Please Don't Bomb the Suburbs: An Imperfect Review

Personal Check-in: My heart is heavy. For personal reasons and larger societal-forces type reasons. I'm seriously thinking about oppression. About what it does to warp relationships and steal people from each other. And also about all the learning I have to commit myself to doing if I am to live my life really well. If I am to really use my time, energy and resources wisely for the short time I have on earth. I really want to use my life to effect some small measure of change. I want to be able to look back on my life and say that I truly did everything I possibly could to make things better for people here.

Semi Side Note: I'm also thinking about one of my closest friends, who is going through a lot right now. My heart is also heavy for her. But I know she is going to pull through. She is beautiful and strong and dearly loved.

But onto the topic at hand. I just finished reading Please Don't Bomb the Suburbs by Billy Wimsatt. I was introduced to the book after attending a reading at Bluestockings Bookstore. Definitely a paradigm shifting book. I feel like it's conversation sparking...it puts movement building in perspective...it encourages folks who want change and justice to soul search and dig deep, and live in the tension between our desires to be effective changemakers on small and large scales and our mortality. (We only have but so much life on this earth. Let's be effective rather than self-loathing and self-sabatoging. I wouldn't say that this is necessarily the one-line summary of the book but it is one of the enduring messages I got. It is one place where I really connected.) Like all meditations on social change, it's imperfect. It's one entry point in a massive conversation we need to have with ourselves and one another. I feel that it's off the rating systems...it's hard for me to give it stars. I learned so much from it...the places where I want to critique it harshly are also the places I want to critique myself harshly. I feel like it's an extension of myself in some way. Maybe all provocative works of art are.

Now when I go on amazon.com, I will go by the established rating system. I will most likely give it five stars. I think this helps signals to folks that this is something-you-need-to-read. Each person may take its ideas in a thousand different directions...but I think we all need to read it. In no way was it a waste of my time, even though I find myself struggling with some of the ideas presented within. Did I agree with each and every last point that was made by Wimsatt? No. (Did I agree with 99.9% of the points? Yes. It was just little nuances here and there that threw me from time to time. Understandable.) Overall, I found it beautiful. I connected with a lot of the ideas inside. I felt that Wimsatt's heart was in the right place. Here's what I liked best about it though:

1)
It was an immediately engaging, incredibly fast read. I literally zoomed through the book, laughing out loud on the train several times. I also dog-eared about 75% of the book. The man possesses not only heart, but wit. I haven't yet read his first book, Bomb the Suburbs, but he talked so candidly about his personal evolution since the publication of that book that I felt like we were old friends. He has an extremely engaging writing style and he is refreshingly honest.

2)

He got me thinking about my personal effectiveness, my personal mission statement, and my mortality. Now I have always thought about these things to some degree...but generally in a pretty discombobulated fashion. In my estimation, this culture encourages folks, especially young folks, to fuck up aspects of our lives without thinking clearly about the consequences of our actions. I think they (the powers that be, if I may) figure that if we're too busy constantly cleaning up our own little messes, we have less time to be effective, particularly in our prime years when we actually have energy. Now I'm not saying that life isn't about making mistakes...but I am saying that's it's not about wallowing in our mistakes. Or not growing from our mistakes. Or constantly undermining our ability to evolve our inner grown folk swag because we're defending -to the death- our right to be as stupid as the day is long.

3)
And about mortality and life plans and shit...he inspired me to seriously consider law school again. I thought about it a little while ago. I kinda forgot about it. But now I'm thinking about it again. Because of the need for more people with good intentions to have more power to make their good intentions realities.

4)
He talked (briefly) about the link between the early hip-hop movement and the LGBT community. What a hidden history that gets no love!

5)
He has strategies, and he freely shares activist tricks of the "trade." (For lack of a better phrase. And plus I couldn't resist the irony.) He reeks of transparency and WYSIWYG. He doesn't shy away from difficult conversations. He speaks from experience. And he is truly interested in figuring out how the numerous factions of the left can begin to move towards unity and efficiency. Not uniformity and conformity...but unity. Understanding that since we all have a stake in undoing oppression, we should all take the time to hear each other out a bit.

6)
He is truly about building a movement that includes everybody. Every. Body. Though I have a ways to go before I am truly a nonviolent Bodhisattva, something in me knows that freedom has to be given to everyone, or it is meaningless. Everyone deserves freedom and happiness, even the folks who have historically and contemporarily made my blood boil.

