North Carolina and Bastions of Independent Media
For the past few days, I’ve been in North Carolina as part of the Grassroots Media Tour. Ostensibly, I’m supposed to be doing presentations and giving workshops on independent media, but really, I’m on an adventure to learn about all these awesome spaces and media projects and people who are in the South. Who knew? Well, I guess I should know by know that there’s amazing stuff going on all over the place, but it is great to see it in action. I also love visiting towns and meeting people who are knowledgeable about their area – its history, its struggles, its traditions.
Our events change in every city, and consist of skills workshops, presentations, and facilitated discussions and exercises designed to get people talking and thinking about independent media and how it can help their struggles, as well as talking about some of the challenges (and benefits!) of working within media.
So here’s some of the stuff I’ve learned about:
Durham/Chapel Hill
Internationalist Books
Our event was at a little bookstore called Internationalist Books. It’s been around for over 25 years, and has a great selection of books and magazines. It’s collectively run, and has one part time staff person. Thanks to Nick (who for some reason I don’t have a photo of) for setting up the event and letting me sleep on his couch. He was a great host. Plus, he’s thinking about starting a new queer-focused activisty publication, which I’m very excited about (really Nick, no pressure!).
I also met Elena Everett, who told us all about the move to create a media center in Durham. This past weekend, they held a community meeting to discuss what people would like to see in the media center. With only around 400,000 people, the fact that Durham is moving toward its own media center is, frankly, amazing.
Maybe it’s the influence of the several universities (like UNC, NC State, and Duke), but there is a rich history of culture and activism in Durham that has been exciting to learn about. From Southerners on New Ground to Spirit House, there is a lot going on here.
Greensboro
The Hive
In Greensboro, we were hosted by Isabell Moore who arranged a workshop for one of our presenters at UNC Greensboro and then a discussion at The Hive - an awesome community center that has offices for different organizations, a food bank, and a kitchen which is used by Food Not Bombs – not to mention other events and programs. It was great to get together with a diverse group to talk about independent media and the organizing and work people are doing. Not only that, but Isabell and her friend Laura cooked us an amazing Indian dinner.
Asheville
Firestorm Cafe
I’m in Asheville now, at the Firestorm Cafe and Community Center. What can I say but wow? This cafe is worker-owned and collectively run, located near downtown, with great food, books, and a large event space. And it’s all done in an entirely accessible way, insuring that a good cross-section of people feel comfortable in the space. We’ve been staying with too collective members, Scott and Kila, and they are great hosts! The cafe has only been open for about four months, and they are doing a great job. I hope that one day they take the time to write down some of the information on how they opened it, and some of the challenges, as well as some info on their business model.
It’s no surprise that there are many media producers and activists here in Asheville, due in no small part to the Asheville Global Report – a news organization that has existed here since 1999 (I think!). Our conversation last night centered around people’s visions for what independent media could look like in in Asheville in five years.
My Co-Conspirators
I’ve been fortunate to be traveling with two amazing women – writer and performer Alexis Pauline Gumbs of Broken Beautiful Press from Durham, NC, and radio producer Puck Lo of Free Speech Radio News from San Francisco, CA. Although I’m leaving the tour after our next stop, Atlanta, they will be continuing on – Alex
is to New Orleans and Puck to Miami, so I hope that you will come and and welcome them (and the new people joining the tour) when they are in your town.
Puck
Being on tour has been great, and part of it is meeting people and having interesting, random conversations. In Chapel Hill, it was a few days after the Critical Resistance conference and we had a long conversation about different models for organizing conferences, and the benefits of national versus regional gatherings. And last night in Asheville we talked about art versus craft, and what craftsmanship is, and the traditions of folk art and crafts in the area – is the difference utility? economics? purpose? I like finding out what is on people’s minds, connecting with old friends, seeing the sites – and enjoying the beautiful weather here.
Next stop, Atlanta. See you there?
