When Leadership Falls Short: The Crisis of Care in Library Work
Posted on in Blog Posts
Finding Clarity in a Post-Election World
Posted on November 19, 2024 in Blog Posts
Authors:
Ashleigh Coren
The exhaustion of the past four years has left many physically and emotionally drained, leading to a reluctance to engage with news, politics, or current events. Yet, as history has repeatedly shown, this fear and indifference can be detrimental to unity, progress, and peace. This month’s column aims to provide respite and an opportunity for reflection. The following resources are meant to help ground and center ourselves as we look ahead to 2025.
Videos:
- Barbara Jordan’s 1974 speech at President Nixon’s impeachment hearings (a shortened version of her statement can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LHIX0IA540)
On July 24, 1974, Representative Barbara Jordan, the first Southern African American woman elected to the United States House of Representatives, delivered a powerful statement to the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon. These remarks are some of the most eloquent and impactful examples of public speaking. In her speech, Jordan asserted that she would not “be an idle spectator to the diminution, the subversion, the destruction, of the Constitution.” As we progress, it is crucial to consider what that vision looks like in the 21st century and how the intersection of civil discourse and history shapes our role in addressing injustice rather than remaining idle spectators.
- Yuri Kochiyama’s interview on the importance of education, courtesy of Densho
Throughout her life, civil rights activist Yuri Kochiyama (1921–2014) was a dynamic force and skilled coalition builder. In this oral history interview, Kochiyama reflects on the gaps in her civic education and how those gaps hindered her ability to make informed, empathetic choices in her life. Her insights underscore the vital importance of lifelong learning and the work required to ensure universal access to comprehensive historical information.
Books:
- Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision (2003) by Barbara Ransby
Seeking guidance from women of color on shaping the future makes little sense, as the necessary blueprints have existed for decades. Ella Baker (1903–86) was a gifted grassroots organizer who played a vital behind-the-scenes role in the Civil Rights Movement, served as a national officer and key figure in the NAACP, co-founded the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and was instrumental in creating the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In this biography, Barbara Ransby explores Baker’s 50-year career and impact on grassroots activism. The book also documents the parallels between various progressive struggles worldwide throughout the 20th century.
- All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis (2020), edited by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson
This anthology features a diverse array of voices on the climate crisis in the United States. Poems and essays offer wisdom from authors such as adrienne maree brown, Camille T. Dungy, Joy Harjo, and Alice Walker, as well as from a range of experts, including scientists, journalists, farmers, lawyers, teachers, activists, innovators, policy experts, and designers. Spanning generations, geographies, and races, these contributors present a nuanced, action-based public dialogue on the crisis, providing solutions and insights for the present and the future.
Podcasts:
- A Braver Way hosted by Monica Guzmán
How does one move from apathy and decisiveness to hope and repair? It is a messy process. In this podcast series, Monica Guzmán brings on guests from across the political spectrum to share practical tools, insightful stories, and real-life strategies for bridging divides in everyday life.
To create a better future, we must absorb and share resources, books, and enriching content with one another. By learning from the past and connecting through information, we can find the solutions to move forward.
About the author:
Ashleigh Coren is a content strategist, educator, and curator based in the Washington, D.C. area.
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Header image is a detail of This is Harlem by Jacob Lawrence. Courtesy of Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. © 2021 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Knight Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. For more information, click here.