On the evening of April 11th, 2011 hundreds of people experienced something incredible at the Harlem Stage, a cultural event so unique in spirit, diversity, imagination, and inspiration that many who attended walked into the Harlem night afterward aching to share what they had just been part of. Many said in one form or another, “If only ___ had been here.” Leaving the event, one student described it this way, "It feels like hope. That’s honestly what it feels like..." The world can soon experience the hope and vision of On the Occasion of Publication of BAsics: A Celebration of Revolution and the Vision of a New World in the form of a film being made of the event with the potential to reach, challenge, and inspire millions. You can help make that happen. House parties are being hosted this weekend across the country to raise $23,000 for the film by December 12th. |
at UC Berkeley about
social change
Thousands of UC Berkeley students, faculty, occupy protesters and residents from around the Bay Area lined up Friday night to view a dialogue between Carl Dix, a founding member of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, and Cornel West, a politically progressive professor from Princeton University.
The dialogue — which was titled “In the Age of Obama…Police Terror, Incarceration, No Jobs, Mis-education: What Future for Our Youth?” — featured the speakers addressing topics and answering questions
related to social and economic change in front of an audience that
filled Pauley Ballroom to capacity.
related to social and economic change in front of an audience that
filled Pauley Ballroom to capacity.
“The issues that the occupiers are talking about are the same we’ve
been talking about for 30 years,” West said to The Daily
Californian before the event. “This is a magnificent awakening …
and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
been talking about for 30 years,” West said to The Daily
Californian before the event. “This is a magnificent awakening …
and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
West and Dix agreed that students play a crucial role in any social
movement, if they recognize injustice and make up their minds to
fight back.
movement, if they recognize injustice and make up their minds to
fight back.
During the dialogue, Dix spoke at length about the need for
Communist revolution in America.
Communist revolution in America.
“This is an especially good time to be in Berkeley,” Dix said. “I
saw the video of the folks on Sproul and got a real sense of
inspiration for the sentiment people had … to stand up to
injustice.”
saw the video of the folks on Sproul and got a real sense of
inspiration for the sentiment people had … to stand up to
injustice.”
West said that while he considers himself a “revolutionary
Christian,” he disagrees with many of Dix’s political ideas.
The two were arrested together in New York in October with
other demonstrators protesting the New York City Police
Department’s “Stop-and-Frisk” policy, which demonstrators
say targets African American and Latino youth.
Christian,” he disagrees with many of Dix’s political ideas.
The two were arrested together in New York in October with
other demonstrators protesting the New York City Police
Department’s “Stop-and-Frisk” policy, which demonstrators
say targets African American and Latino youth.
In a speech peppered with humor and jazz references, West
emphasized the need to look past prejudice and politics to
implement real change for the poor. He addressed issues ranging
from the lack of accountability from Wall Street executives —
who he charged with causing the economic recession — to the
“warped” political priorities of the federal government.
emphasized the need to look past prejudice and politics to
implement real change for the poor. He addressed issues ranging
from the lack of accountability from Wall Street executives —
who he charged with causing the economic recession — to the
“warped” political priorities of the federal government.
“Young people are tired of lies … and weapons of mass distraction,”
he said. “They’ve been taught to be well-adjusted to injustice.”
he said. “They’ve been taught to be well-adjusted to injustice.”
The line extending from the Martin Luther King Jr. Student
Union building where the event was held reportedly stretched
to Memorial Glade prior to the event. Overflow rooms were
set up in Dwinelle Hall to accommodate those who could not
fit into the ballroom.
Union building where the event was held reportedly stretched
to Memorial Glade prior to the event. Overflow rooms were
set up in Dwinelle Hall to accommodate those who could not
fit into the ballroom.
Both overflow rooms were filled, making the estimated number
of attendees close to 2,000, according to UC Berkeley junior
Justin Richmond, one of the coordinators of the event.
of attendees close to 2,000, according to UC Berkeley junior
Justin Richmond, one of the coordinators of the event.
“Unfortunately, we had to turn people away,” Richmond said. “It
was great that so many turned out, I just wish we could have known
how many would come. We could have gotten a larger venue if
we had known.”
was great that so many turned out, I just wish we could have known
how many would come. We could have gotten a larger venue if
we had known.”
Ericka Huggins — a former leader in the Black Panther Party —
and author Alice Walker were also in the audience Friday night.
and author Alice Walker were also in the audience Friday night.
UC Berkeley sophomore Ashley Cooke said she was inspired after
hearing the speakers from opposing political backgrounds put
their views aside to fight for what they see as a greater cause.
hearing the speakers from opposing political backgrounds put
their views aside to fight for what they see as a greater cause.
Richmond said Dix and West visited the encampment on Sproul
briefly after the event and talked to Occupy Cal protesters there.
briefly after the event and talked to Occupy Cal protesters there.
“This event came at the right time,” Cooke said. “With the Occupy
movement on the rise and it being visible even on our own campus,
Cornel West and Carl Dix seemed to fuel the spark of passion for
the movement.”
movement on the rise and it being visible even on our own campus,
Cornel West and Carl Dix seemed to fuel the spark of passion for
the movement.”