© Written and Edited - May 25th, 2017 - 5:15 pm to 6:05 pm
Edited - June 14th, 2017 - 5:02 pm to 5:24 pm
You Can't Hang Out There Anymore
One of my jobs was working for Voices for Working Families in Durham, NC. It's a non-partisan, non-profit voting advocacy organization.
We talked to people about the importance of voting, provided voter education, such as voter rights, and registered eligible Voters.
My memory serves that the staff worked 1 of 2 shifts. Morning and afternoon or afternoon and evening. I think I started out with a later shift and ended up changing it at one point. I found myself bonding with co-workers as we drove to various communities to support Voters, their homes and in communities.
I became close to David and didn't want to leave him but had to when I changed shifts. One day, I heard this loud, "hey Alex it's good to see you" as a warm greeting. Though I don't remember the exact words. I remember the volume and spirit. And he said it as he walked through the door and a staff member was on the phone. So I immediately told him I appreciate your spirit, but she's on the phone as I whispered and pointed to the co-worker on the phone.
Sometimes, I found myself noticing co-workers hanging out on the sidewalk on Main Street just below the office.
I saw people hanging out in community as they were transitioning between shifts. And I saw and felt a level of spirit and energy. It might have been loud for my sensibilities but just a different way to be. And it's not for me to judge or impose my way of being over anyone else.
One day, the executive director, Patrick Hannah gathered staff around because he needed to talk with us. "You can't hang out downstairs and outside anymore" Patrick said. "What do you mean?", a staff member asked. Patrick told us that that's what he was told. A co worker asked, "who said that we can't hang out there anymore?" Patrick said I don't know. Another co-worker asked why or what reason did they give? Patrick said they didn't say. I don't know.
That experience gave me different perspectives. I saw my co worker's perspective that they were hanging out, being in community, finishing a shift or getting ready to start one.
And I could also see another perspective. Sometimes, I see a group of people that I don't know. The dominant culture creates conditions of confusion and fear of the "other" And I think that there's a place of dominance and privilege which people use as putting other people in a place.
I think that all feelings and perceptions are valid. But, continuing the status quo hurts everyone.
A constructive approach is to use our journeys in the context of the collective.
I understand that I'm an individual but act in the context of a culture. So, when things don't feel right, I step back and ask myself what's going on? I do a mental audit. I reflect on my thinking, experiences, and feelings.
So, in this situation, I realized that I was at the intersection of different experiences and perspectives. And I like that because it offers places to learn and grow and hopefully reclaim more of my humanity as I reflect on it.