An effective organizer's words carry much weight

"'Hunter Gray' [email protected] [marxist]" <[email protected]> Wed, 26 Nov 2014 11:15:51 +0000
Newsgroups gmane.politics.marxism.analysis
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In June, 1963, in the heat of the climax of our massive JacksonMovement, ei=
ght or nine young people =E2=80=93 African American, of course =E2=80=93 ap=
proachedme, privately seeking my advice.Theyhad come up with a new tactic f=
or us =E2=80=93 placing themselves prone on downtownCapitol Street, the eco=
nomic nerve center of Jackson and the basic target ofour successful economi=
c boycott out of which our present mass movement haddeveloped. They felt th=
is approach would add significantly to the always veryimportant dimension o=
f publicity.
An effective organizer=E2=80=99s words alwayscarry much weight.
I chose my words very, very carefully. Complimenting them on their creativi=
tyand great courage, I pointed out that, while most of the white drivers wo=
uldstop short of running over them, there was a very good chance in the hig=
hlyinflamed atmosphere that at least one or two would not.I also pointed ou=
t that we were currentlygetting a lot of publicity, nationally and internat=
ionally.
=E2=80=9CBut the basic reason I don=E2=80=99t thinkthis would be appropriat=
e,=E2=80=9D said I, =E2=80=9Cis that we want and we need you to stayalive a=
nd healthy.Let=E2=80=99s stick to themass marches.=E2=80=9DAnd then I added=
, =E2=80=9CYouall have long and productive lives ahead of you.Life is alway=
s going to need you.=E2=80=9D
They saw my point and abandoned whatwould have been a disaster.
I received yesterday a couple offriendly inquiries from good and thoughtful=
 people which prompt this which I amnow writing.
As most are aware, activist grassrootscommunity organizing is my life-long =
thing =E2=80=93 and I=E2=80=99ve done it consistently and quitesuccessfully=
 in many, many situations in many parts of this country.I=E2=80=99ve done i=
t on a full time basis -- and I=E2=80=99vedone it in what amounts to full t=
ime while teaching, usually full time as well,in higher educational institu=
tions. I have never become time-locked into anyepoch =E2=80=93 but I have l=
earned much from them all.See my =E2=80=9CCore dimensions of my community o=
rganizing=E2=80=9D =E2=80=93 reachable belowthis message via a signature li=
nk.
The other day, I posted a couple ofpieces on ourviolence preventionapproach=
 in northeastern North Carolina Klan situations and also in our South/South=
westside Chicago work.These are just two ofmany such life-long situations i=
n that particular genre.
By the time I was in my mid-teens,and not thinking in terms of innate leade=
rship abilities which I recognizedlater on, I realized my words and actions=
 could often influence people and movethem in one direction or another..I w=
asa big kid (and a big adult, presently six feet and 215 pounds.) I could t=
hen,and do now, think well, speak well, and I=E2=80=99m pervasively tough.I=
 accumulated a good deal of solid, commonsense very early on.
In my now many decades of work withgrassroots people, I=E2=80=99ve consiste=
ntly advocated and pursued, in the context ofsensible toughness and militan=
cy,asteady and rationally non-violent organizational course.The alternative=
 can often be chaos, sometimesbloody in nature, and the ultimate destructio=
n of goals and work.
Again, as I=E2=80=99ve noted,an effective organizer=E2=80=99s words always =
carrymuch weight.
HUNTER BEAR



HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Francis Abenaki / =
St. Regis Mohawk=20
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
and Ohkwari' . Check out our massive social justice website:=20
www.hunterbear.org
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20

Core dimensions of my Community Organizing course:
http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm

My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
methodology: http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm

See this for mini-bio, efforts to prevent JM=E2=80=99s appearance in
Mississippi, a wide range of its many reviews, and some
photos: http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEHWY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwb=
k_0

