Meet Me in the Field

I’ve heard enough about how much more divided America is barely two weeks after the election. This begs the question: more divided than when else in our history? How far back must we go to find a time when we were any less divided? Certainly not 248 years ago when our democracy was forged within an economic machine called slavery. And not 159 years ago at the end of the Civil War; or five years later when newly freed Blacks were once again victimized by the failure of Reconstruction and the rise of the KKK. Tragically, this list could go on ad nauseum. This so called divide—like race itself— is a construct. It only exists if we on each alleged side say it’s there and keep it there. Tragically, there are too many folk who live to fuel the idea of a divide. The actions and reactions to this ideology are, of course, very real: a pendulum that swings far in each direction and can be devastating.

There’s a rush by many to the edge of this chasm to squabble and sling mud. This is a distraction that none of us can afford, no matter who you voted for. Fortunately, my closest family members and friends share my political and world views (or are gracious enough to not talk about it!). This, of course makes it easy to remain inside the bubble that is Marin County and California, and not engage with people who voted for Trump. My heart goes out to many friends I witness struggling with fragile relationships; some that didn’t survive 2016-2020. If you have experienced this, I can imagine that you think I couldn’t be more wrong about our division being a construct, because the hurtful emotions you’re feeling are very real.

It can be impossible to move someone away from their constructed ideologies, which is why it’s important to seek common ground where possible. As hard as it may be, focus not on personal choices, but on issues/policies—and know when to walk away.

Chances are we agree on more things than we disagree on. My only interest is in finding that common ground and working together to hold accountable elected officials—blue and red—on every level: federal, state and local to move our country forward with equity, empathy and joy. Yes, joy.

My good friend Tiffany Schlain, erudite filmmaker, writer, and artist, recently posted this poem by Rumi that captures a vital message needed in this crucial moment, 1,200 years after the poem was written.

(There is a field. I’ll meet you there)

By Rumi

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase “each other”
doesn’t make any sense.
The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you.
Don’t go back to sleep.
You must ask for what you really want.
Don’t go back to sleep.
People are going back and forth across the doorsill
where the two worlds touch.
The door is round and open.

Don’t go back to sleep.

As we navigate the next four years, our most important action item was beautifully modeled by Harris/Walz during their campaign: no matter how much nonsense is aimed at us, stick to the issues. We don’t all have to be experts across the board. Pick one or two issues close to your heart, get behind those and push. For me, it’s Education and Healthcare. I’m learning everything I can about Project 2025’s plans for these two things, and aligning myself with the best sources to stay informed on what steps to take.If you want to meet me in the field of Education, please check out my family’s public charity, Gaines-Jones Scholars, founded in 2002, as we continue to provide scholarships and advocacy for Black college-bound students in southwest Georgia and the San Francisco Bay Area. Under Trumpism, this work is more crucial than ever.

As an excellent place to start letting go of the “division chasm”, and building instead a space that opens up to the humanity in us all, I highly recommend Tiffany Schlain’s films. I value them for their power to remind of us of what it means to have compassion, curiosity and empathy. Please share widely.

Thanks to those of you who have been reaching out with good sources for strategies and tactics. Please keep them coming, please, I’ll keep sharing them here.

Until next time, I’ll close with these words from Sherrilyn Ifill. Consider subscribing to her newsletter.

We are not “watching the Trump show” this time. We’ve seen it already. We can dip in every now and then, but we must not become paralyzed watching the train wreck. We will, of course, push back against injustice, and defend our rights and citizenship when necessary in the courts. We will demand that congressional representatives, our Governors and our Mayors, act to protect our democratic rights. Even when we know they will not stand up for what is right, we must not be silent. We must not make it easy for them to be cowards or to take our rights. We must still call, write and email our representatives and show up at town halls and meetings. Remember that those who have fought for us over these past years are tired, too. Let them see us in these spaces and hear from us.

But our primary work must be first and foremost to work in our communities – both physical and ideological. To build them up and to share time and ideas with those committed to democracy and justice. We each need a curriculum of local service.

We also need a personal curriculum that will allow us to contribute to the building of the future we dream of for ourselves and our families. That means that our core work must be to commit during this time to do less watching, and more learning and more growing. We need to become better citizens for the democracy we want. That means we must dedicate time to expanding our thinking and our knowledge, and to building up our democratic imagination. That means our work is to imagine, to ally, to experiment, restore, befriend, study, read, write, serve, and create. Every one of us. Even as chaos swirls around us.

I encourage you to show your children and grandchildren real things – nature, animals, how things are built, how to cook from scratch. Teach them cursive writing, so that they have a signature all their own. Take them to live concerts and theater. Go on field trips. Infuse their lives with memories of things that are true and concrete. — Sherrilyn Ifill