Category: #5 Archiving the Present

Asians – and in particular Asian women – are generally excluded from the American political sphere due to both a cultural inclination to look inwardly to their so-called immigrant or ethnic enclaves and a silencing of – or sheer lack of – Asian voices in the US government. Yuri Kochiyama – an American woman born to Japanese immigrants – broke that mold by involving herself as an activist in her youth, most notably after she and her father were wrongly accused and detained in the wake of the Pearl Harbor attack. During her time in a Japanese internment camp detained with other Japanese Americans, she gained a sense of racial pride under the yoke of racial injustices. After starting a family and moving to New York City, she remained incredibly active and involved, advocating for integrated education for underprivileged, inner-city children and employment for black and Puerto Rican workers in NYC, and even going to prison for her role in protests. It wasn’t until 1963 when she met Malcolm X at a courthouse, however, when she fully involved herself with the Black Power and black nationalist movements in Harlem, quickly becoming a force of radical activism and leading efforts against wrongful incarceration of political prisoners and anti-US imperialism, among many other issues. She was a great woman, by many accounts, and even served as a bridge “between the Black and Asian movements and between East and West Coast activists,” and formed a unique iteration of contemporary color consciousness in the US. Despite her incredible body of work, her legacy is quite controversial, especially given her vocal support of individuals like Osama bin Laden, Che Guevara, Patrice Lumumba, and Fidel Castro.

I chose to do this archive because it represents the work and narrative of a very unique individual in a very unique context: an Asian American woman who was widely recognized and praised for her activism on both the black and Asian American liberation fronts. Despite her contentious legacy, Yuri Kochiyama was an incredible female activist who dismantled many stereotypes by being the face of a momentous radical, anti-imperial, anti-capitalist, black liberation movement.

I chose the first artifact because it first captures Kochiyama in her natural environment as an activist and a leader. The one photo does a lot to capture her essence: her facial expression, posture, and body language all work together to depict her tirelessness and fearlessness in fighting racial injustice and imperialism. This is also a significant photo considering the sheer lack of Asian American voices and faces in American history, especially on the civil rights front.

Yuri Kochiyama speaks at an anti-war demonstration in New York City’s Central Park around 1968 (Caption and photo provided by the Zinn Education Project)

I chose this second artifact – a video interview of Kochiyama speaking about meeting Malcolm X – because it represents a significant moment in her political career. Upon meeting Malcolm, they quickly formed a friendship and she thrust herself behind his movement for black liberation, a significant moment of color consciousness and alliance beyond color lines in the US. She would even be present at his assassination two years later, cradling his head.

Yuri Kochiyama describes the moment she met Malcolm X (Densho Encyclopedia)

The final artifact is an excerpt from many years later: a 2003 interview for the Objector: A Magazine of Conscience and Resistance in which Kochiyama defended Osama bin Laden, a move that surprised many and angered even more. Despite the fact that she was an incredibly vocal opponent of American imperialism, people were stunned by the idea that these “loathsome figures” could be admired or respected. She praised him for his self-awareness and his effectiveness in combating American empire at whatever the cost.

Yuri Kochiyama explains why she respects Osama bin Laden (Vox.com article)

In conclusion, I sought to utilize my online archive as one that captured Yuri Kochiyama’s initial activist efforts, then highlighted a significant shift in her political career and outlook through a chance encounter with Malcolm X, and finally ended with a quote that demonstrated how radical her ideologies were.

Sources:

(1) https://www.vox.com/2016/5/19/11713686/yuri-kochiyama

(2) https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/yuri-kochiyama-was-born/

(3) https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/kochiyama-yuri-1921/

(4) https://encyclopedia.densho.org/Yuri_Kochiyama/#cite_ref-ftnt_ref3_3-0

BAJI, or the Black Alliance for Just Immigration was founded in April of 2006 in response to the large mobilization around immigration bills that were proposed by the US Congress at the time. The organization serves to rally politically around Black immigrants who are disproportionately deported and abused by the United States’ Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, it is a continuation of the work of the Priority Africa Network, whose mission is to bring together Black people from all over the world into dialogue to discuss the issues that divide these communities in the United States. BAJI has locations in New York, Georgia, California and Arizona and each chapter organizes locally to combat immigration legislation in their respective communities. BAJI also created the Black Immigration Network, which seeks to bring together these chapters, but most importantly, a host of black social justice organizations around the topic of immigration. I think this organization is especially important to archive because it responds to the oft erased intersection of blackness and immigration, while also engaging black immigrants, refugees, and native born citizens in a larger call towards racial, social, and economic equality.

