[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzeezIsTZ_o[/youtube]
I’ve already linked to part of Bill Moyers’ interview with Grace Boggs. But the video expands on some of it, and emphasizes a couple of points that bear consistent repetition:1. We have to generate another way of living as we critique our current state of affairs. A cultural revolution is what is required.2. This cultural revolution will start locally as a way of PRACTICAL PROBLEM SOLVING.When I talk about a cultural revolution, I’m not necessarily suggesting we go back to the Ancients. Studying the writings of the Ancients (and here I’m going all the way back) may serve as a bridge…but it isn’t a destination. I’m suggesting that we think about the best practices of black urban life (in the case of those living in rustbelt cities like me…other cities require different models), and then figure out how to use those practices to develop a set of ethical standards, and a community-oriented approach to problem solving that is based first and foremost on work.On a related note, the PBS Program NOW will be dealing with Bob Moses and The Algebra Project. Please watch.
Projects, with definite goals, timeframes, and responsibilities – by bringing folks together with a specific aim outside of themselves – have the capacity to help folks transcend, overcome, eliminate, cleanse – the nafs (little devils) inside of themselves.
One of the essential things is to actually make the time to meet with folks (and none of that constipated parliamentary procedure garbage I’ve seen some folks knot themselves up with) but instead a more fluid gathering over the course of hours in a convivial social setting with coffee and donuts or snacks and red drink – a blackboard or two – to hash things out relative to projects and the group.
The presence of elders in these contexts is crucial because they can easily and deftly defuse lots of hot young heads and furnish that essential brer rabbit perspective that is many times lacking in individual thinking and individual thinking in the group setting (that parliamentary shyte).
Real mentoring can take place in these gatherings – and when they reach a certain level of regularity and maturity – a form of identity transparency and collective consciousness can emerge that is as close to religious experience as one is likely to encounter, but not just emotional and aimless ecstasy, rather, the transpersonal networking of psyches that is possible for us in the context of group Work.
Self-centered cultures narrow your viewpoint;
Lester,
This is a peace I wrote in response to your blog on Grace Lee. I’d be interested in hearing from you on it.
Also, thanks for keeping us posted on her recent events. Your latest posts have been very engaging.
K.
http://democracyandhiphop.blogspot.com/2007/07/working-class-is-not-paper-tiger.html
What does a cultural revolution look like? pt. 2 http://t.co/P1Vwztsg
Dr. you have introduced an excellent perspective with this post. Sadly, I believe that work is the very thing that is the dooming the notion of a cultural revolution as you have shared.(Jerry Rifkin illuminates this points in his book, End of Work.) Are you suggesting that the community needs to be more committed to developing more community businesses that funnel money back into the community or the need for more opportunities to just work…or both.
Much to wrestle with as I think through this piece…