Street roots
14
Aug. 19, 2011
Understanding the question ‘why’ without an answer at all
ears ago, an organizer came to me.
He told me he would like to send me
to Western States Center, Community
Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI). CSTI is
where they train you on different strategies
of organizing.
Michael Woo, the organizer that was
working with Labor, Employment, and Law,
said he would pay for
everything, the
workshops, the
meals, the
transportation. “I
Leo Rhodes
know you’ll benefit
from this.” ,
I told him I was too
busy. I was fighting for indoor shelters, tent
cities, Chief Seattle Club, health care for
the homeless, homeless people’s rights, and
the 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, ju st
to name a few.
A month later, he came back with the
same proposal. I was tired and needed a
break so I went. I signed up for Fundraising
and Power Analysis.
When I got to Reed College where they
have the workshops, the energy, the
enthusiasm was like, “wôw!” It was what I
needed.
The workshops were g re a t I got on their
e-mail list. I’ve been supporting CSTI and
talking to other people about my
experiences. I always wanted to go back but
was too busy.
This year I went with the sponsorship of
Street Roots, and on July 2 9 ,1 signed in, got
my package, then waited for my fir-st
workshop. I also m et a few people from
Sisters of the Road.
My first workshop was called “Flash
Mobs, Handcuffs, and Successful
Campaigns: Direct Action and Civil
Disobedience.” In there, we were shown a
timeline of civil disobedience and a video of
a flash mob arid discussed it, then spent
time on organizing. We were even given
different scenarios and asked, “How would
we get organized and what would we do?”
The best part for me was one of the
organizers who had participated in the
WTO demonstrations in Seattle. At one
point she said, “We had this crazy idea ...” I
could relaté. I mean, every campaign I’ve
been on, people said, “It was crazy/ To me,
those people aren’t thinking outside the
box.
The next day, the workshop was called
S
wnoixtixi
Leo Rhodes is a street
activist and homeless
advocate. He is also a
vendor with Street Roots
and a regular conributer to
the newspaper.
¿3
“Building Power and Alliances for the
Common Good.” This was an unusual
workshop. The organizer said from the
beginning, “if you want hand-outs, binders,
notebooks, I’m not about th a t” He said this
several times. This workshop was building
relationships, using your experiences in life
and so on. I and several others thought it
was g reat I even told him it was a breath of
fresh air.
That evening, there was a banquet. They
informed us they Were going to change
their name. Here are some of the choices:
Organizing Movements from the Ground
(OMG). Training for Activists & Community
Organizers (TACO). Grassroots Organizing
& Activism Training (GOAT). Strategic
Organizing Learning in Detail Around Really
Important Themes Y’all (SOLIDARITY).
What they settled on was Activists
Mobilizing for Power (AMP).
The last workshop on the next day was
called “Visions and Verse: Tapping into the
Creative for Engagement and
Em powerment” Michael “Mic” Crenshaw
was giving this workshop. First he told us a'
little about himself, then sang one of his
songs. Then he showed us some quotes by
Assata Shakur, and suggested a movie “The
Murder of Fred Hampton,” and a book by
George Jackson, “Blood in My Eye.” Then
he asked u sto get into three groups, When
we did, he said, “Iw an t you to write a
poem. The topic is ‘Why?’”
I didn’t get it. So I asked, “Hey Mic, why,
what? What do you mean?”
He explained, “Why this, why that...” and
went on telling me different “whys.” Then'
he said, “But I don’t want it to be specific.
Just why?”
OK, I was still confused.
Colin Kiley rose to the lead and said,
“OK, write down the three worst comments
people say to you.” Then we all (about eight
of us) went from there. When we finished
our comments, Nicole Sangsuree helped
Colin organize the comments. I felt my
coinments didn’t belong. But Nicole
reassured me it did. In the presentation
p a ît! was supposed to go up. But I got cold
feet and didn’t. The presentation went well.
I’d like to thank the contributors of this
présentation: Patrice Mays, Ani Lineback,
Ikaika Regdor, Colin Kiley, Nicole
Sangsuree, Sarah Morrigan, Maria Mendèz.
I also think this shows the diversity that is
AMP. To the right is what wé presented
WHY?
Why are you so aggressive?
Why don’t you just get a job?
Why help, why bother?
Why don’t you know how to speak Thai?
Why are you so straight-acting?
Why don’t you have a family yet?
WHY CAN’T YOU JUST BE LIKE US?
Are you legal?
Why do I get so jealous of white women
who love black men?
Why can’t you get over it?,
What are you? ; \
Are you Mexican? |
Are you Native American?
Are you Asian?
Are you Black or White?
WHY CAN’T YOU JUST BE LIKE US?
Do you speak ooga-booga talk?
Why help those freaks?
Are you happy being that fat?
Do you like being homeless?
What makes you think you know better than I do?
Are you a man or a woman?
Why are you so into your culture?
Why don’t you practice your culture?
Why aren’t you.all the same?
WHY CAN’T YOU JUST BE LIKE US?
STOP! But wait, I have some questions for you.
Why do I have to fit your stereotype?
Why can’t ! just be in charge?
Why do you-try to run my life?—-
How is it that you have “straight sex?”
Why can’t you accept who I am?
Why do I have to struggle for my rights
when you just get to have them?
Why are you worrying about my life instead of yourown?
How come I don’t get to vote on your marriage?
WHY DO I HAVE TO BE LIKE YOU?
“WHY?”
To A True Friend
By Jeff Me
Thank you for being who you are.
Thank you for always helping me o u t
Thank you for keeping me out of the weather.
Thank you for giving me work
when you had extra.
Thank you for listening to me
when I ’ve had problems.
Thank you for being so positive toward me.
Thank you for being the best friend
a person could ask for.
I’m very thankful for having you as
my best friend, and you are.
You are the most thoughtful and
giving friend anybody could ask for.
Vance Strong, you’re my best bud, I
truly mean th a t
Thank you for everything that
you’ve done for me.
Your friend,
Jeff Me
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