anger as action
Time flies when you're in living the hellscape that is United States. So, I've been trying to channel my anger into action and have weekends canvassing and lit dropping for Bobby LaPin.1 I've never volunteered for a campaign before and I realize the more I do it, the less angry I am; the more in control I feel. It's also an opportunity to immerse myself in parts of Baltimore I've yet to see. Despite living here, I look like a tourist because I’m always looking up.2 And how could I not? This city is rich with history and brimming with charm; every day feels like an adventure.
Last weekend, I canvassed in Sharp Leadenhall, the city's first and oldest Black neighborhood. I had a partner for half an hour or so, but in truth, I find door knocking easier when I'm alone. It feels more natural, and I love to chat with anyone about anything. During my time alone, I met a woman (with the opposing candidate's sign on her stoop) who invited me into her home. I gladly accepted and our conversation only ended because her church pastor called. Towards the end of my turf, I ended up at a row of apartments, only to be met by the entrance to an on-ramp for the highway. The confusion, followed by horror, which triggered the deep ache I feel in my chest when I see a community that's been butchered at the altar of capitalism.
On my walk out of the neighborhood, I bumped into an older gentleman and said hello and offered him a flyer. He said no, but I'm so damn curious, and we fell into easy conversation instead. We chatted for 15 minutes, and during that time, a few cars had stopped at the intersection opposite us. Windows rolled down, the drivers would holler at William, and our conversation would pause as he caught up with his neighbors.
American politics is infuriating for a myriad of reasons, but lately, I've been angry at the class system that nobody wants to talk about. I want to run through the streets, screaming "Lincoln was the greatest to ever do it, and he was self-educated!" There are folks who would tell me I'm doing it wrong and that I should prioritize hitting as many doors as possible3, but it's not in my nature; I want to know everything, the whole of a person.