7)
And speaking of contemporary historicity, he also has a pretty good analysis of race. As well as sobering advice for white anti-racists, and an invitation for white anti-racists to talk to one another. (Lord knows this is needed. As an outsider looking in but also someone who inhabits two worlds a la DuBois and Friere, I definitely see the need for white folks to talk to one another about race.) He talked about the importance of these folks understanding -no, deeply understanding- racism as much as possible but not hating themselves as a result. And you know what? I know at least a handful of folks who need this advice. But not from me.

8)
He packs lots of recent cultural and political history in his book. Holy shit I have a lot to read! He has definitely awakened in me a thirst to know as much as I can about everything, including the political landscape of this country. I must admit...I am virtually clueless about electoral politics and the different laws and bills that have shaped our present reality. But I'm understanding more and more that whether or not I agree with politics as usual, I must at a MINIMUM understand what is going on around me everyday.

Here's where I struggled:

1)
Right after I finished reading the book, I saw a clip exposing modern day Cointelpro. And I was reminded that even though I am moving closer to believing that change has to come via ALL avenues, including the government (we need good folks working in every sector of society), the government has also been a historical bastion of repression, and politics has been a dirty game. So I struggle somewhat with the notion of participating in electoral politics. Though I can honestly say that most of me now believes I need to participate, anyway. But there's an internal struggle I have that I was noticing while I was reading. But it might just be growing-up pains. Wimsatt uses the "growing-up" analogy alot in his book, notably in reference to "progressives" awakening to the potential of the vote.

2)
Something (small) in me checked out at the notion of the Super Movement, Wimsatt's bold proposal for a volunteer-run progressive movement that in ten years has a shared operating system and connects all precints in the United States. The idea that all people wanting freedom and equality for all other people need to communicate and build alliances in order to be more effective rang true for me, no doubt. But for some reason, I had all these weird associations come up with the title Super Movement. Perhaps it's just the name. Perhaps I need more buy-in, more evidence that this can work. Perhaps I'm just cynical. I do have a Virgo rising AND moon afterall. Most likely, I simply need a better understanding of how lasting change is created in this country and the world.

In the meantime, I'm going to be hitting up the library for a bunch of the books that were recommended or mentioned by Wimsatt. I'm also going to be doing what I can to contribute to the process of more folks finding out about this book, discussing the ideas within, and heck, even voting (click the link for DIY Voter Guides for the midterm elections).

Overall, I definitely think this is a very important book for people who believe in remaking our society in a way that everybody eats. The places where I struggled with the content reflected the areas in which I need to experience the most growth. And I am committed to that growth.

And here are some of the books he discussed or mentioned (in some cases, he merely mentioned authors and I found titles):

1) The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama
2) Dreams From my Father by Barack Obama
3) Future 500: Youth Organizing and Activism in the United States by Jae Kim
4) How to Get Stupid White Men Out of Office by Adrienne Maree Brown and Billy Wimsatt
5) Bomb the Suburbs by Billy Wimsatt
6) No More Prisons by Billy Wimsatt
7) Peak Everything by Richard Heinberg
8) Only the Super Rich Can Save Us! by Ralph Nader
9) The Green Collar Economy by Van Jones
10) The Power of Progress by John Podesta
11) Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
12) Another World is Possible by Walldah Imarisha
13) Tales of a Punk Rock Nothing by Abraham Himelstein

I think I agree

From the website "Panarchy" (it's in my links)

Do I want to propose my own system? Not at all! I am an advocate of all systems, i. e. of all forms of government that find followers.
Every system is like a block of flats in which the proprietor and the main tenants have the best accommodations and feel well off. The others, for whom there is not sufficient space in it, are dissatisfied. I hate the destroyers as much as the tyrants. The dissatisfied ones should go their own way, but without destroying the building. What does not please them may give pleasure to their neighbours...

[P]eople are of a different mind, and have so varied customs that only this multiplicity of governments is possible.
One seeks excitement and struggle, the other wants rest, this one needs encouragement and aid, the other, a genius, tolerates no direction. One wishes for a republic, submission and renunciation, the other desires the absolute monarchy with its pomp and splendour. This orator wants a parliament, the silent one, there, condemns all the babblers. There are strong minds and weak heads, ambitious ones and simple and contented people. There are as many characters as there are persons, as many needs as there are different natures. How could all of them be satisfied by a single form of government? The contented ones will be in a minority. Even a perfect government would find its opposition.
Go here.

