Just when I'm getting settled back into Schaumburg, and getting ready to resettle in Chicago for the school year, I suddenly get a chance to go to Virginia for a few days to work on a house with my first love, Appalachia Service Project! How random is that?
My mom had been insanely busy at work, so I was with her at our church last Friday helping her to set up for an event. There I ran into Howard, the Youth Minister (who organizes the ASP trips), and he introduced me to some people who are going on the upcoming adults-only trip, since they're going to Jonesville where I was once on staff. I started telling them about the area when one of them suddenly remembered that there was one spot left. I'm leaving tomorrow at three in the morning (so tonight, really) to drive down there.
So excited! The ASP center in Jonesville, VA, is one of those places I never thought I'd ever see again. But then, that's what I said after the summer of 2007, only to return in 2008 to do a random research project for a few weeks. At the end of that little trip, I remember Keith, the building manager at the time, telling me, "You'll be back, you'll be back!" He was sure of it. I guess he was right!
I have my "Welcome to Jonesvegas" tshirt all packed. And my work boots. And my overalls. Hawt :p
It will be interesting to see how my changing views on religion and whatnot affect my experience--ASP is very much a Christian organization, much more so than Habitat. I'm not as used to the "feel" of Christianity anymore--I was raised Catholic and was pretty active in my church in High School, so I used to be really comfortable with it, enjoy it even, despite my growing agnosticism. It was mostly a cultural thing for me even then, but I still very much appreciated the inspiration and spiritual growth that trips like this afforded me. Now I'm not so sure. We shall see!
15 September 2009
02 September 2009
Charity Hospital Baby. Charity Hospital, Baby.
I can't believe I waited this long, but on Monday, I finally went to a second line. What is that you ask? It's pretty awesome, is what it is--brass bands leading a parade of people wearing crazy outfits and carrying feathered umbrellas and selling beer out of wagons, exuding energy. A second line is giant dance party in the street.
Second-lining comes from the traditional New Orleans jazz funerals--it's basically the crowd dancing behind the official funeral procession (second in line) without necessarily having an actual body to follow. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs organize them for all kinds of occasions, so I'm told you can find one every week if you look, commemorating or honoring someone or something. I missed one earlier this summer in memorial of Michael Jackson.
Check out this awesome video (Let Me Do My Thang: Rebirth Brass Band, by Keith Reynaud, Jr.) to see and hear both the dancing/music and some of the history (do it, it's really good! Last night I saw Rebirth perform at the Maple Leaf, they show it!).
The second line that I went to was to "Save Charity Hospital!" I don't know all the details, but the debate about the hospital is an interesting piece of public policy. A teaching hospital affiliated with LSU, Charity Hospital traditionally was the hospital that served -everyone-, i.e. it was willing to take those without health insurance. As a result, it has a historical/cultural place in the hearts of many city residents. Its evacuation after Hurricane Katrina made national news, and afterwards it was never reopened. Once a fairly attractive art-deco tower of poured-concrete, it now looks kind of sad--dark windows, green and brown stains on the concrete, a family of cats standing guard at the old back entrance. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it as one of "America's Most Endangered Places" in 2008.
There are plans, however, to rebuild. But here's the catch--the powers that be (LSU and the city) are looking to demolish several square blocks of homes and businesses (a la eminent domain, which pretty much nobody likes) to build a new facility--right next to the old one!--instead of renovating or rebuilding on the original site. There must be some rationale behind this plan, but I'm pretty skeptical. Frankly, it sounds asinine. Eventually somebody is going to have to renovate or demolish the old building anyway--or were they planning on setting it aside as a permanent home for the city's feral cat population?
So the "Second Line to Save Charity Hospital" served two purposes: first, to express both the importance of Charity Hospital to the community and the desire to see it reopened, and secondly, the outrage of the home and business owners who would be forced to relocate. I saw many "Charity Hospital Baby" signs with arrows pointing to the individual who held it, as well as a few "Hands off Our Homes." Overall, the event seemed to be a success--great turnout, awesome music by the Hot 8 Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band, lots of fun.
But I have to wonder what kind of impact a parade where everyone is having a great time can actually have on the powers that be.
A second line is not an angry march on village hall, it is not picketing or chanting, and it is pretty much the opposite of a hunger strike. There was no outrage, no anger, no heart-wrenching pleas or forceful demands--despite the messages on the signs people carried, the atmosphere was really festive. Joyous, even. From a community organizing perspective, I feel like a second line is great to get people excited and draw some attention from the public, but if it stops there, then I am not so sure it can have much impact on people at city hall who are currently holding all the cards.
Is it just a party, or is it a protest? To accomplish something, shouldn't that distinction be a little more clear?
Second-lining comes from the traditional New Orleans jazz funerals--it's basically the crowd dancing behind the official funeral procession (second in line) without necessarily having an actual body to follow. Social Aid and Pleasure Clubs organize them for all kinds of occasions, so I'm told you can find one every week if you look, commemorating or honoring someone or something. I missed one earlier this summer in memorial of Michael Jackson.
Check out this awesome video (Let Me Do My Thang: Rebirth Brass Band, by Keith Reynaud, Jr.) to see and hear both the dancing/music and some of the history (do it, it's really good! Last night I saw Rebirth perform at the Maple Leaf, they show it!).
The second line that I went to was to "Save Charity Hospital!" I don't know all the details, but the debate about the hospital is an interesting piece of public policy. A teaching hospital affiliated with LSU, Charity Hospital traditionally was the hospital that served -everyone-, i.e. it was willing to take those without health insurance. As a result, it has a historical/cultural place in the hearts of many city residents. Its evacuation after Hurricane Katrina made national news, and afterwards it was never reopened. Once a fairly attractive art-deco tower of poured-concrete, it now looks kind of sad--dark windows, green and brown stains on the concrete, a family of cats standing guard at the old back entrance. The National Trust for Historic Preservation listed it as one of "America's Most Endangered Places" in 2008.
There are plans, however, to rebuild. But here's the catch--the powers that be (LSU and the city) are looking to demolish several square blocks of homes and businesses (a la eminent domain, which pretty much nobody likes) to build a new facility--right next to the old one!--instead of renovating or rebuilding on the original site. There must be some rationale behind this plan, but I'm pretty skeptical. Frankly, it sounds asinine. Eventually somebody is going to have to renovate or demolish the old building anyway--or were they planning on setting it aside as a permanent home for the city's feral cat population?
So the "Second Line to Save Charity Hospital" served two purposes: first, to express both the importance of Charity Hospital to the community and the desire to see it reopened, and secondly, the outrage of the home and business owners who would be forced to relocate. I saw many "Charity Hospital Baby" signs with arrows pointing to the individual who held it, as well as a few "Hands off Our Homes." Overall, the event seemed to be a success--great turnout, awesome music by the Hot 8 Brass Band and Rebirth Brass Band, lots of fun.
But I have to wonder what kind of impact a parade where everyone is having a great time can actually have on the powers that be.
A second line is not an angry march on village hall, it is not picketing or chanting, and it is pretty much the opposite of a hunger strike. There was no outrage, no anger, no heart-wrenching pleas or forceful demands--despite the messages on the signs people carried, the atmosphere was really festive. Joyous, even. From a community organizing perspective, I feel like a second line is great to get people excited and draw some attention from the public, but if it stops there, then I am not so sure it can have much impact on people at city hall who are currently holding all the cards.
Is it just a party, or is it a protest? To accomplish something, shouldn't that distinction be a little more clear?
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