Touching the Sky: History, Herstory, Yourstory

Radical simply means ‘grasping things at the root.'” -Angela Davis

My mom loves to read. She can read a book a day easily. I have fond memories of going to the bookstore as a young child with my mom. She would spend her time in the mystery section and I would wander around and look at various books. I was a very spoiled child when it came to books. These trips to the bookstore would inevitably end with both of us going to the counter with stacks of books. My mom really didn’t filter what I added to my stack. I would pick lots of poetry books. I really loved poetry. I would also pick books that seemed interesting but were a bit over my head. I’d bring home Kafka, Camus, Orwell… I was too young to fully grasp the concepts of the books but I enjoyed reading them– I liked the way they were written.

On one of our trips I came across a book about Angela Davis. I liked the cover and I trotted over to my mom to ask her who she was. My mom’s response surprised me. She told me she was just some radical Black Panther and dismissed her. This intrigued and scared me! A Black Panther, what’s a Black Panther? I added her to my stack. I felt like I was doing something naughty but I couldn’t resist. Again, she didn’t limit my choices and I got to bring Angela home with me. Angela sat on my shelf for a couple of days. I would occasionally pick her up and flip through the pages but not read it. For some reason the word “radical” and how my mom said it, frightened me. After awhile, I braved it and started reading. As I read, I was bewildered. Why did my mom think this way? Angela Davis was a progressive thinker, a feminist, and a woman that fought for social justice and equality– aspects that were right up my mom’s alley!

It wasn’t until I was an adult that I understood her reaction. The controversy around Angela Davis started at UCLA, the institution my father attended. This all started to make sense. During that time, Angela was also being pinpointed by the state government as being a negative, disruptive, influence. And she was (falsely) accused of murder due to her affiliation with the Black Panther movement (a movement that was more proactive rather than reactive, which ticked the US government off…a lot. A movement Angela Davis later separated from due to its sexists constructs). So the perspective of my mom was coming from her experience through UCLA and the media of the time. It was coming from her real life experience during that time.

So what’s the point of me sharing this with you? Well, for a few reasons… Knowledge is power. Knowledge is also subjective.

I was given a gift by my mother in many ways the day I picked up Angela’s book. First, she gave me the ability to make my own choice as to how I wanted to build my knowledge and perspective by giving me the chance to get the book about Angela Davis. Second, although her response about the book was dismissive, it helped me as a reader and critical thinker to choose to be courageous enough to make my own decision and develop my own opinion on Angela Davis. Third, it gave me the knowledge that we have to develop our thoughts through our own experiences and not those of others. We have to realize that everyone views the past in their own subjective way with their life experiences contributing to their own perception of the past.

Knowledge is power. Don’t limit your power. You can respect someone’s opinion but don’t let that opinion be your filter.

Hello! My name is Courtney. I’m a graphic/web designer. I believe what we put out in the world will change the world for our future generations– so what I do, how I spend my money, and who I support are not choices to make without thought. I love drawing and painting and spending time with Haley, my beautiful Bouvier des Flandres, George and Felix, my two amazingly funny American short hairs, and Tim, my wonderfully loving and supportive partner in life. I drink copious amounts of coffee and tea and never go a day without a sweet, nor do I apologize for it! If you ask my opinion, I’ll give it to you with love and honesty. I like to smile more than frown. I like to laugh more than cry. And I can’t stand whiners!

Getting Over the Hump: Disappointments

Over the past week, I would have liked to say something profoundly amazing or life changing happened to me. It would be nice but not true. Instead, all this past week has done is leave a bad taste in my mouth.

My life has been essentially unchanged. I still wake up in my nice house every morning. I eat breakfast with my wonderful husband, go to work, come home to eat, relax, and start all over again. My life seems normal, but it’s mine. I’m always looking for positive changes and complaining about its shortcomings, but I do love my life.

