A people's history

Josephine Baker: A Diva Who Embraced the world (Apr 9, 2014)

For this action project, we were assigned to write a people's history. We were instructed to interview someone who has been involved in some of demonstration. We recreated a page out of a history text book. The purpose of this project was to tell history through the eyes of the people. I interviewed a family friend who has been involved in several demonstrations such as the #blacklivesmatter and anti-trump rallies. I enjoyed talking to my interviewee.

I started being aware of what was happening around me because of someone who took care of me as a very young child. She exposed me to some of the singers that were a part of the growing civil right movement, such as Nina Simone and Josephine Baker. I grew up listening to music that I love and didn’t really understand.

Josephine Baker was an American born French jazz singer and dancer. Baker is also known for her contributions to the Civil Rights Movement. She became wildly popular in France during the 1920s. “In the 1920s she moved to France and soon became one of Europe’s most popular and highest-paid performers,” (Biography). Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, Missouri on June 3, 1906 (Biography). In 1935, Baker returned to the States and was received as an uppity colored girl (Encyclopedia). She refused to perform for segregated audiences. “White audiences were reportedly used to seeing, and wanted to see, blacks in what they considered “Negro” role --- Mammies and blues singers ---- and could not accept a black woman of style, grace, and sophistication,” (Encyclopedia). Through the 1950s and 60s she dedicated herself to combating racism and segregation in the States.

I was born in 1950, so when the civil rights movement got momentum I was in my teens, in high school. Before then, I was in a kind of protected life and was unaware of what was going on. In high school, I had an incredible teacher who had a huge impact in my classmates and I. When Martin Luther King was assassinated I entered a brief period of depression. I remember writing poetry about it and being so aware on the events of the world.

"Mississippi Goddamn" is a song composed, written, and performed by American pianist and singer Nina Simone. The song was Simone's response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama, which killed four black children (Wikipedia & What happened to Nina Netflix documentary). "Alabama's got me so upset, Tennessee's made me lose my rest, and everybody knows about Mississippi goddam," are some of the lyrics demonstrating the political focus of the song early on. Mississippi Goddamn became a civil rights activist anthem and Simone's most famous protest song (Wikipedia).

In 1968, I went away to college at the University of California, Los Angeles. There was a lot more happening there about the war in Vietnam as well as the Civil rights movement. I immediately got involved in things that was available for me to do. There was a lot of things happening on my campus. Angela Davis, who was a very prominent figure in the Civil Rights movement was a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Free Angela & All Political Prisoners, Essence Mar 28, 2013.

Angela Davis is an activist, scholar, and writer. She advocated for the oppressed. In 1970, "she made FBI's Ten-Most-Wanted list after guns registered in her name were used in a courthouse takeover which left four dead," (PBS). Eventually, she was acquitted of all charges.

I eventually ended up in Washington, DC for graduate school and lived there for several years union organizer. I moved to chicago in 1982, and once again there were lots of events around U.S dictatorships in Central and South America. My social life formed by my activities, through my activism I was able to make friend with people from all corners of the world.

I was involved in the backing of the election of Harold Washington, which was a flash-point for a lot of progressive people. I have also been involved in the #Blacklivesmatter demonstrations and was at the anti-trump rally. I involved in the #Blacklivesmatter demonstration on Michigan Ave in Chicago. It was wonderful. I felt so welcome and took the opportunity to learn. I have a coworker who is African American, she belong to the Charleston South Carolina church and my Facebook post restored her faith in white people.  

BB (interviewee, Facebook Post 2015)

The Fallacy, Delusion and Myth  of Tikkum Olam, 07/06/2013. 

I was raised Jewish and one of the values that I learned was that of Tikkum olam.

Tikkum olam (לתקן את העולם), which means repair the world. Tikkum olam is a concept in Judaism and is a commandment which has come to connote the pursuit of social justice in the modern movement in Judaism (Wikipedia). The term dates back to the Mishnaic period and Kabbalistic literature began broadening use of the term (Wikipedia).

My parents all through their life had stood up against injustice, but they were worried that I would give up my financial stability in order to carry this commandment through which I was willing to do. Activism is something that is kind of sort of in my faith and is a part of who I am, which is that you make a difference in the world.


