Blog archive
March 2024
Addressing The Needs of Older Adults Through Pasadena Village
03/25/2024
Coming Soon: More Resources for Older Americans, Online and in Person
03/25/2024
Community Building Locally and Nationally
03/25/2024
Preparing for the Future with Ready or Not
03/25/2024
Volunteering is at The Heart of the Village
03/25/2024
Women's Liberation: Then and Now
03/25/2024
Writing Memoirs Together
03/25/2024
Current Views on Current Events
03/20/2024
Unchained
03/18/2024
Rumr of Humor issue # 2409
03/10/2024
Blacks Portrayed by European Artists
03/03/2024
Rumor of Humor #2408
03/03/2024
February 2024
Caring for Ourselves and Each Other
02/27/2024
Doug Colliflower Honored
02/27/2024
Great Decisions Connects Us to the Worldwide Community
02/27/2024
Letter from the President
02/27/2024
Pasadena Village's Impact
02/27/2024
The Power of Touch
02/27/2024
Villages as a New Approach to Aging
02/27/2024
Addressing Gang Violence in Pasadena-Altadena
02/21/2024
Rumor of Humor Issue 2407
02/19/2024
Thank You For Caring.
02/12/2024
Rumor of Humor 2405
02/11/2024
Curve Balls
02/10/2024
Sylvan Lane
02/10/2024
Rumor of Humor 2404
02/09/2024
Larry Duplechan, Blacks in Film
02/03/2024
January 2024
Pasadena Village Joins Community Partners in Vaccination Campaign
01/29/2024
Rumor of Humor #2403
01/28/2024
Pasadena Village Joins Two Healthy Aging Resource Projects
01/25/2024
Decluttering: Do It Now
01/24/2024
Village Volunteers Contribute to the Huntington Magic
01/24/2024
Villagers Creating Community
01/24/2024
Villagers Reflect on Black History Month
01/24/2024
Walk With Ease, 2024
01/24/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Wide Ranging Discussion on Current Issues
01/22/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2402
01/21/2024
Rumor of Humor # 2401
01/15/2024
Re- Entry Programs, a Personal Experience
01/08/2024
Election Results and Wayward Lives
By Blog MasterPosted: 11/10/2020
Meeting November 6, 2020
Before the reading was discussed, the election was of interest to the group and briefly discussed. Some thoughts included the use of infrastructure projects to build unity or finding another common purpose to bring people together.
The article for discussion was "How Saidiya Hartman Retells the History of Black Life" by Alexis Okeowa from The New Yorker, October 19, 2020. Hartman’s latest book is entitled “Wayward Lives”.
Many of the group were unable to access the article and the discussion focused on reflections on 3 questions that were suggested by the content:
1. Has slavery really ended? The discrimination and exploitation that characterize slavery has continued to the present day.
2. Is this where you're staying? A question that asks where someone is staying without conveying permanence, ownership or belonging.
3. Water has memory. A river returns to itself...The author has a similar quality in her writing.
It was noted that the Huntington Library has sponsored a number of lectures related to slavery as a commercial practice. A recent lecture discussed maritime law and slavery including the meaning of water to those individuals being transported by sea. The lecture can be viewed on the Huntington website.
The program "Enslaved" featured on Amazon Prime was recommended as it addressed some of the issues incorporated in the questions.
It was noted that the impermancy implied by the question, "Where you stayin?" Had an additional consideration. For a period of time only property owners were allowed to vote.
Relative to the question of if slavery has ended, multiple examples of discrimination such as red lining were mentioned. It was noted that the working class poor could be viewed as being exploited. Additional examples included the manner by which insurance rates were determined. Reviewing these practices led to a discussion of the idea that people "are paying for your skin color".
Focusing on the question "Are attitudes shifting?" The following points were made:
1. A member noted that 60 years ago, there was one African American in their Harvard class, at a recent re union the demographics were very different.
2. There is an increase in the number of African Americans in all aspects of politics.
3. The increase in the number of conversations about "isms" is positive.
4. Fifty percent of voters selected Trump suggesting that racial inequality is not an important concern for many voters.
5. It is unclear what people fear, if a loss of status is a factor or are other factors also in play.
6. It was noted that studies have been done suggesting there may be brain based processes leading to "us/them" thinking. Self awareness and reasoned thinking could be helpful in eliminating these ideas.
7. The use of fear as a mechanism of control, tribalism and belonging and insecurity were noted as possible factors in discrimination. A final suggestion for reflection was that discrimination may be a class rather than a racial issue.