The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm

(Photos)=20



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<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2"></font></div>
<div><font face=3D"Verdana" size=3D"2">&nbsp;<font face=3D"Times New Roman"=
 size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">In June, 1963, in <span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>=
the heat of the climax of our massive Jackson
Movement, eight or nine young people =E2=80=93 African American, of course =
=E2=80=93 approached
me, privately seeking my advice.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; <=
/span>They
had come up with a new tactic for us =E2=80=93 placing themselves prone on =
downtown
Capitol Street, the economic nerve center of Jackson and the basic target o=
f
our successful economic boycott out of which our present mass movement had
developed. They felt this approach would add significantly to the always ve=
ry
important dimension of publicity.</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times =
New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">An effective organizer=E2=80=99s words always
carry much weight.</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=
=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri"><span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;
</span>I chose my words very, very carefully. Complimenting them on their c=
reativity
and great courage, I pointed out that, while most of the white drivers woul=
d
stop short of running over them, there was a very good chance in the highly
inflamed atmosphere that at least one or two would not.<span style=3D"mso-s=
pacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I also pointed out that we were currently
getting a lot of publicity, nationally and internationally.</font></span></=
b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">=E2=80=9CBut the basic reason I don=E2=80=99t think
this would be appropriate,=E2=80=9D said I, =E2=80=9Cis that we want and we=
 need you to stay
alive and healthy.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Let=E2=
=80=99s stick to the
mass marches.=E2=80=9D<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>And =
then I added, =E2=80=9CYou
all have long and productive lives ahead of you.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun=
: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Life is always going to need you.=E2=80=9D</font></sp=
an></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">They saw my point and abandoned what
would have been a disaster.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span=
></font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">I received yesterday a couple of
friendly inquiries from good and thoughtful people which prompt this which =
I am
now writing.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></font></span>=
</b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">As most are aware, activist grassroots
community organizing is my life-long thing =E2=80=93 and I=E2=80=99ve done =
it consistently and quite
successfully in many, many situations in many parts of this country.<span s=
tyle=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I=E2=80=99ve done it on a full ti=
me basis -- and I=E2=80=99ve
done it in what amounts to full time while teaching, usually full time as w=
ell,
in higher educational institutions. I have never become time-locked into an=
y
epoch =E2=80=93 but I have learned much from them all.<span style=3D"mso-sp=
acerun: yes;">&nbsp;
</span>See my =E2=80=9CCore dimensions of my community organizing=E2=80=9D =
=E2=80=93 reachable below
this message via a signature link.</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times=
 New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">The other day, I posted a couple of
pieces on our<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>violence prev=
ention
approach in northeastern North Carolina Klan situations and also in our Sou=
th/Southwest
side Chicago work.<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>These ar=
e just two of
many such life-long situations in that particular genre.</font></span></b><=
/p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">By the time I was in my mid-teens,
and not thinking in terms of innate leadership abilities which I recognized
later on, I realized my words and actions could often influence people and =
move
them in one direction or another..<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;=
 </span>I was
a big kid (and a big adult, presently six feet and 215 pounds.) I could the=
n,
and do now, think well, speak well, and I=E2=80=99m pervasively tough.<span=
 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I accumulated a good deal of so=
lid, common
sense very early on.</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" si=
ze=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">In my now many decades of work with
grassroots people, I=E2=80=99ve consistently advocated and pursued, in the =
context of
sensible toughness and militancy,<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; =
</span>a
steady and rationally non-violent organizational course.<span style=3D"mso-=
spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>The alternative can often be chaos, sometimes
bloody in nature, and the ultimate destruction of goals and work.</font></s=
pan></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3">

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">Again, as I=E2=80=99ve noted,<span style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes;">&n=
bsp; </span>an effective organizer=E2=80=99s words always carry
much weight.</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" size=3D"3"=
>

</font><p style=3D"margin: 0in 0in 8pt;"><b style=3D"mso-bidi-font-weight: =
normal;"><span style=3D"line-height: 107%; font-size: 12pt;"><font face=3D"=
Calibri">HUNTER BEAR</font></span></b></p><font face=3D"Times New Roman" si=
ze=3D"3">

</font></font></div><div><font size=3D"2"><br></font></div><p>
HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR/JOHN R SALTER JR] Mi'kmaq / St. Francis Abenaki / =
St. Regis Mohawk=20
<br>
Protected by Na=C2=B4shdo=C2=B4i=C2=B4ba=C2=B4i=C2=B4=20
<br>
and Ohkwari' . Check out our massive social justice website:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org" mce_href=3D"http://www.hunterbear.org=
">www.hunterbear.org</a>&nbsp;=20
<br>
Member, National Writers Union AFL-CIO=20
<br>

<br>
Core dimensions of my Community Organizing course:
<br>
<a href=3D"http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm" mce_href=3D"http://=
www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbear.htm">http://www.labornet.org/news/0000/hbe=
ar.htm</a>
<br>

<br>
My expanded/updated "Organizer's Book,"=20
<br>
JACKSON MISSISSIPPI -- with a new 10,000=20
<br>
word introduction by me. Covers much of my=20
<br>
confrontational social justice organizing life to=20
<br>
date. Contains much how-to grassroots organizing=20
<br>
methodology: <a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm" mce_href=3D"http=
://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm">http://hunterbear.org/jackson.htm</a><br>
<br>
See this for mini-bio, efforts to prevent JM=E2=80=99s appearance in
<br>
Mississippi,  a wide range of its many reviews, and some
<br>
photos:   <a href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEHWY/ref=
=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0" mce_href=3D"http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001K=
MEHWY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0">http://www.amazon.com/John-R.-Salter/e/B001KMEH=
WY/ref=3Dntt_dp_epwbk_0</a>
<br>

<br>
The Stormy Adoption of an Indian Child [My Father]:=20
<br>
<a href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm" mce_=
href=3D"http://hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm">http://=
hunterbear.org/James%20and%20Salter%20and%20Dad.htm</a></p><p>&nbsp;=20
<br>
(Photos)=20
<br></p>




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