So I'm still trying to formulate exctly what I feel about anarchism, and the existence of the "state," and governments. While I can see the usefulness of government, SOMEthing about it always rubbed me a little bit the wrong way. And so I started reading about anarchism. It lead me to various sites. But when I found my way to this site, I realized that what rubbed me wrong about governments was the compulsion inherent in them. How EVERYone is supposed to be satisfied within them.

Freedom of government should be like freedom of religion...
You want to be under a monarch or a chief? Go ahead. A communist state? Have fun. A democratic state? Same. No state? Whoop dee doo.

But to subject all people under the rule of your particular form of government just because you want it is the opposite of liberty to me.

Now would this actually work? Could we actually achieve this level of freedom? Who knows. Certainly, it would require a revolution of consciousness amongst the citizens of the world. But it seems the most fair to me. And this kind of system of systems would theoretically abolish the violent mechanisms by which governments exercise their rule and assert their autonomy.

"A strong people don’t need strong leaders." – Ella Baker

What?

I'm discovering this new world of black anarchists. It's fascinating. Especially because I often find myself attracted to anarchist principles. (Yea, I still am attracted to anarchism as a philosophy, even if I am learning to embrace the usefulness of certain forms of leadership, especially group leadership rather than the leadership of a single person.) And especially because the few anarchists I have met have been white, largely unaware of their privilege, and annoying.

Quotables:

"Some of our ideas about who we are as a people hamper our struggles. For example, the Black community is often considered a monolithic group, but it is actually a community of communities with many different interests. I think of being Black not so much as an ethnic category but as an oppositional force or touchstone for looking at situations differently. Black culture has always been oppositional and is all about finding ways to creatively resist oppression here, in the most racist country in the world. So, when I speak of a Black anarchism, it is not so tied to the color of my skin but who I am as a person, as someone who can resist, who can see differently when I am stuck, and thus live differently."
-Ashanti Alston.

"Of all ideologies, anarchy is the one that addresses liberty and equalitarian relations in a realistic and ultimate fashion. It is consistent with each individual having an opportunity to live a complete and total 1ife, With anarchy, the society as a whole not only maintains itself at an equal expense to all, but progresses in a creative process unhindered by any class, caste or party. This is because the goals of anarchy don't include replacing one ruling class with another, neither in the guise of a fairer boss or as a party. This is key because this is what separates anarchist revolutionaries from Maoist, socialist and nationalist revolutionaries who from the onset do not embrace complete revolution. They cannot envision a truly free and equalitarian society and must to some extent embrace the socialization process that makes exploitation and oppression possible and prevalent in the first place."
-Kuwasi Balagoon.

"What we anarchists contend for is a larger opportunity to develop the units in society, that mankind may possess the right as a sound being to develop that which is broadest, noblest, highest and best, unhandicapped by any centralized authority, where he shall have to wait for his permits to be signed, sealed, approved and handed down to him before he can engage in the active pursuits of life with his fellow being. We know that after all, as we grow more enlightened under this larger liberty, we will grow to care less and less for that exact distribution of material wealth, which, in our greed-nurtured senses, seems now so impossible to think upon carelessly. The man and woman of loftier intellects, in the present, think not so much of the riches to be gained by their efforts as of the good they can do for their fellow creatures. There is an innate spring of healthy action in every human being who has not been crushed and pinched by poverty and drudgery from before his birth, that impels him onward and upward. He cannot be idle, if he would; it is as natural for him to develop, expand, and use the powers within him when no repressed, as it is for the rose to bloom in the sunlight and fling its fragrance on the passing breeze."
-Lucy Parsons.

On racism within the modern anarchist movement:
"We now call ourselves Anarchists. We say we want the end of all chains and the extermination of all oppression. Yet, in the Anarchist "movement", black folk and other folks of color are still in the senzala. We are still having to disguise ourselves, call whitey "Massa" and chain ourselves to the wall. No, don't talk about racism unless it is in that very abstract sense of we-are-all-equal-let's-sing-kumbayas-and-pretend-the-color-of-our-skin-does-not-matter" racism. While there might be nobody yelling "die, nigger, die!", you can hear a very clear “shut the fuck up, nigger, just shut the fuck up."
-Pedro Riberio.