog posts are amazing. Their quality is probably related to the fact that have such an extensive and specific list of areas in which you’re expressing a committment to improve, so I don’t even need to get into the “only 24 hours in a day” cautionary note. Thanks for your observing, researching, musing and writing in 2007 and I hope that 2008 is great for you.
One of my hopes for the coming year is to more consistently arrive at the conversation point, “Here’s what we’re doing about… (or at least “what should we do”), rather than staying stuck on “here’s the problem.”
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 7:49 am ¶
Sam Davidson wrote:
Agreed on using the word ‘Africa.’ Thanks for calling attention to this!
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 8:11 am ¶
atlasien wrote:
Here’s mine. I’m sure I will do many of these but I doubt I’ll be able to do all of them… great idea to challenge ourselves though!
1) enroll and start studying in a distance learning program for curriculum design
2) keep developing and teaching a seminar for efficient job hunting and scam avoidance geared towards low-income urban parents
3) Become involved in a local organization for immigrant rights
4) volunteer semi-regularly at local group home for GLBT foster teens
5) try to get Republicans defeated (our governor plus both senators) and try to get city/county corrupt Democrats kicked out and replaced by less corrupt Democrats
6) try to raise awareness locally and on the internet about the psychological harm caused by childhood racist abuse
7) support efforts to reform foster care, especially those advanced and led by foster care alumni themselves
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 8:34 am ¶
Jenn wrote:
What a wonderful idea! I don’t usually do New Year’s resolutions, but I love the idea of activist resolutions.
I’ve also learned so much and found my way to so many wonderful causes, and have become much more aware of the world around me thanks to so many great blogs. But I finally feel like it’s time for me to take my activism to the next level and get out there in the real world.
I’ll have to work on a list, but thank you so much for this post!
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 10:58 am ¶
Bianca Reagan wrote:
I like your resolutions, especially the one about gaming. Apparently I need to talk about African issues more because I can’t remember the last time I said or wrote “Africa.” I did watch more than a few episodes of A Different World recently, and they talked about South Africa. That’s all.
I haven’t had the wherewithal to think about my resolutions for 2008. However, I think I accomplished all of my resolutions for 2007! I didn’t have many, but I achieved them without remembering that they were my resolutions. Hooray!
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 7:21 pm ¶
Colin wrote:
“I am going to get more involved in the gaming industry. I am not sure exactly how I will do this – through writing or through some other means”
Like…gaming? *wink*
African issues? Check the Congo lately? NY Times says some real sh*t is about to go down. Child recruitment is up, and the UN is getting a little more tense about it.
Mine?
1. Work on WI Democratic Pres. campaign to turn out vote so that Wisconsin goes blue.
2. Find a job and place to live in Wisconsin, arguably more important than (1), yes, but these aren’t in order of importance. So bah.
3. Go to school in WI while campaigning and working…and living. Get at least Bs.
4. Work on business plan for progressive political consulting firm while campaigning.
5. Research law schools and make connections with admissions deans.
Posted 14 Dec 2007 at 11:29 pm ¶
Robin wrote:
This is my first year making an activism resolution too – I thought of it a few weeks ago but hadn’t told anyone because I felt like it was a little nerdy. Thanks for making me feel braver about it by sharing yours.
Mine is that I want to organize a direct action in support of rainforests, maybe with Rainforest Action Network (http://www.ran.org). After reading your post, however, I want to think of some deeper, more long-term ones as well.
Posted 15 Dec 2007 at 2:32 am ¶
meownette wrote:
I love this idea! I’m still thinking about and adding to this list, but so far I’m at 1) eliminating the use of “girl” in my vocabulary when referring to women 18 and over. 2) volunteering at the library. Good luck everybody!
Posted 15 Dec 2007 at 4:18 pm ¶
dana111 wrote:
I think it is great that you are interested concerning urban planning issues in your community. I am currently an Urban and Environmental Planning major at the University of Virginia, and current statistics show that people are moving back into the central cities and downtown areas as opposed to sprawling out into suburban areas. This migratory change will effect how downtown areas are designed. Even though there is a focus on mixed use, high density housing in current theories concerning planning, there is always a question of affordablity and the gentrification that often occurs when new developments are built for people with higher socioeconomic standings. My new years resolution is to ask more questions in my classes and force more conversation concerning the long lasting affects of Jim Crow, segregation, and racially unjust/ predatory lending practices on the development of residential neighborhoods and how gentrification illuminates the continous racial and economic divide that plague the United States.
Posted 16 Dec 2007 at 8:26 pm ¶
Elizabeth wrote:
Wow! My boyfriend and I were just talking about this today! We’ve made New Year’s Resolutions together in the past and we are going to attempt that “Letter Writing Sunday” thing vegankid does.
Posted 16 Dec 2007 at 10:15 pm ¶
hoorah wrote:
Excellent jump on 2008. It inspires me to stop reviewing 2007 ad nauseaum and start making plans!
For the past two years I have put others first. In 2008 I will focus on my own health and well-being. This includes a better night’s sleep, exercising regularly, and keeping my stress and anxiety levels down through yoga and writing. I also plan on investigating two possibly career paths: gaming and library science.
