Moving Forward, Part 1: An Indictment

Defeat requires honest, humility and long-term movement building strategy.  It's time to learn from others.

 

When the devastating violence of 1992’s civil unrest scorched communities of color in Los Angeles, a phoenix rose up from those ashes.   Even with formidable external forces tearing them apart, forward-looking Asian, African-American and Latino leaders showed extraordinary leadership:  Rather than devolve into infighting or finger-pointing, they took a clear-eyed look at their own failures and vowed to do things completely differently. “We have an urgent need to think long-term,” were the words that reverberated, and a fundamental paradigm shift took place.  Vowing to move beyond short term and fragmented efforts, diverse leaders in diverse neighborhoods made an intentional, coordinated plan:   to retool existing groups or found brand new organizations dedicated to long-term community organizing for real power in their respective neighborhoods; and, to forge an ongoing multi-ethnic network of trusting relationships. 

 

Not unlike the Right after the bitter defeat of Goldwater in 1964, they dedicated themselves to building the infrastructure of a serious new social movement.  As a result, quietly, effectively, since 1992, LA has birthed a vibrant economic and racial justice movement that is building neighborhood power, incubating leaders for political office, and helping move a regional social reform agenda for labor and immigrant rights and economic equity. Fifteen years later, LA has:  progressives of color as Mayor, CA Assembly Speaker, and new Supervisor; a vibrant set of organizations that network and strategize across ethnic lines; and, a pipeline of young leaders who will make history for decades to come.  Progressive ideas that seemed preposterous in 1992 -- such as the living wage and environmental justice -- are mainstream.

 

That transformation started with humility and self-responsibility – and an eye on the prize of longterm movement-building for justice.  What could have devolved into permanent divisions instead moved from pain to power.

 

I have seen nothing similar in the LGBT community since the bitter victory of the homophobic Proposition 8.  Nobody has accepted responsibility for failure and stepped up to lead a coherent, community- wide discussion of where to from here.  As a result there is too much finger pointing, and a startling loss of credibility for established LGBT organizations and leaders.  Without a humble and truth-telling self-assessment, the energetic protest and proliferation of new young activists may well evaporate, or be too narrowly contained within one single – if exciting -- strand of the LGBT movement: web activism.  Or, inaccurate analysis will become set in stone and lead toward division rather than powerful motion forward.

 

Comments

[Jennifer]

You are absolutely right. Even a few of the blogs of folks I respect have rolled out the "let's not point fingers, everybody feels really bad"-line. O.k., fine, lick your wounds but then suck it up and come to the table.

I don't much care for the "hurt feelings" of a few career activists at this point. My beautiful little family was dragged through the mud for six months and nobody stood up for us or allowed us to speak for ourselves. HRC's going to get an earful the next time they call soliciting funds. I don't care what their focus groups said, there are a whole lot of pissed off stroller-pushing gays out there (and quite a few pissed-off and straight grandmas and grandpas).

BTW, the young'uns might have started the web activism, but there's a whole lot of us gay mommies and daddies (and the straight grandfolks too) who are suddenly slaves to Facebook.

[Jennifer]

You are absolutely right. Even a few of the blogs of folks I respect have rolled out the "let's not point fingers, everybody feels really bad"-line. O.k., fine, lick your wounds but then suck it up and come to the table.

I don't much care for the "hurt feelings" of a few career activists at this point. My beautiful little family was dragged through the mud for six months and nobody stood up for us or allowed us to speak for ourselves. HRC's going to get an earful the next time they call soliciting funds. I don't care what their focus groups said, there are a whole lot of pissed off stroller-pushing gays out there (and quite a few pissed-off and straight grandmas and grandpas).

BTW, the young'uns might have started the web activism, but there's a whole lot of us gay mommies and daddies (and the straight grandfolks too) who are suddenly slaves to Facebook.

[Jasmine]

It's refreshing to hear someone calling for this kind of leadership -- authentic, truth-telling and accountable. We certainly need it, and now.

I'm doing a series of posts about where the LGBT movement might go next at www.jbf.typepad.com

[Ronni Sanlo]

Torie, thank you for this piece. You're right, of course. I spent days before and after the election with many of our smart young leaders. Their hearts and passion brought back the familiarity of the 30 years I've been at this work.

The missing link was the modeling of responsibility of actions. What they learned - as their hearts broke at the reality - is that organizations were quick to demand their precious little money, energy, and their time but short on even a "thank you."

There indeed needs to be a new paradigm for the LGBT/ ally movement. I believe it lies with our students, our smart new leaders. Yes, we need money to fund anything that's to be done, but the new coalitions need service-centered leadership that's not grounded in giant egos, giant overheads, and lack of consideration for the gifts our youth freely gave on Prop 8.

A new day lies ahead. I look forward with great excitement to what our precious young leaders wil do. In the meantime, we dinosaurs must be here for them for historical context, big tight hugs, hot meals as needed, and a "thank you" for picking up the ball and running with it in a very different direction.

Thank you, Torie, for your years of service and for being willing to always speak truth to power.

Warmly,
Ronni