Redux: Poet David Blair's Performance at the Allied Media Conference

One of the most amazing performances I saw all year was poet David Blair's opening at the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, Michigan on July 17, 2009. His social observations and commentary concluded with a heart-felt tribute to Michael Jackson was very powerful. My Youtube posting of the performance didn't give it complete justice because that video web site sets a 10 minute time limit on postings. Below is my complete recording, which is just over 13 minutes long. I hope you take a moment during this busy holiday season to watch and listen.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Poet David Blair

Detroit, Michigan * July 17, 2009

AMC 2009: Not Your Daddy's J-School

Walter Cronkite died over the weekend. A titan in the world of journalism, in the end he personally outlived the relevancy of the corporate media establishment from whence he made his mark.

I spent the weekend in the ‘D’ at the Allied Media Conference 2009 (AMC09). You could say that what we learned there was not your daddy’s or granddaddy’s journalism – i.e., Walter’s journalism. The conference center at Wayne State University was filled with knowledge, shared knowledge, specifically by, for, and about scores of citizen-journalists from across the U.S. We learned and shared the techniques being used to replace and displace the corporate media that is collapsing after having failed for so long in meeting its public service, truth-telling, and ethical obligations. Corporate newspapers and TV news have slowly realized their readership/viewership has tiptoed out of the room. The targeted audience has taken up community news coverage in its own grassroots manner. You may have read about the trend in the newspaper – if you have one still published in your town and that newspaper covered the story.

Walter would have appreciated the AMC09 citizen-journalists. After all, most of them are starting from the standpoint of opposing U.S. wars and aggression around the globe. The lessons of Vietnam and the failures of U.S. foreign policy – so famously called out by Walter on national TV in his CBS news anchor heyday – are not lost on the AMC09 writers, videographers, artists, and others, most of whom were probably born after the retirement of the “most trusted man in America.”

On Friday I sat next to the young Latina activists from Chicago’s Little Village Environmental Justice Organization and I wonder if most of them would know the name and history of Walter Cronkite. That history, however, doesn’t directly matter in their lives, as the LVEJO activists are too busy tracking and mapping the environmental danger spots buried in and around their neighborhood. If needed later, they can tap into Wikipedia for a quick lesson on Cronkite. In Detroit at AMC09, they brought with them the techniques and strategies used to map and visually depict the environmental injustice in Little Village. After 90 minutes, a room full of activists exited the room with the shared knowledge, ready to map their own local injustices. There’s plenty of injustice to go around.

EDUCATION AND ANALYSIS

That’s what the how-to, can-do part of the conference was like: Want to learn how to start an Internet radio station? Head to the basement, the Prometheus Radio Project will show you how (photo, below right). Next door, you can learn silk screen techniques for advocacy posters or t-shirts from the Beehive Design Collective. Want to jump into the video remix wave? Have a discussion with the Open Youth Networks. Want to build your own radio tower? Grab those pliers. There was no shortage of experienced people – even people sitting right next to you in the room and not necessarily the instructors – willing to teach you a thing or two, or rattle off helpful web site addresses as you scramble to get it all down on paper. What was the web address again? was heard often.

In addition to the learning, there were exchanges of ideas and analysis. The scheduled breakout sessions were supplemented with media-focused caucuses structured to highlight specific interests or groups: Documentary photographers, professional writers, sex workers, the women’s movement and others. There were documentary films shown each day. There were amazing live video conferences scheduled with activists in Palestine, Mexico, and South Africa.

Early Friday evening, the campus auditorium in Detroit was filled with AMC09 activists. In Johannesburg, South Africa, artist/activist Ra Ra spoke with the audience in real time via Internet, as his image was projected on the large theater screen. At the same time, another image was projected showing a scrolling conversation from people posting their own live comments via chat and Twitter. It was an amazing sight and true community conversation. Below is a short video of the live stream action with South Africa. (See various photos here.)