And you absolutely most positively come to PAX in 2008. It’s now the nations largest gaming festival – created and organized by gamers for gamers. I went last year and had a phenomenal time! Mark your calendar: PAX 08 is Aug 29,30, 31st and pre-reg will likely start in mid Jan.
http://www.pennyarcadeexpo.com
Posted 17 Dec 2007 at 7:34 am ¶
Latoya Peterson wrote:
Hey everyone!
Thanks for the responses. I am glad to see some of my favorite regulars on here as well as a lot of people I haven’t seen before. Welcome!
LM –
Thanks for the compliment! I know all about that “only 24 hours in a day” thing. There are so many other things I want to work on – especially food politics, healthcare, and sexual politics – but there just isn’t enough time to devote to them.
Solutions are the big issue, aren’t they? Everyone is willing to weigh in on the problem, but are they willing to make steps toward a resolution? Even on a small level?
Sam – No problem, I have another post on that coming soon!
Atlasien –
Awesome. I’ve been enjoying your stuff over on Rachel’s Tavern. I am with you on 2 & 7 – they will probably be on my list in 2009.
Jenn -
No problem, please come back and share!
Bianca –
LOL, congrats on 2007! I don’t think it matters when you make the resolution, if something comes up that moves you, try to get more involved. Getting published (that is what you are working toward, right?) is hard enough.
Colin –
LOL, thanks for the tip, smartass.
I keep telling my tax pro I should get a business deduction on my PS3 -maybe she’ll bite this year if I can manage to get published in a mainstream gaming publication.
Yeah, I’ve been keeping tabs on that. I have a post next week on Malawai, I may try to tackle the Congo next…it is a bit hard to make an issue like this fit into the general pop culture and perception tone of the site. We shall see…
Good luck in Wisconsin!
Robin -
Glad you decided to share! The rainforest is important too, and I think that the preservation of the forests is going to be a long term project. Best of luck!
Meownette –
The library is my favorite place on the planet. (I mean, I work at two…) It is also a great place to advent community change. Our libraries do everything from conversation clubs to job applications to SAT prep to cultural shows. I’ve been toying with the idea of a youth outreach program through manga and comics – I may pitch it to the head honchos at MoCo and see if it sticks. Good luck!
Dana111 -
Hey, drop me an email at latoya@alteregomaniacs.com. I would be really interested in finding out about your cirriculumn and course load.
I agree with all your points, and want to add one – creating wealth in a disadvantaged area. One of the points some of my early research has uncovered is that in some cases, the goal is not to displace those who already live in the area but to attract more wealth (more tax dollars) to the area. Somewhere along the line, one of those goals becomes a memory.
Anyway, good luck in your classes!
Elizabeth -
What is letter writing sunday?
hoorah -
Those self resolutions could have been mine last year. I actually stuck with my yoga practice (w00t!) and this year I want to incorporate more dance. It is also important to have these activities as a refuge. Life is tough, especially when you immerse yourself in these kind of communities. It is critical to treat yourself well!
Thanks for the info on PAX. It is across the US from me, but if my budget allows, I will try to swing it.
If not, I’ll see you at PAX 09.
Posted 17 Dec 2007 at 3:08 pm ¶
Elizabeth wrote:
The blogger vegankid writes a letter every week to a government official (state, local or national), corporation, editor of a major newspaper, etc.
I have written to my representatives and local newspaper this year but only twice. I think I should do it more often.
Vegankid explains the activity a bit more here: http://vegankid.solidaritydesign.net/2006/03/31/letter-writing-sunday-on-friday/
Posted 17 Dec 2007 at 5:03 pm ¶
Linda C wrote:
My husband and I have come up with a design that promotes human rights and race equality. In 2008, we will be looking for an organization to donate a portion of our sales to that helps in this area. I have also written a blog entitled “Racism and Children” that talks about ideas to promote racial tolerance in children for other children through a series of resources such as books, games, lessons and organizations.
http://www.squidoo.com/learnrespectearly
Posted 18 Dec 2007 at 3:16 pm ¶
Sewere wrote:
Latoya,
I am going to stop saying “Africa.”
Stop right there… I’m ready to have your babies
Posted 18 Dec 2007 at 3:54 pm ¶
Jonathan Richardson wrote:
Great Article! I am committed to raising the awareness of the African-American experience.
2 FACTS 2 KNOW
#1. “In perusing the annals of America’s Historical text and media offerings, it is readily apparent that America is conspiratorially willing to minimize the true lasting effectual stain of Racism on the Mind, Body and Soul of those subjugated to it’s debilitating grasp”.
***************************************
#2. “As an African-American surveying the vastness of the entity which constitutes the African-American community, a most troubling ascertainment is the lack of commitment of our young to the continual pursuit of greatness. Which has been a constant in our painful yet purposeful navigation through American Society”.
Jonathan Richardson
Author/Speaker/Poet
Posted 21 Dec 2007 at 4:06 am ¶