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Join @BAJItweet and @nonewjails_nyc to demand that the community board Vote NO on the Mayor's plan to expand the NYC jail system to build a jail in downtown Brooklyn. The City should use the $11 billion to invest in our communities that will make jails irrelevant in New York. pic.twitter.com/RchsKnh4fy

— BAJI (@BAJItweet) May 6, 2019

This is a tweet highlighting an event being sponsored by the Brooklyn, New York chapter of BAJI and the prison abolition organization, No New Jails. They are inviting their followers to attend a community board event to demand that the board do not support the Mayor’s plan to expand jails in downtown Brooklyn.

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BAJI joins the #CountMeIn 2020 Campaign and releases a video explaining why the question of citizenship being added to the census is another form of racism and immigrant control.

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This is a BAJI report on the state of Black female immigrants in the United States. BAJI has several reports like this, that aim to educate other organizations and their community on the facts of immigration in this country. This report uses simple graphics to make the information more accessible and appealing to the eye.

The archive is first the law of what can be said, the system that governs the appearance of statements as unique events. But the archive is also that which determines that all these things said do not accumulate endlessly in an amorphous mass, nor are they inscribed in an unbroken linearity, nor do they disappear at the mercy of chance external accidents; but they are grouped together in distinct figures, composed together in accordance with multiple relations, maintained or blurred in accordance with specific regularities; that which determines that they do not withdraw at the same pace in time, but shine, as it were, like stars, some that seem close to us shining brightly from far off, while others that are in fact close to us are already growing pale. —Michel Foucault

Given the prevalence of extreme amounts of data in the digitization and technology of our modern day and age, I attempt to be selective in order that our records of recent historical events don’t “accumulate endlessly in an amorphous mass”.  In this “archive of the present”, I selectively choose artifacts of three separate but related movements to highlight the radicalism of social activism in the decade of 2010.

Through the lens of the internet one might be awash with information so much so that it drowns out these radical black protest movements.  We may see unending coverage black celebrities, twitter feeds of our favorite media feeds, the first US black president, and an overarching image presenting black communities fully integrating themselves into the landscape of mainstream definitions of “success”. In this lens it might appear that any radical protest movements such as the 1960’s and 1970’s are a thing of the past.

I chose reform for higher education to suggest a continued radicalism about race, the effects of colonialism, and social concerns, up through the present day. These activists show that the racial concerns of the 2010’s go beyond celebrity, on-trend presumptions about success, and instead continues to address divisive and uncomfortable issues about race that remain matters of national and global importance. By highlighting activist acts and effects in the realm of higher education, I attempt to show 2010’s are still a decade of protest not so unlike other historical decades.

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Recently, dialogue concerning the prospect of prison reform has reached mainstream conciousness because of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Meek Mill, and Jay-Z who have used their hyper-visible platforms to bring attention to the problems of the U.S.’s criminal justice system. Yet, even before the idea of prison reform was made ‘sexy’ by the involvement of high-profile celebrities today, this issue has been the basis of many black activists’ platforms for decades, one of those activists being Michelle Alexander. Alexander formerly served as the director of the Racial Justice Project at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. The ACLU is a non-profit organization whose objective is to maintain the civil rights of Americans, specifically those rights that pertain to what is outlined by the Constitution and the United States law. The group is multi-functioning as it operates not only as an advocacy group, but also as a law firm and as a charity. Alexander’s focus within the ACLU was primarily on exposing and dealing with the biases of the criminal justice system and how those biases disproportionally and devastatingly affect black communities. During her time at the ACLU, she initiated and managed the ‘Driving While Black or Brown’ advertising campaign which sought to challenge patterns of racial profiling by police that specifically targets Black and Brown people. In a statement for the ACLU with regards to the DWBB campaign, Alexander said: “The ACLU is determined to put a stop to racist police practices in our neighborhoods and on our freeways.”

I would refer to Alexander as being a radical activist not only because of her work with criminal justice reform, but, too, because her platform is rooted in the idea that in order to bring about substantial change for the criminal justice system, we must uproot the racial caste system that still plagues America’s institutions and ideologies. She recognizes that injustice against Black and Brown peoples does not begin with the criminal justice system, nor does it end there. There are foundational racist ideologies that have permeated the criminal justice system and perpetuated the maltreatment of Black and Brown people. In her 2010 groundbreaking novel The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, Alexander demonstrates how Jim Crow laws of the late 1800s to the mid-1950s have simply been repackaged and redesigned in our 21^st century reality so to maintain the subjugation of Black and Brown people. The ideas that the novel presents have been perceived as being so radical that several prisons across the country banned the book from their institutions including the prisons of New Jersey and North Carolina. Those bans did not stop the momentum or impact of Alexander’s novel as he novel has since been cited in judicial decision has been included in campus-wide curriculums. Alexander has shifted her approach to tackling the injustices of the criminal justice system as she now works as a visiting professor at the Union Theological Seminary where she, with her students, explores the morality and spirituality that underlies mass incarceration.

