Reflections on New Orleans

Reflections by Moira Brennan

I had the (amazed) sense that this insanely multifarious group was, in fact, being held together by some common, though as yet unnamed, goal. This was especially significant because there was little-to-no structure to the convening. That told me that the feeling of commonality certainly didn't come from any imposed (superficial) structure or idea. Nor did it come from some sense that I "belonged" with everyone there, because I found myself feeling alien and unwelcomed and unwelcoming plenty of the time. But as far as I'm concerned, this just comes with the territory. And DESPITE OUR DIFFERENCES, we were beginning to feel the contours of a real, organic, urgent consensus. As if we'd gone groping in the dark, bravely but blindly, hoping to find the common goal, and, in fact, were beginning to find it. That's HUGE. I have the feeling that what we are finding is bigger than the goal of any individual or organizations that participated, but that it includes all (or most of) those individual goals. That is profoundly encouraging and thrilling to me.

The fact is that activists, educators and artists have been laying the groundwork for this moment for decades. It's here now. The moment is here now. Because of President Bush's decisions, and the ideas of those who support him. Because of the war(s). Because we somehow have conceded to a way of life whose underlying principle is unfettered capitalism and this is unacceptable. And we all know it. It just won't work. Now is the moment for those artists/activists/educators who've been working quietly away on this for decades to step out and offer their resistance. It's a powerful, well-documented, well-tested, sound, genuine resistance and I believe in its effectiveness.

I was very moved by the spirit of those who were in New Orleans who have been doing this work for so long. They were not tired. They were not condescending. They were not blaming. They were leading in the most graceful, understated way I've ever seen. That meant a lot to me.

But, this wealth, this reserve, this powerful common goal has yet to be named. This is a problem, because it's hard to put your faith, time and energy into something unnamed and in some ways amorphous. It's not impossible to do, but it is hard. It requires a kind of trust that's not yet in place among this group. My participation in attempts to name it were frustrating. But not defeating.

Next step: Local convenings to precede another national meeting, relatively soon, within the next three months. I don't think it's time yet to name the goal of this group. I think that will and should come as the group begins to know and understand itself better. This need to get to know each other and to give that whatever time it takes conflicts with the feeling of urgency so many of us feel about making change happen now. But I think we must be careful not to demand that this group, whatever it is or will become, be the answer to that urgent feeling. I think we must try to come to the group with a sense of giving to it, not getting from it. And by giving to it, it will offer what it has to offer.

My personal goal is to get the Bush Administration out of office. It's where I want to spend all my public energy right now. How this fits into the convening is this: I offer this energy, this passionate public goal of mine, to the larger group, with the hope that my individual goal can be one part of this ever-developing whole. I don't need people to share my individual goal, but I feel the powerful potential of this group gathering and making room for ALL our individual goals and being able to draw off that common energy. I'm encouraged and relieved that a national momentum is building. One that intends to organize itself along the principle of inclusion. It feels like the thing to do is to offer our passion to it. To make it come about by contributing our passion to it. I think we'll be surprised by what that might unleash.

Moira Brennan is a freelance journalist and arts consultant.

Reflections by Andres Cruz

I do not know if I got what went for, because I was never clear on what I went for. However, I left with the impression and the belief that a challenge came out to all of us. I define that challenge as the capacity, and the obligation, we all have to transform ourselves toward a revolutionary promise. I describe the term revolutionary as the continuous search and commitment to impact and radically seek extraordinary change . This incredible experience calls us to de-slink ourselves of many privileges and embrace the common person, the forgotten and the ones that differ from us. This weekend pushed me to think that the most urgent commitment is to defend independence and the potential of our imagination and spirit.

I strongly believe that we are urged to develop a mechanism that will allow all of us to keep this energy — ideas, ideals, information of current projects, etc. — flowing to facilitate our communities to be the beneficiaries of so many efforts occurring at this moment.

I left with a Disco Ball in my head. A multi-color reflection of lights, forms, identities so diverse but at the same time still capable of projecting a commonality: light!

Let's impact our communities and countries with the infinite potential of so many influences, ideas, artistic expressions acting independently, but together! to achieve social change.

Andres Cruz is a grassroots organizer in Kentucky, doing community-based theater and popular education through the arts with immigrant and migrant workers, mostly Mexican or Latino/a, on the horse and tobacco farms.

What Happened in New Orleans? — Additional Responses

"What happened for me was wonderful & very useful! The networking was great, and to be in that space with others doing this work was eye opening as well as inspiring. I definitely got what I came for! To make new linkages to further the work being done around the world is one thing I plan on utilizing to the fullest. An affirmation I got was that people want to make a difference in our everyday opportunities to be change agents. The petition on the school condition was something that just blew me away, it's the little things that have a gigantic impact. Fredrick Douglass High is not alone in its stature, but we send BILLIONS to re-build Iraq while we watch or infrastructure crumble? I would like to see the voting piece really take shape. I'm not sure what my role will be, but I know I want to be in that number. Yes, I will be involved." — Lee Bell. Community organizer, Neighborhood Roundtable, Flint, Mich.

"I discovered that I am drawn to activity, artists, and interaction. I got the most out of the times that I was engaging in one-on-one conversations, creative activities and activities that made us move. I heard the word 'power' throughout the weekend and was challenged to think about where I derive my power. I got a sense of how artists use art in a political or socially conscious way, but got less of a sense how political activists, community organizers use the arts. This is something I think about and wonder about -- how arts and community work converge and where do I fit or want to be in the spectrum? The conference was not like a 100% easy fit for me. I struggled with feeling a bit outside because of my limited experience, not being affiliated with a group/organization, and not currently doing arts and organizing work ... but I loved the words of wisdom shared, that we sang together as a group, the spontaneous improvisation of 'what we are fighting for, against', poetry and performance, and the care and consideration given to the participants." — Rishauna Zumberg, artist, New York City

"It's been a week after the convergence and the energy and people from that weekend are still fresh on my mind... In the midst of so much national and global chaos, it's heartening to know how effective and vital the work of individual people — happening in communities all over the country — remains." — Sophia Skiles, THAW (Theaters Against War)

Original CAN/API publication: February 2004