When deer or wolves or pigs are alarmed by an unexpected sound, they “orient.” They turn toward the source, stand as still as they can, and sniff, stare and listen in order […]
Cutting through the noise
A present for Mami
“I am political in spite of myself.” you wrote. “I don’t want to do the things I know I have to do, don’t want to expose myself to disapproval, to retribution, don’t want to go to meetings and demonstrations, distribute leaflets, don’t want to ask people for signatures, for money.” But you did them. “Because I know I’ve got to.”
Between the Waves
It happened with the Occupy movement, too. As the first huge wave of protest crashed against the steel and concrete walls of the system and began its churning, tumbling retreat to the […]
When Lies Collapse
The struggle for justice in the United States – currently centered on racist and repressive policing – has reached a turning point. The police have lost the battle of the story. Their […]
Ilhan, Antone and the Price of Inclusion
Addressing childhood asthma on the north side won’t lead to lasting change unless it’s coupled with something like a Green New Deal, to ensure that we’re not fighting the same battle ten years from now. How will these children’s medical bills be covered as they grow, without a program like Medicare for All to completely replace the parasitic health insurance industry of today?
Four Genies
“Our lives are being impacted in ways as different as the chasms of race, class, gender, colonial status and all the other disease vectors of injustice can make them. Crisis under capitalism is the great amplifier, not the great equalizer.”
Resilience: Another Name for Life
Resilience is the central story of life on Earth. It could be considered another word for the life force. The never-ending dance of adaptation and innovation keeps species, communities and individuals constantly […]
Homes for People, Not for Profit
Brightly colored lawn signs are popping up on Minneapolis lawns, emblazoned with the appealing slogan, “Safe and Affordable Neighborhoods Minneapolis.” When I say “appealing,” I mean appealing like fresh cheese on a mousetrap. They are […]
Another World Is Possible
Fifty years ago, in 1969, I was a thirteen-year-old kid, recently arrived in Chicago from the mountains of Puerto Rico. I had landed in a country on fire and was quickly drawn […]
Officers of the Piece
Various brands of what’s known as “Warrior Training” have become popular with police departments across the US. As described in the Harvard Law Journal (May 7, 2019), “For Warriors, hyper-vigilance offers the […]
Ricardo Levins Morales
Ricardo Levins Morales Art Studio 