week 3 of no TV
You know I originally thought that I would die without my TV but it's been kinda freeing. My schedule isn't structured around TV programs and I tend to be out and about a lot more. I still get my Netflix (Season 2 Veronica Mars should be on it's way soon!) and I go to sleep to AirAmerica. I haven't watched Gilmore Girls since I got here and I can't say that I miss it. I do miss CSI a little but not enough to buy a TV and carry it the many blocks to my apt. I definitely miss PBS, but the local library carries a lot of the mystery shows I watch on DVD. I will get a TV once I'm employed. Speaking of employment...I have a canvassing part time gig with Working America. All I have to do is show up! Isn't that crazy? I think that it's funny since I've only lived here for 3 weeks. I really don't like the idea of knocking on the door of someone that I don't know. At least we are only knocking on the doors of registered Democrats. I've also worry about knocking on people's doors because I'm black. Maybe they'll put me in an ethnically mixed neighborhood. I guess that's not fair of me to say, but I'm beginning to get the impression that even activists think that Portland is a very racist place, which is ironic since I love my little non-ethnically mixed corner of it.
Speaking of which, I went to NE the other day. NE is where the majority of the working class and people of color are. It's a very city looking area. I think the area I was in is being gentrified because it's a cheaper area to live in. I liked this area of NE because the styles of houses were familiar to me. NW has a lot of rowhouses and townhouses but NE has some single level and small homes. I even thought that when I'm ready to buy a house I should look in that area. I didn't say why I was in NE. I attended a feminist social mixer for the bookstore/organization In Other Words. It was fun! I missed being around politically centered women. We were silly, drinking and signing up to volunteer for the group. Like I said I met some people and I hope to gain some friends. Later that night I went to a book reading at the story by Alix Dobson and she said something that got me to wondering about the organization. She said that she didn't organize events in Portland because it was such a racist city and there was a lack of women of color. And I thought that this is a really weird thing for her to say since the bookstore is now located in a more ethnically mixed part of town. I just started to feel like people were trying too hard to seem racially cool.
The truth is that I like In Other Words. I like their mission and the coalitions that they are trying to build with other women centered groups. I maybe wrong but I hope that race isn't made into this big deal that makes the organization seem like they are doing people of color and working class people a favor by being inclusive when that is the way they should have always been. I maybe judging them too harshly too quickly. Or I maybe judging them based on Alix who considered herself an accurate spokesperson for the group but maybe that's just her ego.
Wow, I've come a long way away from TV! Til next time!
Melinda
Speaking of which, I went to NE the other day. NE is where the majority of the working class and people of color are. It's a very city looking area. I think the area I was in is being gentrified because it's a cheaper area to live in. I liked this area of NE because the styles of houses were familiar to me. NW has a lot of rowhouses and townhouses but NE has some single level and small homes. I even thought that when I'm ready to buy a house I should look in that area. I didn't say why I was in NE. I attended a feminist social mixer for the bookstore/organization In Other Words. It was fun! I missed being around politically centered women. We were silly, drinking and signing up to volunteer for the group. Like I said I met some people and I hope to gain some friends. Later that night I went to a book reading at the story by Alix Dobson and she said something that got me to wondering about the organization. She said that she didn't organize events in Portland because it was such a racist city and there was a lack of women of color. And I thought that this is a really weird thing for her to say since the bookstore is now located in a more ethnically mixed part of town. I just started to feel like people were trying too hard to seem racially cool.
The truth is that I like In Other Words. I like their mission and the coalitions that they are trying to build with other women centered groups. I maybe wrong but I hope that race isn't made into this big deal that makes the organization seem like they are doing people of color and working class people a favor by being inclusive when that is the way they should have always been. I maybe judging them too harshly too quickly. Or I maybe judging them based on Alix who considered herself an accurate spokesperson for the group but maybe that's just her ego.
Wow, I've come a long way away from TV! Til next time!
Melinda