Living in coronavirus world 107: Still, Teddy was safe

7/9

...to the people...

Our New York City Presbytery holds another conversation on dismantling systemic racism.  Most of the meeting goes by dryly with reports of what different congregations are doing, some undertakings quite good, but somehow all very bloodless. As the meeting nears its appointed closing, a voice rises up and says that racism is not an issue it is about people, with names and histories. And we need to face them. And the flood gates open. The next 15 minutes has more than anything preceding. There is a strong feeling that  our  committees and structures reflect whiteness. That they have an ethos based on a reality of  decades ago when gatekeeping seemed so important and now that gatekeeping continues to dominate over the facilitation of mission, especially as it relates to black congregations. Even though our Presbytery is different than any other, where there is no majority, nevertheless, to our siblings of color, they feel paternalized in their participation. And are tired and exhausted from telling us their stories. When nothing ever changes. The conversation continues for another hour. There are real cases, stories to be named. Racism has distorted our Presbytery. And whiteness still prevails. It comes to me that when a system is inherently white in its ethos, culture. and structures, adding diversity to committees is insufficient to truly begin the work of dismantlement. In fact it strengthens white privilege by making people of color complicit in their own disempowerment. The systems themselves must be confronted and reconstructed or else only colors change and we get no closer to justice. To healing. 

midtown

I go for physical therapy for the first time in months. Am surprised to see the Underground shops at Columbus Circle are still shut down. I note that around midtown, ams wear is around 85-90%. Some businesses continue to show plywood fronts.  Walking home, I pass by the museum of Natural History and see Teddy Roosevelt is still there with his African and Native companions. But not for long. Interestingly, there’s a contingent of police assigned to keep hm safe during the meantime. The last weekend, there were 30 shootings and 10 deaths. Still, Teddy is safe. 

Teddy's still here

Hoops are back!

Hoops  are back!Walking through Morningside I notice, the hoops are back! And basketball is being played again. That must a good sign. 

The second night of my freed Heide’s “Reimagine…” festival features a film “Franz Wright: Last words,” by M.A. Littler. When he was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and given six months  to live, Mr. Wright began to make secret recordings for his wife, Beth Oehlkers Wright to be listened to after his death. He wound up living 4 more years. His words are both well crafted finished poems and random reflections on the moment. Therein is their power. Littler has created a visual reflection on and dialogue with these words with black and white film. What really comes through in Franz Wright’s words is agency. Hs taking control  of the narrative  of his life in the process of certain dying. As the Public’s docudrama play the Line illustrates, death was a very central character in our city for far too many weeks. Much of the worst outside of the public eye but a tragedy in every sense of the word. Too many never even got to say goodbye. To touch the body of the dead beloved one. Over 32000 of us have died so far. Beyond most of our awareness, though I can think of six I have known. We have done insufficient refection on the reality til now. (https://www.google.com/search?q=franz+wright+%22last+words%22&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS774US774&sxsrf=ALeKk00TmRRlKHgkTFBEi2cztqYHwfCDgg:1594441064346&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=dh0eWiAvMPB5mM%252CD5ksPBNZreicFM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQIA8wbpOTY0pzYZr27Ex9kARmAFg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPu4Xqq8TqAhVLg3IEHbE2C2UQ9QEwAHoECAUQAw&biw=1280&bih=605#imgrc=eOg-R7yXvlhFYM) 

  I wonder what the meaning of random fireworks are at 2 AM six days after the 4th.