Unfortunately, there are many, many of those in Boston that have recently had their lives altered forever without ever wanting the change. All because two people decided to support the wrong cause in the very worst way possible. Maybe we’ll never know the full story or reason behind the attack on the Boston Marathon. I’m honestly not sure the reason will even matter. Halfway across the country, with absolutely no ties to the participants and bystanders of the Boston Marathon, I still find myself questioning, saddened, and angry.

All across the world, acts of violence erupt every day. Physical, mental, or otherwise. Many speculate as to why these incidents occur and what can cause an individual, so seemingly gentle, to transform into a monster. I had never made it a secret that I am against violence of all kinds. I am also not ignorant. I acknowledge that it still happens, but I cannot accept it. Some say violence is embedded in the fabric of human nature. That we all have the ability to become the same as those we fear. I refuse to have such little faith in the human race.

I know I’m one person. I KNOW I cannot alone stop injustices and acts of terror. I know that the acts of one do not mirror the intentions or feelings of many. I know that the truly great causes of the world have not changed history by violent acts. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hurt anyone with the words of truth he spoke, but those words did ring in everybody’s ears. They did then, and they still do today. I honor those who reach the masses with their words and actions of peace, not weapons. Perhaps we should make it a goal that peace get more air time than war. Perhaps we should publicize ways to aid victims of attacks in other countries instead of showing the dead bodies of the instigators of war.

America was once thought of as a shiny country of peace and opportunity. Now, I realize that the epidemic of violence has left our country stained with victims, blood, and disappointment.

Hello all! My name is Sara. I support my writing/music making addiction by working as an IT technician. I love exclamation marks! And smiley faces  I am blessed to have been raised by an incredibly strong woman. I of course, used the strong will my momma gave me to wrangle my supportive, talented husband into my musical exploits. I have worked for years to be ahead of the game early in my life and am now focusing on making up for all the times I had not allowed myself to let loose and mohawk my hair.

The Everyday Fabulous Woman: Look Back, Move Forward

I was working with a student last week on the song “Hopelessly Devoted To You” from Grease. We were discussing many of the lyrics, but in particular the verse, “I know I’m just a fool who’s willin’, to sit around and wait for you. But baby can’t you see there’s nothing else for me to do. I’m hopelessly devoted to you.” We discussed how in that time period, it was a perfectly normal thing for a woman to wait for her man because that was taught to her as the only thing she needed. Could you imagine what would happen if this musical were written modern day? That it would be ok for a woman to completely change herself to be something she’s not just to be with her high school boyfriend? There would be an outrage!!!

My thoughts later drifted to my grandma who grew up in the 50s. She was totally this person and most of these thoughts have stayed with her. To her it is completely acceptable and honorable to change yourself for your man. That getting married and keeping your husband happy is the most important thing you can do. I told her once that I was working on losing some weight (after my first pregnancy). Her response was, “Why? You’ve already got your husband.” As if losing weight and being fit was only useful in the means of obtaining your husband. I’m so glad most women aren’t of this mindset anymore.

Every so often I see these rants on social media about “in the old days….” How in this decade or that decade our government did such and such and that’s how we should do it now. Why? Because it worked 60 years ago? Guess what….it’s not 1960 or 1970 or 1980. Things are changing and we have to progress.

Sometimes I look at myself and think about things I used to do or things I used to say. I think about how awesome my life used to be and start thinking that I should go back to they way I used to be. As if you can magically become the person you were 10 years ago with no husband and no kids. That just doesn’t work. I’m not that person. I’ve changed, the world has changed, life had changed. Looking backwards is great, moving backwards is not the answer.

Hello, my name is Cindy, and I am a singer (All together now: “Hi Cindy”). I own my own business as a private voice instructor to hundreds of students all over the world. As the wife of a musician, mother of two adorable children, and motivator/inspirer/teacher of singers, I am always pursuing the goal of becoming SuperWoman. If I’m not singing or cleaning up after the many loves of my life, you can find me hiding in my shoe closet with a bottle of red wine and a box of chocolates.