It was magic grounded in nature and wisdom earned through an entire lifetime of action-taking.
Like Dolores Huerta this summer, Joan Baez came to Florida reminding us that democracy depends on us to keep motivated, keep moving and do whatever we can to be disciplined in staying hopeful and organizing together.
I had witnessed the simple power of human cooperation at her Zocalo concert with Mercedes Sosa in the late 90s. The concert was free and open to the public and thousands were in attendance. I had grown up going to see Jazz greats with my grandfather at the Ontario Place Forum, and, like the ampitheatre section of The Forum, Zocalo had no chairs. I instantly fell in love with each of their unique voices, presence and stories. As a mid-sized Maya standing among a sea of giant Mexicas, my view of the stage was limited. But the power of collective action was demonstrated in real time that memorable evening - some among the crowd beseeched everyone take a seat on the immaculate, warm concrete that covers most of the ancient Tenochtitan captal. There were those who resisted, but eventually everyone participated in this incredibly simple and profoundly poweful exercise activating democracy. Once we are all comfortably on the ground, we all had a perfect view of the stage.
Thank you Joan. For your years of struggle and determination to keep finding your path to who you are, and for inspiring us to keep searching for ways we each can each become the best of who we are - together.
Love,
Bawshkeengwabigun aka Tara Chadwick
Interview with Mitchell Kaplan in The Miami Times reflecting on the formation of the very first Miami Book Fair in 1984. click for article
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