The Boiled Down Juice

In the next few weeks, people all around the Yell County, Arkansas area will be decorating family graves. For our family Saturday the 9th is Decoration Day at Brearley, Cottontown, and Chickelah Cemeteries. The following week is Decoration Day at Harkey’s Valley cemetery. Sandwiched in between all these Decoration Days is Mother’s Day, a time when many mothers wear corsages to honor their own mothers—a red one if your mother is still living, a white one if your mother has passed away.My family always kept these traditions alive, and I have always tried to be a somewhat active participant in the tradition bearing. But this year especially I find myself very interested in these traditions and what they mean to the community as a whole and to each individual who takes part. I am curious what others know about these holidays and how they are celebrated.
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Archie Green was a public folklorist unafraid to combine folklore and activism. He was instrumental in lobbying congress to pass the 1976 Folklife Preservation Act, which created the Folklife Center at the Library of Congress wherein countless stories and songs of America’s every day working people are preserved. But he did much more than simply document living traditions for the mere sake of preservation. He saw folklore as a living art, capable of articulating and addressing problems and solutions in our everyday lives. In documenting laborlore, (a term he coined for the stories and songs of working Americans), he actively fought alongside working people to improve working conditions.
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Myles Horton is one of my biggest heroes. The founder of the Highlander Folk School, now called the Highlander Research and Education Center, Myles Horton believed in people’s power to change their lives and communities for the better. A true activist and constant learner, Horton put this belief into action when he created Highlander in rural Tennessee. I can’t do justice to Highlander’s work in this short post, so if you are unfamiliar with their work I urge you to spend some time on their webpage and read about both their history and current work. Highlander was instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement, farm workers’ movements, and organizing for miners in Appalachia.
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Today I came across an organization called The Rural Assembly and I am so excited about their work and I think you will be too. The Rural Assembly is a part of the Center for Rural Strategies, an amazing organization whose fingers are all over most of the rural sustainable movements going on these days.

The Rural Assembly

According to their webpage, “The National Rural Assembly is a movement of people and organizations devoted to building a stronger, more vibrant rural America.” At the core of their work is the Rural Compact: “The National Rural Assembly encourages individuals and organizations to endorse the Rural Compact, a basic statement of principles for building a stronger rural America that improves opportunity for all of us.”
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Although certainly not all folklorists would argue this is an issue that pertains to our work, I feel denying access to journalists and human rights workers is a human rights violation that pertains to the larger study of folklife on many levels. As folklorists we understand the inherent importance in the documentation of culture. All people, most certainly those experiencing war, have a right to have their voices heard and tell of their experiences *in their own words* to the larger world community. To not allow journalists to cover combat is foremost a human rights issue that is illegal. It also robs civilians of their right to tell their story and call for justice. It is essentially inhumane and unjust to deny journalistic entry. If you feel the same, please help spread the word and express your feelings about lack of journalistic presence in Gaza.

See original statement post on the Human Rights Watch webpage here.
Or visit Human Rights Watch.org

Israel: Allow Media and Rights Monitors Access to Gaza
(Jerusalem, January 5, 2009) – Israel should immediately allow journalists and human rights monitors access to Gaza, Human Rights Watch said today. Their presence can discourage abuse by warring parties and help save lives.
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A recent story on Democracy Now! features Bernice Johnson Reagon, SNCC Freedom Singer member and founder of the group Sweet Honey in the Rock, discussing Odetta and her impact on the Civil Rights Movement and folk, blues and and roots music. Broadcast also features Odetta in her own words.

To listen go here.

I found out about this online petition, authored by Quincy Jones, on the Public Folklore Listserve.
More information can be found at the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Government and Policy Watch section of their webpage here.

I am curious, whose memory do you carry in your life? Whose life and attributes do you think about when you contemplate the folklorist, activist, cultural worker type person you want to be?

Let me explain why I am so curious about this.

Due to the illness and recent loss of my dear and wonderful mother, it’s been over two months since I have really posted any new writing to this blog. Since my mother’s death over a month ago I continue to spend a lot of time thinking about who she was and the legacy of perseverance, hope, courage and love she left for all of those who knew her. My mother was a woman who gave everything to what she believed in, namely that people are sacred and deserving of love and hope. I feel so honored I was able to care for her and spend the last few months of her life listening to and learning from her. As I try to figure out how to move forward, I wonder how I can incorporate her memory and spirit into my daily life.
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Here are two upcoming opportunities for those interested in human rights education and organizing.

New Tactics in Human Rights Education online discussion to be held Nov 19th- 25th (only one day left)

New Tactics in Human Rights Education

And Decemeber 5th-7th Highlander will be hosting a workshop on popular education and organizing as part of their Social Change Workshop series. There is limited space still available. Highlander is located in New Market, TN, near Knoxville:

Popular Education and Organizing Workshop

I found out about this from a fellow folklorist on a folklore list serve. I thought many would find it informative and interesting. This is not a partisan statement.

NASW Advocacy