Work Cited:

• Jane Henderson. "Josephine Baker: A Diva Who Embraced the World."St.Louis Post Dispatch. N.p., 9 Apr. 2014. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/books-and-literature/josephine-baker-a-diva-who-embraced-the-world/article_2f021e35-4c81-5388-a537-b4dcee3f3503.html>.
• Tikkun olam. (2016, February 18). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:15, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tikkun_olam&oldid=705653548
• WW1239. "Nina Simone - Mississippi Goddam." YouTube. YouTube, 24 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVQjGGJVSXc>.
• Biography.com Editors. "Josephine Baker Biography." Bio.com. A&E Networks Television, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.biography.com/people/josephine-baker-9195959>.
• Harrison, Joyce. "Baker, Josephine." Contemporary Musicians. 1994. Retrieved March 19, 2016 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3492800011.html
• Josephine Baker. (2016, March 19). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 19:26, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Josephine_Baker&oldid=710884336
• Y.A Korff. "The Fallacy, Delusion and Myth of Tikkun Olam." Algemeinercom RSS. N.p., 7 June 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.algemeiner.com/2013/06/07/the-fallacy-delusion-and-myth-of-tikkun-olam/#>.
• Mississippi Goddam. (2016, February 1). In Wikipe
  dia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:16, March 19, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mississippi_Goddam&oldid=702716257
  "EXCLUSIVE: Watch a Clip from 'Free Angela and All Political Prisoners'"Essence.com. N.p., 28 Mar. 2013. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.essence.com/2013/03/28/exclusive-watch-clip-free-angela-and-all-political-prisoners>.
• PBS. PBS, n.d. Web. 19 Mar. 2016. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/race/interviews/davis.html>.
• BB, Interview. March 12, 2016.  

Little Indi-Paki

For my If these walls could talk course, we were assigned to choose a neighborhood in Chicago, examined its history and the needs of its community, illustrate an image that forfilled those needs, and write an artist statement to defend our design. If these walls could talk is an art and history elective course that explores the history of murals. I chose the 50th ward, also known as West Ridge but focused on "Little India" for this project. The purpose of this action project was to illustrate an image that could be used to create a large-scale mural. I learned about the evolution of the techniques used to show perspective. I enjoyed learning about the Medici family and their influence in the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. I struggled with writing my artist statement, but meeting with my teacher helped clear the haze.

Below is my image and my artist statement!

GN, In Harmony 2015 

GN
11/2015
In Harmony 11” x 14”
Pencil on paper

For as long as I could remember I have been infatuated with India. My obsession is not just related to the Bollywood industry, the rich and spicy food, or the colorful ornate clothing. Although, I should mention that my closet is better suited to Punjab than Chicago and that I hanker over Barun Sobti rather than Zac Efron.

Little India is a ten-block stretch on Devon Avenue on Chicago’s north side. Little India is one of the most vibrant neighborhoods in Chicago. The culture, markets, and savor of this ten-block stretch on Devon Avenue help keep my addiction at arm’s length until I have an opportunity to disembark at Pathankot Airport. Being hit by a heady aroma of spices from a nearby restaurant or being drawn by a saris to a storefront are what keep attracting me to Little India. Skipping to Devon is a lot easier than trudging to Mumbai or Punjab. Devon is the most diverse street in the city. Although mainly Indian-focused, according to the Executive Director of West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, 75% of the area’s residential population is Jewish. Devon is home to Indian-Americans, Pakistani-Americans, Jews, Eastern-Europeans, and Assyrian-Americans and this melting pot gets along just great.

I’m proposing a mural that celebrates Little India, but also one that calls attention to the individual cultures within it. Although Little India is mainly focused on India, a lot of businesses are also owned by Pakistanis, Russians, Iraqis among others. My piece is both a tribute mural to make Little India even more beautiful and to bring to attention the plethora of cultures residing in Little India especially Pakistan that are often overlooked.

My sketch is of an Indian woman and a Pakistani man marrying. The motifs in the background are prominent symbols in both cultures. My sketch mimics the complex, more detailed style of Ancient Greeks and Ancient Egyptian paintings. This more complex and detailed style of paintings showcase the relations between Indian and Pakistani in there land of origin. Though Indians and Pakistanis don’t get along in their land of origin, I find it fascinating how they coexist in harmony in Little India. I was inspired by the use color and the simple yet intricate forms in the Ajanta cave Frescoes in India. I utilized the Hindi and Urdu both the official languages in each country to represent each culture’s individualism while also accentuating their cohesion and harmony. With the motifs receding in the background and telling its own story, I’ve utilized the use of vignettes to create meaning, fluidity, cohesion and uniformity in the painting. In order to represent the vibrancy of each culture, I used such colors as red, blue, yellow, pink, orange, and brown.

When installed, the mural will span the wall in the center of Little India and Pakistan. I hope that this mural transcends its audience to a state of joy, uniformity. and inclusion.