We interview our friend and radical badass Eleanor Goldfield, about her new film “Hard Road of Hope” which documents the long history and current state of resistance and organizing in West Virginia against the rapacious coal mining and fracking industries that have all but destroyed their communities and the land that sustains them. We also go deep on the meanings and usefulness of words and labels, like “activist” and “anarchist”…and art’s role in revolution.
What’s agitating us? The tension between all the good faith in humanity vibes that comes with successful mutual aid organizing efforts, but also the frustration of knowing that the support is only just temporary and not systemic; laws being passed in states to whitewash U.S. history and punish teachers who teach children the truth; and the existential horror that is the forever reality of plastic waste.
Hosted by Milly Harmon, Shelly Williams, Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap, and Jessica Munger. A Democracy Unlimited Media Collaborative production. