13 years of living and working in the United States, and what I have observed is this: as a diverse nation, the United States is very much a story in progress. It’s a vibrant, multifaceted tale, but it also has deep flaws that are holding us back from being all that we can be. I’ve had the opportunity to witness this dynamic firsthand many times. I happened to be in Baton Rouge when Alton Sterling was killed. And I’ve been here for the reckoning after the murder of George Floyd, watching peaceful candlelight vigils in the face of the violent rise of white supremacy. It’s very clear that across the country, we’re still grappling with the legacies of slavery and the Civil War. These events weren’t really so long ago, and we all need safe spaces for reflection and dialogue as we contemplate them.
The act of sharing our stories can also play a critical role in challenging dangerous extremist ideologies. More subtly, it challenges our perspective on society and history. Especially as our understanding of culture is always growing and expanding. There’s always room for more stories and more perspectives. There’s so much to gain and nothing to lose. This has been a focus in recent collaborative and imaginative planning conversations with many partners lately, including peacebuilders, and artists, addressing disinformation and social justice activists, human and immigrant rights defenders, and policymakers. It’s been a pleasure to facilitate these storytelling and narrative sessions and lead deep-dive conversations on cultivating our stories to meet this moment. One of those organizations includes The American Folklore Society (AFS) which also happens to be my primary professional organization, that includes many of my mentors, elders, friends, and brilliant colleagues. It is a community and movement, close to my heart. A couple of weeks ago, I was thrilled to learn that my folklorist peers had nominated and selected me to join the executive board of our national society! I’m especially honored to join the board this year, as this November we’ll be gathering around 900 scholars, cultural workers, activists, artists, and educators, from across the nation and around the world for the 136th annual meeting taking place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Our 2024 theme: Crossing the Global Storm: Networks, Solidarities, and Communities in Struggle. I’m excited about this theme, particularly as it relates to the idea of a story in progress, the chance to give back to my field, offer perspectives, and help build solidarity with communities in need. If you are interested in participating, please let me take this opportunity to invite you to join us in Albuquerque! If you’re new or a first-timer, reach out, as I’d love to welcome you personally. AFS News: Comments are closed.
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