It was only a little more than 11 years ago that this photo was taken.
That's me holding our first grand-daughter Delilah. Why am I posting this? Because that little girl is now in 5th grade and had a school assignment to interview someone about activism. She asked if she could interview me, and I said "Of course! Yes, I would be honored."
So she came by the other day with her mom and brothers. She pulled out the long paper with all the questions that the teacher had assigned to ask about activism. What an interesting journey back in time that was for me.
When
did I first become politically active? It was back in 1967-68 during
the Civil Rights movement. There were many marches and protests, and
yes, my sibs and I got involved. We marched in the inner-city streets of Newark, NJ.
Then, of course,
there was the war in Vietnam. My siblings and I protested the war and
marched in many long demonstrations. The US still had a draft at the
time, and we learned about draft counseling, deferments, etc. The war
raged on, and we kept up with our protests and vigilance. We went to SDS (Students for a Democratic Society) meetings and my sister became the youngest member to join the local chapter. We were so committed.
In 1968 on election day we held Vote For Humphrey signs in the legal distance from the voting area. He was running against Richard Nixon and we knew how terrible that win would be for our country. Sadly, Nixon did win, and our marching and protesting went on.
Then the worst happened the Kent State Massacre in 1970. Five days after the shootings my siblings and I drove to Washington DC to protest and joined 100,000 protesters. We marched. We chanted. We cried. Then we went home, and I never really marched again. Well, Roger and I did march at a small local rally back in 2018. I blogged about that back then. But it was nothing like the anti-war movement of the 1960s.
It
was interesting to remember these times and feel deeply honored that
Delilah would ask to interview me. After she left, I thought about some
of the things that really made me want to take to the streets to protest
war and violence, racism and hatred. It made me remember my maternal
grandmother and how she lost her mother and brothers and many family
members in the hell that was Auschwitz. This is what pushed me to be an
activist stand up for peace, for freedom, for acknowledgement that we
humans are just one species on this earth. "Can't we all just get along?"
I can understand why you were honored to be an interviewee. I wonder how Delilah will process what you told her and how it'll impact her life going forward. What you say to kids and what they make of it are often two different things entirely.
ReplyDeleteAllyBean-- I love what you asked. I hadn't thought about that... how Delilah would process this information and how or if it would have an impact.
DeleteVery commendable. But was she supposed to write a piece (that's what journalists call it) from the answers she garnered? That would be a longish stretch with lots of facts to be remembered.
ReplyDeleteInterviewing can be fun, especially when the subject is reluctant to disclose certain info, yet still wants to be interviewed. I interviewed people for 44 years, often the high and the mighty (ie, people earning ten times what I was earning), and revelled in the brief democracy this conferred. In the USA I was able to make my strange accent count.
When my youngest daughter was still at primary school she attended a sort of journalism class put on by the local newspaper. This involved conducting an interview. The prospect worried her but I suggested she might feel fairly relaxed asking questions of the local sweet (ie, candy in your lingo) shop owner. Nothing as serious as your project, but then she would be asking her own questions. I primed her with various subjects but it was all oral, other than writing down the answers.
Walking there she seemed confident but as she entered the shop I immediately sensed her heightened apprehension about doing adult things in an adult world, even if all this would have seemed trivial to an onlooker. I had to make a quick decision - should I turn the event into something that was journalistically meaningless by supplying her with questions. Or improvise with hints. I chose the latter and was overjoyed to see her accept and run with these suggestions. Emerging from her ordeal full of bounce.
Were this fiction I'd end up saying how well she had done writing for one of our national newspapers. Nothing of the kind. She presently helps put money launderers in jail.
Roderick-- I love reading of your daughter's experience and her interview fears. Reminds me that the very first class I ever took in college (as a re-entry student aged 30!) was intro to journalism. I didn't go into journalism, but I did end up advising students who wrote the campus newspapers and poetry journals. I love what your daughter is doing now. Yes, get those money launderers in jail!
DeleteHow great that your granddaughter was able to talk to you about some of your personal history. I bet she'll never forget that! And thanks for putting it in a blog post so the rest of us could read about it too. You got to participate in many meaningful (and painful) moments in history.
ReplyDeleteSteve-- I love the idea of Delilah never forgetting the stories I told her. I'm so glad you liked this blog post. Yes, I came of age in a time of political action. I am so grateful for that.