REHEARSAL FOR THE USSF

Organizers from the U.S. Social Forum – which is booked in Detroit for June 22 -26, 2010 – were in attendance at AMC09. I’m sure they wanted to get a feel for the way Detroit can host events and, yes, throw a party. Based on my experience, I would guess the USSF folks walked away pleased with the experience. The AMC09 was well-organized, welcoming to a diverse group of visitors from around the country, and flat out fun. Next year the Allied Media Conference is scheduled for June 17 -20, 2010 in Detroit and will immediately precede the USSF. June 2010 will be “A Detroit Summer,” as I heard some activists already calling it.

I predict next summer will unforgettable, just like the AMC09.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Real Time Talk With Activists in South Africa

The People's Perspective on the Economic Meltdown in Detroit, Part 1

Once again, I was not invited to this week's Detroit Chamber of Commerce's annual Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island. That's all right because I WAS invited to Detroit's Cobo Hall last Saturday to attend the townhall discussion titled, "Meltdown in Detroit: Economic Collapse, a People's Plan for Recovery." It was open to the public; everyone was invited.

Townhall organizers -- led by The Nation magazine -- rounded up an impressive group of panelists to address Detroit's economic meltdown from the perspective of "putting the needs of workers and citizens (not bankers and stock market speculators) at the center of the conversation." How could I miss such an opportunity? So I interrupted my Memorial Weekend fun at the Lansing Cristo Rey festival, grabbed my recording gear, and drove to Detroit.

I am reporting this in two parts as panel moderator John Nichols of The Nation basically went around the panel twice to get the varying perspectives of the six panelists. Each participant spoke briefly during each round. Below are links to Nichols' first pass through the panel. Representative John Conyers made opening remarks and Nichols gave an introduction about the event -- portions of both are provided here, as well. I will publish the recordings of round two in a couple of days.

So now here is your invitation to the townhall discussion on the economic meltdown in Detroit:

Opening Remarks 

by Representative John Conyers (D-Detroit)

For the second week in a row (see my recording from the Michigan Policy Summit), Conyers gives a harsh critique of the makeup of President Obama's administration and, this time, adds commentary on the auto bailout. Watch the video here.

Introduction by John Nichols of The Nation

Nichols, a political writer and author, served as the panel moderator. Here he answers the the question, "How come The Nation is going to Detroit to talk about the economic meltdown?"

First Panelist: Economist Robert Pollin

Robert Pollin, co-director of Political Economy Research Institute and Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts, answers the opening question, "What went wrong? Why is this economy so sick?" Click here.

Second Panelist: Author/Activist Barbara Ehrenreich

Best selling author, social commentator, author/activist Barbara Ehrenreich talks about the fundamental, underlying problems with the economy. Click here.

Third Panelist: Union Organizer/Detroit Activist

Elena Herrada

Elena Herrada is a Detroit activist, union organizer, and founder of Central Obrero, a Latino workers center. She is asked, "Is it all the immigrants fault?" and talks about "this economy and what it means to people who actually believe what is written on the Statue of Liberty." Click here.

Fourth Panelist: Detroit Activist Grace Lee Boggs

Author and long-time Detroit activist Grace Lee Boggs, at 94 years of age, answers the question, "Why is Detroit so important?" Click here.

Fifth Panelist: Detroit City Council Member 

JoAnn Watson

Detroit City Council Member JoAnn Watson is asked, "How are you going to rebuild Detroit?" and she talks about a "Marshall Plan" for Detroit. Click here.

Sixth Panelist: Union Organizer/Activist Diane Feeley

Union organizer, activist, and retiree Dianne Feeley answers the question, "What's a 'green economy,' how do we get there, and what does it mean for Detroit?" Click here.

Watch out for part two of this report on the townhall discussion from Detroit.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Author/Activist Barbara Ehrenreich talking

in Detroit about the Economic Meltdown

Economist Dean Baker Addresses the 2009 Michigan Policy Summit

Economist Dean Baker, the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., was the keynote speaker at the 2009 Michigan Policy Summit in Detroit on Saturday, May 16, 2009.  Baker has a Ph.d. in Economics from the University of Michigan and blogs for the American Prospect.  

His recorded speech is provided below.  You can toggle the HD on/off to adjust for better playback with your specific computer.

-- Rico Thomas Rico

Dean Baker,

Center for Economic and Policy Research,

Addresses the 2009 Michigan Policy Summit