Can't Let You Go, Even If I Die

Okay. Now I'm in love.

Ruth Wilson Gilmore

When the capacities resulting from purposeful action are combined toward ends greater than mission statements or other provisional limits, powerful alignments begin to shake the ground. In other words, movement happens.

-- Ruth Wilson Gilmore, Golden Gulag

I am so proud of myself for finally finishing the book. I had bought this (and blogged about it) MONTHS ago, but only this week had the time to dedicate to complete it. Totally worth it. I now have a better understanding of the rise of prisons in California, and the movements to stop the "cages" and dehumanization of poor people of color.

I also just bought Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals so that was good incentive to get through this one before starting that one.

Started to look for job possibilities in the nonprofit sector yesterday, and although there are definitely options in LA, trying to find the right fit is the key. When it comes down to it, of course I'm not going to be picky, but something part-time will do, since summertime will be dedicated to LSATs and applications.

Reading GG made me recall though, that these folks organize because they have to. These are issues and happenings that directly affect them and their communities - it's action out of necessity. Gilmore sums it up perfectly:

Most of those fighting in the trenches have little time for activism motivated solely by abstract political or ethical rhetoric. Rather, they are fighting for their lives, their families, and their communities. The remedy for cumulative negative impacts must be bigger and more compelling than a simple technocratic fix. A principled sense of mortal urgency gets grassroots activists to go to meetings, makes them board buses, and inspires hope.

So who am I, with my privileged, activist self? What do I have to fight for in my own community? To be honest, I can't think of much. My issues with the Japanese American community stem from a lack of connection in general; for a long time I've felt like I've had trouble relating, whether it's because of generational or life experiential differences.

Instead I've found my calling with other communities in need of other types of help, but it can often be difficult to truly be a part of those efforts because I am not directly affected by some of the grievances being addressed.

In any case, there will always be a million questions about the world, society, and the world of grassroots activism and organizing. Speaking of my shero, I guess it really will be nice to be in LA and talk to those who give me the inspiration to continue.

Bittersweet though, leaving Hawaii, and I can't believe how much time has passed. But I know what needs to be done, and I have to admit, am excited for the possibilities of the next chapter the year will bring.

On to Alinsky!

Helpful.

"As an organizer I start from where the world is, as it as, not as I would like it to be. That we accept the world as it is does not in any sense weaken our desire to change it into what we believe it should be--it is necessary to begin where the world is if we are going to change it to what we think it should be. That means working in the system." Alinsky, Saul D. Rules for Radicals

Thanks to Alex for the reads. Quote from here

whoa whoa whoa, say what?

Armed with my secret weapon to go into law school and kick ass, or so I thought.

Reading something that will remain unnamed, and I have to admit, I'm not even in law school and I'm already caught up in the need for prestige, for high pay, for status.

All of the things that my personal politics have been resisting for years now.

It's a bad idea to tell everyone you want to go to law school. Right now it's more like, "I've thought about it, but I haven't decided yet." But of course the ones who want to hear it as a final decision (mom and dad and andy) will tell everyone you're law school bound and they can't wait until you've become a prestigious lawyer at a great law firm.

Whatever that means.

All of my just and socially conscious reasons for wanting to entering the field of Law have just been stomped on. Directly and explicitly, by this source.

And okay, I won't and shouldn't take it THAT seriously, because there are great attorneys out there doing great work. If I do well in law school, then sure, I'll have options, but maybe that won't be as necessary because the law school student demand for entering Public Interest Law is so low. To quote the book, "This usually involves working for a non-profit corporation, at relatively low pay. In general, it doesn't get much respect...because of the low pay. Usually, those who graduated at the top of the class don't bother to apply for such jobs."

That, and on the part about the types of law to enter, of course PIL has the shortest description at a whopping 1/5 of a page paragraph. What a stressful read.

I understand my impending dilemma a little more clearly now. So what to do?

Hell if I know.

Frankly, my confidence is a little shaken, in entering law school, but at the same time, maybe having read this secret weapon is exactly what I need to be able to succeed where necessary.

Deep down, I'm conflicted, sure, but I think I really need to do this. For myself now, first and foremost.

Let's just hope the year and a half or so I have before law school presumably starts will be just what I need to survive - academically, socially, mentally, politically, and spiritually.

I have a headache and now it is definitely time for bed. (Oh yeah, and happy new year to you, bloggy blog)