As a young person in 2000, I got to help put up Mary Ellen Mark's 25 Years show, and meet her. She was one of my first in-person examples of a working artist who was doing street photography and staying connected over time with the very real humans in so many of her photos. Some of the images of Tiny, Mike and Rat, the drag queens she captured behind the show, are *seared* in my memory. I wish I remembered the lecture she gave. (I just noticed that there's a Criterion collection documentary about Tiny's life that came out in 2016 - going to add to my list.)
Yes, our government is misidentifying what and who should be feared. I worked at a public defender office; a gofer/file clerk/typist. One intern coming into the office from visiting a client at the pen, said, "He was so nice! He didn't look like a murderer." I had to respond, "Please, tell me what a murderer looks like because we all need to know that." She didn't appreciate my retort. Black men saved me from white men dragging me to their cars, when I was fourteen, fifteen, walking alone. Black men warned me in particular areas. Once, a Black man did try grabbing me when I was in my twenties walking home (but I chased him for a couple of blocks before he got away). Aside from that one, the men I've feared are white, for too many reasons, too much experience.
Now we have the United States Attorney General - a woman! - telling us that the rise in stock prices negates children being molested and raped. A friend posted, hesitantly, questioningly, but nonetheless, made it public, that young women need to be more aware and dress less provocatively. We dressed so, when we were the age she' wrote about, admitted that in her post. We must be the grandmamas who watch out for those girls - and boys - so that they may retain a bit more of that innocence. Teach children and young people to be aware, to listen to the "little voice" (it's real. Teach that they are as important as any other person, that no one else is more valuable.
I wish we lived in a perfect world but we do not, and currently it's the worst since decades back. I hope we can overcome this faux paternalistic government, that we act to regain movement toward a government for every citizen, and social awareness, maybe even responsibility, and more: caring.
Child of addicts & former foster parent here (I beat the odds!) and I felt this article very deeply. Thank you. I am also reflecting on the role that I am unintentionally playing as a white woman in propping up both white supremacy & patriarchy; the axis of the evil that is on full display right now in our country. Thank you for so beautifully articulating the fuckery that is this political power play, and for (always) using your platform to speak these uncomfortable truths. Every little bit of this kind of media will help tear this shit down.
And just like Lady Gaga sang and Mr. Rogers asked, won't you be my neighbor? Bravely and wisely looking out for each other may be the glue of holding our democracy together. Beautiful writing, Kim, and well said.
As a young person in 2000, I got to help put up Mary Ellen Mark's 25 Years show, and meet her. She was one of my first in-person examples of a working artist who was doing street photography and staying connected over time with the very real humans in so many of her photos. Some of the images of Tiny, Mike and Rat, the drag queens she captured behind the show, are *seared* in my memory. I wish I remembered the lecture she gave. (I just noticed that there's a Criterion collection documentary about Tiny's life that came out in 2016 - going to add to my list.)
Yes, our government is misidentifying what and who should be feared. I worked at a public defender office; a gofer/file clerk/typist. One intern coming into the office from visiting a client at the pen, said, "He was so nice! He didn't look like a murderer." I had to respond, "Please, tell me what a murderer looks like because we all need to know that." She didn't appreciate my retort. Black men saved me from white men dragging me to their cars, when I was fourteen, fifteen, walking alone. Black men warned me in particular areas. Once, a Black man did try grabbing me when I was in my twenties walking home (but I chased him for a couple of blocks before he got away). Aside from that one, the men I've feared are white, for too many reasons, too much experience.
Now we have the United States Attorney General - a woman! - telling us that the rise in stock prices negates children being molested and raped. A friend posted, hesitantly, questioningly, but nonetheless, made it public, that young women need to be more aware and dress less provocatively. We dressed so, when we were the age she' wrote about, admitted that in her post. We must be the grandmamas who watch out for those girls - and boys - so that they may retain a bit more of that innocence. Teach children and young people to be aware, to listen to the "little voice" (it's real. Teach that they are as important as any other person, that no one else is more valuable.
I wish we lived in a perfect world but we do not, and currently it's the worst since decades back. I hope we can overcome this faux paternalistic government, that we act to regain movement toward a government for every citizen, and social awareness, maybe even responsibility, and more: caring.
Child of addicts & former foster parent here (I beat the odds!) and I felt this article very deeply. Thank you. I am also reflecting on the role that I am unintentionally playing as a white woman in propping up both white supremacy & patriarchy; the axis of the evil that is on full display right now in our country. Thank you for so beautifully articulating the fuckery that is this political power play, and for (always) using your platform to speak these uncomfortable truths. Every little bit of this kind of media will help tear this shit down.
Beautiful. Thank you.
And just like Lady Gaga sang and Mr. Rogers asked, won't you be my neighbor? Bravely and wisely looking out for each other may be the glue of holding our democracy together. Beautiful writing, Kim, and well said.