This tweet that civil rights activist Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. tweeted demonstrates just how powerful Alexander’s novel can be. Her novel has the power to change lives on both the macro and micro levels.

In this short excerpt from Michelle Alexander’s novel ‘The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness’ Alexander demonstrates how the incarceration of African Americans reinforces their subjugation and inferiority in the eyes of the racist mainstream of society.

Michelle Alexander and civil rights activist Angela Davis have a discussion about the state of civil rights today with both agreeing that there’s been a sort of stagnation in progress towards equality and equity for Black people in the United States. The cycle of oppression has proven to be no less destructive than it has been since the fight against it began, it’s only been repackaged to affect people differently. But they assure that there is still hope for a better future, one where Black and Brown people are not persecuted for the color of their skin.

As I was recently scrolling through my Twitter feed, I came across one of the most courageous progressive politicians in 21st century America: U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee. Particularly, Lee, who has represented Oakland, CA in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1998, has gained notoriety by leading the fight against U.S. foreign military intervention, being the only member of Congress to have voted against the authorization of use of force following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks. As a result of her “No” vote on AUMF, Lee was not only called a traitor by pundits and constituents alike but also received numerous death threats. Yet, Lee didn’t back down. Instead, as one of America’s most vocal anti-war leaders, Lee also led the opposition to the war in Iraq and American military intervention in Syria, even working with Republican Members of Congress to oppose President Obama – a member of her political party – and his foreign interventionist plans. Detailing her coalition-building approach to opposing military intervention and recognizing her idealistic power, defense reporter Austin Wright titled his 2017 Politico Magazine profile of Lee as  “How Barbara Lee Became an Army of One.”

In addition, Lee has worked to improve U.S. foreign relations with CARICOM nations, authoring the Shirley Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act, which sought to enhance U.S. education-related foreign aid to Caribbean countries. In regards to domestic policy, Lee has also been in the frontline of advocacy efforts for progressive causes to help America’s marginalized communities, including the poor and working classes, racial minorities, and Women. In Congress, Lee has been a leading proponent of legislation to reform America’s criminal justice system, legalize marijuana, impose stricter gun control measures, abolish the death penalty, and provide healthcare coverage for abortion and other reproductive procedures. Finally, I was also intrigued by finding out that Lee was a Black Panther activist,  having volunteered at the Black Panther Party’s Community Learning Center in Oakland during her 20s. Thus, overall, I chose Barbara Lee as a figure that represents 21st century radical politics due to her courageous and often-lonely anti-war advocacy efforts, her introduction of progressive legislation that seeks to empower marginalized communities in the U.S. and fix American foreign policy in the Caribbean, and her own personal past, which includes being a member of the Black Panther Party.

With this in mind, my online archive of Congresswoman Barbara Lee features three artifacts that vary in scope and digital method.

First, I include Lee’s speech against the authorization of military force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which demonstrates her anti-war activism even when alone and under threat. In this historic speech, Lee urged Congressional leaders to not let the United States “become the evil we deplore.”

Second, I present a series of tweets that highlight Lee’s restorative approach to progressive domestic policy-making. On February 28, 2019, Lee, who was named as a co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, introduced legislation to end federal cannabis prohibition, bar the federal government from using funds to interfere in state-legal marijuana programs, and encourage reform policies to help communities of color participate in the legal market.

Lastly, I include a press release and congressional speech video that emphasizes Lee’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement.  Both highlight the atrocious ways in which Black people have been killed in the United States by the utilization of deathly police force. Lee calls on the Department of Justice to “help [to] stop the killings.” Click on the following images for full access.

The tragedy that occurred at Parkland High School on February 14th, 2018 was sadly a familiar story.  Images and videos from the day circulated on popular news media, and the content shocked the nation, but unfortunately, did not surprise. Teenagers held each other as they were escorted outside to distraught parents. Sirens blare, casting a red and blue reflection on the school’s walls. Officials began the usual charade of condemning violence and offering condolences. In that year alone, over 24 school shootings occurred, resulting in 114 people killed or injured by these acts. At first, it seemed that Parkland would be just another name in the statistic. However, survivors, family members, and supporters decided that enough was enough. They confronted lawmakers, reached out to others, and created a nationwide movement for gun reform, championing the motto, “Never Again”. Their asks were simple and not terribly radical. They wanted justice, and some form of change that could guarantee that a child would not have to fear for their corporeal safety when headed to school.

