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.
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
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.
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!)