[COMM-ORG] morning in the United States

Fri Nov 14 13:24:27 CST 2008

[ed:  thanks to Donna for the contribution.]

From: Donna Hardina <donna_hardina at csufresno.edu>

There is absolutely no reason for Melinda to be embarrassed about 
suggesting we need to listen to stories told by African American 
campaign volunteers.

My experience with a local Obama campaign in a very conservative 
community was that some volunteers simply weren't treated very well - 
although classism seemed to be more pervasive than racism. The marketing 
approach - selling Obama "products" was particularly problematic - while 
most people could afford a bumper sticker or button - some folks could 
not and often left the campaign office feeling badly.

Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
> --------
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>  
> [ed:  Melinda provides a correction for her post.]
>
> From: "M Chateau" <mchateau at onebox.com>
>
>
> Actually I'm a bit embarrassed about the source for my story. I heard these
> stories one morning at breakfast, while reading the paper and only
> half-listening to my roommate, who I thought was talking about her family
> down in Nashville (who were also engaged in the campaign). Turns out she was
> reading to me from the Washington Post. 
>
> I'd already posted my comment to the list when I realized my mistake, so
> here's the correct cite for the article: "For Obama Volunteer, A Solitary
> Sense of History
> Md. Mother Sometimes Feels Like Outsider In the Youthful, 'Post-Racial'
> Campaign,"
> Krissah Williams Thompson, Washington Post Thursday, October 30, 2008; Page
> A01
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/29/AR2008102904
> 554.html
> (it won't be available for free much longer, so I suggest you get it in the
> next day or less.)
>
> Sorry if this caused anyone any confusion.
>
> Melinda Chateauvert
> African American Studies
> 2169 Lefrak
> University of Maryland
> College Park, MD 20742
> http://www.bsos.umd.edu/aasp/chateauvert
> 301-405-1161
> Please note I am on leave AY 2008-09
>
>
>
>
>
> Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
>   
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>>  
>> [ed:  thanks to Melinda for the post.]
>>
>>  From: Melinda Chateauvert <mchateau at onebox.com>
>>
>> I would also suggest that there be a special effort made to collect stories
>> from older African Americans who became involved in voter registration and
>> GOTV efforts. From the anecdotes I've heard, the "culture clash" between
>> them and younger (white) campaign workers created its own sets of conflicts
>> within the campaign. Whether it was showing up on Sunday and being made fun
>> of for wearing church clothes, to the kinds of junk food in the office, my
>> informants (okay my extended family/in-laws) were offended by lack of
>> respect they were shown. While they continued to volunteer, they did not
>> come away with any belief that some "postracial" American society was in the
>> making.
>>
>> Melinda Chateauvert
>> African American Studies
>> 2169 Lefrak
>> University of Maryland
>> College Park, MD 20742
>> http://www.bsos.umd.edu/aasp/chateauvert
>> 301-405-1161
>> Please note I am on leave AY 2008-09
>>
>> Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
>>   
>>     
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>>>  
>>> [ed:  thanks to those who sent personal notes responding to me, which I 
>>> won't post here unless the senders request it. Please consider Betty's 
>>> idea in this message, which would be a great project.]
>>>
>>> From:
>>> "Betty G. Robinson" <bgrobinson at verizon.net>
>>>
>>>
>>> Hi Randy,
>>> Just a thought:  Could Comm-Org collect all the stories about Obama 
>>> campaign organizing in one place?  Even links to same?  I am thinking it 
>>> would be a valuable resource for folks around the country -- I plan to 
>>> do it for folks here but I am sure I don't have access to the universe 
>>> of stories.  How about folks sending links to things they have read or 
>>> felt showed the depth of the organizing?
>>>
>>> Betty
>>>
>>> Discussion list for COMM-ORG wrote:
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>>>     
>>>       
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>>>>  
>>>> Good morning COMM-ORG,
>>>>
>>>> It is a rare opportunity to bear witness to the power of community 
>>>> organizing.  Seldom in this country's history have we seen the craft 
>>>> reach the heights of its potential--the Civil Rights Movement, the 
>>>> passage of the Community Reinvestment Act and, maybe arguably, one or 
>>>> two other times.  But last night I witnessed, as an adult when I can 
>>>> truly appreciate it, the power of the people united through community 
>>>> organizing.  I, perhaps like many of you, are still in a bit of a 
>>>> shock.  Regardless of the extent to which we may or may not agree with 
>>>> President-elect Obama politically (from either side of the political 
>>>> spectrum), we must appreciate the historic election of someone whose own 
>>>> lifetime began under the disenfranchisement of African Americans.  Less 
>>>> than half a century ago Barack Obama would have had difficulty even 
>>>> trying to vote in the southern United States.  I am also the parent of a 
>>>> 16 year old multi-racial (including African American) daughter.  She 
>>>> could not bear the ambiguity of the early returns, and could not sleep 
>>>> once the result was decided.  I remain, this morning, overwhelmed by the 
>>>> momentousness of this election.
>>>>
>>>> As we dissect what happened, I hope we appreciate how the lessons of 
>>>> community organizing, which include fundraising, and its leadership by a 
>>>> 47 year old community organizer who perhaps finally figured out how to 
>>>> organize, brought about this historic result.  My congratulations and 
>>>> thanks go out to ACORN and all the other community organizers who put 
>>>> into play, in magnificent form, time-honored community organizing 
>>>> practices to register voters and organize against voter suppression.  It 
>>>> is a new morning in the United States and, for the moment, it belongs to 
>>>> community organizing.
>>>>
>>>> Randy Stoecker
>>>> moderator/editor, COMM-ORG
>>>> rstoecker at wisc.edu
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