A Resilience Reading List
Building Community with Love and Patience
It’s been almost two weeks since the election. The final votes are being counted. While it appears Donald Trump is the first Republican to win the popular vote in 20 years, his victory seems predicated on who didn’t show up to vote as much as a once-in-a-generation political realignment. Nonetheless, the recriminations against the progressive wing of the Democratic party have continued undeterred.
Personally, I’m trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to avoid getting sucked into debates over whether Kamala Harris should have campaigned with Liz Cheney, come out forcefully in favor of an arms embargo against Israel, or made some other winning decision in an alternate timeline. In the end, it wasn’t just one thing that led to the Democrats’ loss. And while correctly identifying the factors underlying this failure is a necessary step to winning in the future, this doesn’t feel like the most valuable task for me, a person far removed from the decision-making levers of the Democratic Party.
I do think it’s valid to vent our anger at the Democrats for allowing a racist, senile, rapist authoritarian take power. But we have to be careful not to fall into the comfortable pattern of political hobbyism. After all, treating politics like a spectator sport is one of the reasons we find ourselves here.
In the days since November 5th I’ve been thinking a lot about how to prepare for what comes next. I’ll admit that my tendency to embrace this thinking is a feature of my anxiety as much as any kind of pragmatic political ethos. Still, I’ve come across some great writing that’s helped me make sense of where we are and envision a path forward. I’m sharing my favorites with you in hopes you’ll find some insight and comfort too.
“Community isn’t just about trying hard enough; it’s about what we are willing to feel.”
Interdependence is a Survival Skill, But Shouldn’t Feel Like Building a Bunker
Channeling urgency into commitment, not panic
“When people on the right talk about security, it often simply means firearms. But for those on the political left, community self-defense is a much bigger idea.”
A Return to Leftist Self-Defense
Communities targeted by escalating right-wing violence are learning from their own histories how to keep each other safe.
“Open up your sense of what a leader looks like to include both yourself and people unlike you, so that you do not ignore the leadership you need for it being unfamiliar—your own or someone else’s.”
This Country Is Still That Country - by Alexander Chee
Some Lessons I Learned From ACT UP That Have Stood The Test Of Time.
“When you go to Democrats.org, clicking ‘Take Action’ does not direct you to a page with your local Democratic committee’s meeting times and locations. The bolded call-to-action button on the party homepage is ‘DONATE,’ not ‘JOIN.’”
The US Is a Civic Desert. To Survive, the Democratic Party Needs to Transform Itself. | The Nation
The party should jettison its consultant class and move toward a local-membership model that would help to rejuvenate civic life across the country.
“People are lashing out in all directions, solidifying rifts with people they will ultimately need, if they plan to participate in the work of collective survival.”
Beyond the Blame: Fighting for Each Other in the Face of Fascism
"In dark times, people have always found ways to make their own light. That work is now upon us."
“As someone who has devoted years of my life to the work of direct action–to planning, executing, and helping others prepare for various forms of protest–I would never suggest that we foreclose any avenue of resistance. We must be nimble in these times. However, it is crucial that we rethink our approach to direct action and protest in a potentially authoritarian, dictatorial context.”
Collective Survival, Adaptation and Direct Action
Defiance must be woven into the fabric of our daily lives, rather than simply proclaimed at marches or on social media.
“I need everyone to buddy up—to prep for the next administration like you would in a big brother/big sister program where if you live in a safer area, you pick one state or city to really pay attention to and support.”
Ten Actions Dems Can Take to Protect Abortion Before Trump Takes Office
Repro experts tell AED what they want to see from pro-choice politicians
The common thread between these pieces of writing is the importance of community. We must show patience and care for ourselves and one another. We’ll need to approach this work with love and joy, but also with a willingness to endure discomfort and navigate conflict. These are skills that are very much a work in progress for me. However, as these pieces of writing remind me, there are so many of us committed to this effort. It’s comforting to think of all the people alive right now dedicating themselves to building loving communities, because if one thing is clear, it’s that we will need each other now more than ever.