Activism
I began my life
as a writer six years ago. There has been a marked evolution in me as a person,
as a woman, as a writer, and as an artist. In looking back at my written work,
I have recently discovered that I have evolved into an activist as well.
I have written
on this blog about many issues I am passionate about. When something happens in
the world that is unfair and unjust, I feel the need to write about it. I often
think to myself, "I have to talk about this. I HAVE to talk about this.
I cannot stay silent on this issue." It is a need within me unlike any other. I cannot have peace until I write my thoughts down and share my views on a particular issue. I feel I have a duty, a responsibility, to write.
I cannot stay silent on this issue." It is a need within me unlike any other. I cannot have peace until I write my thoughts down and share my views on a particular issue. I feel I have a duty, a responsibility, to write.
When I saw an
unjust law beginning in my state, I wrote about it.
When tragedy struck the nation,
I felt compelled to speak.
When the United
States of America chose a racist demagogue to be the next President, I could not stay silent.
I am reminded of
countless examples in music, including Billie Holiday singing “Strange Fruit,” Bob
Dylan singing “Blowing in the Wind,” Woody Guthrie singing “Pastures of
Plenty”, Nina Simone singing “Mississippi Goddam.”
There are
countless examples in art, from the graffiti of Banksy to the paintings of Francisco Goya, the photography of Charles Moore to the art of Norman Rockwell.
http://www.tampabay.com/resources/images/dti/rendered/2015/04/0435586642_15075624_8col.jpg
I believe it is
crucial for artists to create their art, to use their art as a means of
self-expression, to inform the public at large about your point of view, to
educate people about a certain issue, or to bring to light a human rights issue
that is going on in the world. It is incumbent upon us as artists be activists, to use our
artistic gifts to this greater good. In fact, there was an article about this last week in
the Huffington Post ….
“In a world where the most recognizable
piece of contemporary art is a musical about the sheer influence of immigrants
in the formative years of this country ― a musical that’s revolutionized the
way we view theater, the way we interact with political art and the way we
perceive our nation’s past ― I hope every creative person is heeding the advice
Morrison wrote after the reelection of George W. Bush. ‘This is precisely the
time when artists go to work,’ she declared. ‘There is no time for despair, no
place for self-pity, no need for silence, no room for fear. We speak, we write,
we do language. That is how civilizations heal.’”- Lilly Workneh, editor of HuffPost’s Black
Voices, quoting author Toni Morrison, referring to the musical “Hamilton”
Yet, speaking
out about social injustice is not something that is reserved for artists alone.
Everyone must stand for what is right, be free to voice their opinions, and be
willing to stand up for the rights of others.
It is a
turbulent time in the United States. There have been over 300 hate crimes in
the last week across the United States. The Southern Poverty Law Center has
been documenting all of the incidents.
In times of
confusion and unrest, it can be hard to stand for what is right. There can be a
fine line between speaking your mind, and standing up for what is right. Of
course, there are also risks to personal safety to consider. I would never
advise that anyone risk their personal safety in any way. Yet, there are ways
to help one another.
There is
currently a movement in the United States that began in Great Britain, involving
common, everyday household item-safety pins. After England held a vote to leave
the European Union, referred to as the “Brexit vote”, many in England disagreed
with the passing of the law. They saw it as an anti-immigration law, which included that England would not be held to the same refugee and immigrant regulations as the rest of the
European Union. This began a rash of anti-immigrant rhetoric and harassment throughout the
country.
As a form of
solidarity and silent protest, people in England began to wear safety pins on
their shirts. For anyone wearing the safety pin, it meant that they disagreed
with the law, and stood with immigrants and refugees in solidarity. It also meant that they
would be willing to help an immigrant or refugee if they needed help.
Inspired by the
safety pin protest in England, Americans have begun to wear safety pins on their shirts. Wearing
the safety pin symbolically stands as a silent-but visible-protest to the
President-Elect and his racist views. It also means that the person wearing the
pin is willing to help the marginalized in the U.S.-Muslims, Mexicans,
Immigrants, the LGBTQ community, women that need resources for their
reproductive health, the physically handicapped, and everyone else that was
targeted in the last 18 months of the President-Elect’s political campaign.
Wearing the
safety pin on your shirt is a sign of solidarity with the marginalized.
However, it is also a call to action. If you wear safety pins on your shirt,
you must be willing to act.
“It is a sign that you
are a safe person. A marginalized person who is being harassed will look to you
to help keep them safe. By wearing the safety pin you make a public pledge to
be a walking, talking safe space for the marginalized. All of the marginalized.
You don’t get to pick and choose. You can’t protect GSM people but ignore the
Muslim woman who needs help. You can’t stand for Black people who are dealing
with racial slurs but ignore the disabled person who is dealing with a physical
attack.”
- Isobel Debrujah
If you witness
someone being harassed, there are steps you can take to help. There is a wonderful
video that shows what to do if you witness harassment:
*Do not be a bystander
*Film it and report it
*Stick around for the victim
*Tackle the culture of racism
*Actively fight racism
If you wear a
safety pin in solidarity, you must also be willing to act to help any
marginalized person at any time. You must be willing to do any of the five
steps above, as long as it is safe to do so.
It may be
difficult for someone to imagine how a person wearing a sewing accessory on their shirt will have any
impact on the world. But put yourself in another person’s shoes for a moment.
What if you were a marginalized person, a person who needed help, and you saw
the safety pin as a beacon of hope?
“Can you imagine, though, being a person
living in rural America who feels afraid because of what half our country has
just proven it is okay with– misogyny, racism, bigotry, hate crimes, rape
culture, and homophobia? For just a
moment, even if you think it’s hogwash, put yourselves in the shoes of someone
who is afraid right now because of who was just elected President and because
of all the open hate that is beginning to be reported day after day…
Do
you know how much it would mean to the immigrant in Kansas busing your table,
or a pregnant teen in North Carolina unsure of what to do, or the 25 black
students in your 90% white school or your Muslim neighbor in Missouri to, in a
quiet way identify you as a friend, as someone with compassion? How about the woman who has to walk home
alone at night knowing that our nation’s leader condones & participates in
sexual assault? Maybe your safety pin
lets her know she can walk on your side of the street.”-Bethany Joy Lenz
I want to share a picture I took yesterday. It is me, wearing my safety pins. I have already had
many positive comments about them.
"Safety Pin Solidarity" by Esperanza Habla
If someone does
not know about the safety pins, having one on my blouse will not offend anyone. Yet for those who know what it means, I hope they see it and reach out to me. I pray I can be of help to someone that truly needs it.
I did not begin
my career as a writer to become an activist. However, it is evident that I have
become one. I pray we all be respectful of one another. I pray we learn that it
is alright to have opposing points of view. I pray we can learn to respectfully
disagree. I pray that the violence ends today. I pray that, in one way or
another, we all begin to practice our own activism, for the greater good.
"Activism is my rent for living on the planet"-Alice Walker
© Esperanza
Habla All Rights Reserved
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