I too admire Ann Braden greatly, I’ve done anti-racist work with White women, and I’m from the North (Northern California). Despite my commitment to the cause. I would NEVER move to the South to do this work! I simply do not belong there, I cannot understand the culture, and do not like the climate/lifestyle/food/music etc. The fact that anyone moved their whole lives for any period of time to do this work deserves some respect imho. The real question is, did these folks continue anti-racist work when they returned home? In most cases, the answer is “no” and that’s the part of the story that makes me sad.
In large part, the answer is no. It wasn't just a rejection of the South culturally as people from the North, it was a rejection of an anti-racist politic that would focus more on other White people than getting the credibility of proximity to Black civil rights heroes. Love, love, love that you've committed to work in the communities that are home to you. I'll also say (and I'm writing an essay about this as well) as a Northerner, I've learned more from Southern activists/community builders than I have from folks in any other region of the country. I don't think it's a coincidence that my biggest anti-racist heroes (Anne Braden and Will Campbell) were both deeply rooted in the South.
This is a wonderful essay -- I've never heard of Anne Braden. But, as someone originally from Manitoba, I have to comment on your Weakerthans T-shirt!! : ) (I don't know a lot of their stuff, but I do know they're from Winnipeg!)
Just a note, which also seems interesting given this essay, that Billie Holiday didn't write "Strange Fruit" -- it was written by Abel Meerepol, a Jewish communist from the Bronx (also later adopted the Rosenberg children): https://www.npr.org/2012/09/05/158933012/the-strange-story-of-the-man-behind-strange-fruit
Thanks for the clarification/correction! I'll make that change.
I too admire Ann Braden greatly, I’ve done anti-racist work with White women, and I’m from the North (Northern California). Despite my commitment to the cause. I would NEVER move to the South to do this work! I simply do not belong there, I cannot understand the culture, and do not like the climate/lifestyle/food/music etc. The fact that anyone moved their whole lives for any period of time to do this work deserves some respect imho. The real question is, did these folks continue anti-racist work when they returned home? In most cases, the answer is “no” and that’s the part of the story that makes me sad.
In large part, the answer is no. It wasn't just a rejection of the South culturally as people from the North, it was a rejection of an anti-racist politic that would focus more on other White people than getting the credibility of proximity to Black civil rights heroes. Love, love, love that you've committed to work in the communities that are home to you. I'll also say (and I'm writing an essay about this as well) as a Northerner, I've learned more from Southern activists/community builders than I have from folks in any other region of the country. I don't think it's a coincidence that my biggest anti-racist heroes (Anne Braden and Will Campbell) were both deeply rooted in the South.
This is a wonderful essay -- I've never heard of Anne Braden. But, as someone originally from Manitoba, I have to comment on your Weakerthans T-shirt!! : ) (I don't know a lot of their stuff, but I do know they're from Winnipeg!)