DeleteAs a retired teacher I can only say what a brilliant idea.
ReplyDeleteHow nice that your granddaughter chose you to interview! Amazing when you look back at what you protested against and many of those issues are still with us today?! Makes me sad.
ReplyDelete"Let's give peace a chance."
EllenD-- I felt so deeply honored that she chose to interview me. I am her step-grandma with quite an activist history. Yes, those issues are still with us. It breaks my heart. Let's give peace a chance.
DeleteGreat photo of you and she earlier, just wish there had been a "now" version...even with head turned for shy folks. What a wonderful interview, and so glad you shared it here. Your life was active at a time that it needed to protest in injustices. Others are out there doing it now, and I'm so sad there are continuing issues as well as newer ones (old but just now being fought against.)
ReplyDeleteBarbara-- I checked all of my photos with the kids and I don't have any current ones with me and Delilah. I'll have to remedy me that soon. Yes, my siblings and I came of age in a time of protests of injustices. I'll march again if I have to. I just wish humans would wake up.
DeleteKids soon grow up and I have held a few baby's like that though none were my grandkids, some how I doubt my kids will have any kids
ReplyDeleteBilly-- Well, truth be told, I never had children. I married Roger who had three daughters. Now he has four grandchildren, and they all call me Grandma Robin. A sweet surprise, given my choice to never have kids.
DeleteSo much has happened in the world in the few years since Delilah was born, just as so much has happened since you and I were born. The question remains, ""Can't we all just get along?"
ReplyDeleteI'm remembering beginning 5th grade in 1959 in the suburbs of San Francisco but have no memories of anything remotely like being asked to interview someone about activism. At that age, I had little awareness of anything that
was happening politically at that time in California, the nation, or the world, although I knew from an early age about what had happened in Germany in World War II, and I do remember hearing about Stalin (on television?), although I don't recall hearing my parents talk about the local, national or international news. I'm sure Delilah and other children of her generation are much more aware of current events and history than I was. I know that friends of mine had parents who discussed current events and history as part of family life.
Beautiful photo of you holding Delilah.
am-- I grew up in a household where politics was in the family conversations and discussions. We had a daily newspaper delivered, and we watched the news every night. We were always engaged. It might be because of our family history, the holocaust, my father's injuries after World War II. The bigger world was always part of our lives.
DeleteYour granddaughter knew who to ask. I love that it was you.
ReplyDelete37paddington-- Thank you for your kind words. I was so glad she interviewed me, her activist step-grandma.
DeleteShe certainly picked a great interviewee. What a history of activism. Whilebyou were marching i was raising babies and paying little attention to tbe outside world, until Nixon was impeached. That woke me up!
ReplyDeleteBut I only attended one rally after that, and then I went with a friend to the Women's March in 2017 in DC. Quite an experience!
Granny Sue-- The Nixon impeachment was quite a time. I sometimes forget that we actually lived through an impeachment. It really has been quite a half century, hasn't it? I love that you went to the Women's March in DC. That must have been quite a time.
DeleteThat is one heck of a summary of the ills of the era. I'm just old enough to recall the protests and marches. It was wonderful how to see people march, to bear witness, to protest.
ReplyDeleteIt is wonderful that Delilah (such a beautiful name!) knew to ask you. She will remember what you told her, so who knows, it may inspire her in her work choices when she is deciding what to do with her life.
Ccorax
CCorax-- I love thinking that Delilah might be inspired by this interview. That would be such a wonderful thing to pass on to her generation. My siblings and I came of age in such a time of making our voices heard.
DeleteWhat a wonderful post, Robin, and even better that your granddaughter is now at the age where she can ask questions about your past and you can share that information.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice-- It really was quite a wonderful moment sharing my 1960s history with my step-grand-daughter. I like know that my history will now be part of her history, which she'll remember a long time into the future.
DeleteDelilah helped you to write a most profound and moving post. Your activism is an honor you can take with you in your life and in your grandchildren in the years ahead. I am honored to know you. Bravo, Robin, bravo!
ReplyDeleteCatalyst-- Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words. I will always be grateful that my parents were supportive of our political awareness and actions. They truly understood our dreams for a better world, one without war.
DeleteSo no doubt you would not be able to give her a hug like that now.
ReplyDeleteBilly-- She's almost as tall if not taller than I am now. Pretty soon she'll be able to pick me up. She's got very tall parents!
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