Aalayah Eastmond  hid under a classmate’s body during the school shooting at  Parkland High in Florida. Now she, and others are lobbying for gun control. Here’s her story.  

Many students have used twitter to publicize their activism. Trump received deserved criticism for his “out-of-touch” tweet posted in reaction to the Parkland shooting. One such example, tweeted from a Parkland survivor is included above.

Above is a photo taken of Emma Gonzales, one of the Parkland Florida High school students, during her speech at the March for our Lives event. Though she spoke for just under two minutes, her speech moved thousands to act. Her closing remarks included this poignant quote. “Since the time that I came out here, it has been six minutes and 20 seconds,” she said. “The shooter has ceased shooting, and will soon abandon his rifle, blend in with the students as they escape, and walk free for an hour before arrest. Fight for your lives before it’s someone else’s job.”

The movement that followed after the Parkland shooting experienced some success. Riding a tidal wave of support, twenty-six states passed 67 bills aimed at diminishing gun violence. However, the movement is not by any means done. Gun lobbying groups also won several “Stand Your Ground Laws”, taking a bite out of the activists’ momentum. However, their advocacy still inspires others to actively reconsider the laws and structures that guide our daily living. Their story and their fight continues on, in hopes that such a tragedy would never happen again.

Radical activism, in its simplest form, means taking steps to achieve justice in one’s daily life. This young female, Mari Copeny, exemplifies radical activism and gives me hope for the future leaders of America. As is showcased by the artifacts selected, Copeny, otherwise known as Little Miss Flint, is a young activist, 11 years old, holding politicians accountable since she was 8. In the thick of the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, Copeny mailed a letter to President Barack Obama in an attempt to draw his attention to the problems residents were facing. Since then she has continued to use her voice, and the voices of those who stand by her side, to bring awareness to the families in her community who have been affected. Copeny is vocal on social media, tweeting at politicians when she disagrees with them, and making sure people are still talking about the Flint water crisis and its long-lasting effects on residents. Additionally, Copeny led a GoFundMe to raise over $200,000 to provide cases of bottled water and worked with the nonprofit Pack Your Back to distribute more than 10,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to students throughout Flint.

I chose Copeny because I believe the most important activism comes from the youngest individuals. Children, like Copeny, are able to use their voices to garner sympathy from individuals and, when starting young, they are able to lead a life of change. The artifacts selected showcase the ways in which Copeny was able to garner attention, by directly reaching out to the highest person in charge, and continues to do so by making use of social media, primarily Twitter. As our forms of communication evolve, it is those that evolve with them that will be able to make a change.

Mari Copeny’s activism began at the age of 8 with a letter to President Barack Obama. In the letter she acknowledged her ability to stand up for herself, and her community, and urged the President to “lift people’s spirits.”

After gaining fame and meeting with President Obama, Copeny continued her activism by raising money for water and school supplies for members of her community. Given the lack of actions taken by politicians, this shows a shift in Copeny, and surely her friends and family, taking matters into her own hands.

The last two artifacts work together in that they show Copeny’s transition into social media and her willingness to call out current politicians, such as President Trump, and the supporters who are willing to give money for the building of an immigration wall. In knowing the power of social media, turning to Twitter as a form of activism allows Copeny to speak to community members, especially the younger communities, in a more accessible manner.

Imagine you are a historian fifty years from now trying to understand the history of the global black freedom struggle during the early 21st century. The hyper-visibility of international black celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, coupled with U.S. government and private support for black capitalist, might lead you to believe that a radical, anti-imperial, anti-capitalist diasporic politics that is associated with earlier periods did not exist. But then you stumble across this archive created by Princeton students in a 2019 class, “From Haiti to Ferguson: The Global Black Freedom Struggle since Slavery.”

In this last History-In-Action assignment, your task is one in archival justice. Identify a person, group, and/or event that represents contemporary radical, anti-imperial diasporic politics. Create an archive for that person, group, and/or event that includes at least three artifacts. You are encouraged to be creative in constructing your archive, including using examples of multimedia (i.e. tweets, instagram posts, memes, etc.) in addition to more traditional sources (i.e. speeches, policy documents, etc.). Each artifact must be accompanied by a 1-2 sentence description identifying what it is and where you found it. Finally, your post must include 1-2 paragraphs that identifies the subject and explains your rationale for the archive. Why did you select the artifacts that you did? What narrative do you think they tell when placed together?