Politics and Memoir at the DNC
Writing to Right the World is DOING SOMETHING
I was delighted and energized by the parade of powerful women politicians who took the stage at the US Democratic National Convention last week.
Especially exciting to me were the speeches by Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and Kamala Harris, each one a ground-breaking woman of color who has achieved stardom by dint of her intelligence, determination, fortitude, and an outstanding ability to communicate her vision to an often skeptical, sometimes downright hostile world.
I listened to their speeches with a professional ear, because I teach leadership, writing and public speaking, both for college students at the Bard Open Society Network and for adults at Bioneers Learning.
Writing and delivering an open-hearted, compelling speech is no easy task, and it was a treat to see such accomplished leaders showing us the way.
I also listened as a purposeful memoirist with a particular interest in memoirs by women leaders and activists, as well as spiritual memoirs that delve into the deeper, often mysterious synchronicities that guide our lives.
Combining politics with memoir, weaving together their personal stories with the larger historical narratives of their time and place, Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Kamala Harris invoked the previous generations whose dedication and hard work opened the way for their own successes.
Oprah quoted the late Civil Rights leader and Congressman John Lewis, who memorably said, “No matter what ship our ancestors arrived on, we are all in the same boat now.”
She also honored Tessie Prevost Williams, one of the "New Orleans Four" little Black girls who bravely integrated American public schools in the 1950s, paving the way, as Oprah said, "for another young girl, who nine years later became part of the second class to integrate the public schools in Berkeley, California."
That California girl was, of course, Kamala Harris.
Both Michelle and Kamala spoke movingly about how important their mothers' influence had been in their lives.
Marian Robinson, Obama said, was "the woman who showed me the meaning of hard work and humility and decency, the woman who set my moral compass high and showed me the power of my own voice."
Shyamala Gopalan, Harris said, was "tough, courageous, a trailblazer in the fight for women’s health, and she taught Maya and me...to never complain about injustice, but to do something about it."
Michelle Obama, Oprah Winfrey and Kamala Harris have spent their lives out on the frontlines doing something to help ordinary Americans live better lives.
In their inspiring DNC speeches, they modeled for us the truth that in today's world, it's not enough to just do something —you must also boldly communicate to others what you are doing, inviting and persuading others to join you in making the world better.
That's the power of writing to right the world.
The speakers at the Democratic National Convention concluded by passing the torch to us, the audience. Now it's up to us to do something.
For me, that means using my gift as a writer to inspire others to work hard to be the strong shoulders in our generation, on which the stars of the future will stand.
Will you join me?
Come write with me online….
Exploring the Keys to Purposeful Memoir: Ancestral Archeology
Monday, September 9 at 10 am Eastern, explore how your ancestors’ lives impacted the way your own life has unfolded in a lively online workshop. What legacies are you proud to continue, and what would you prefer to jettison as you move towards a thriving future for yourself, your community and our world?
Sponsored by Berkshire Osher Institute for Lifelong Learning (OLLI) at Berkshire Community College. Berkshire OLLI members $15, non-members $20.
COMING SOON:
Dates for my June 2025 Riding & Writing trip to Hestaland in Iceland, and October 2025 Memoir Writing Retreat in Tuscany with Il Chiostro will be finalized soon.
Friends, it’s my pleasure and my passion to support you as we stretch towards living our lives creatively and to the fullest.
The motto of my author consulting business is “Writing to Right the World,” and the motto of my book publishing business, Green Fire Press, is “Books that Make the World Better.”
If these intentions resonate with you and you are working on a book, or have one in mind, don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Supporting creative people bring their work more strongly out into the world is one way I try to make the world better.
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Wonderful post, Jennifer. So thoughtful and pertinent.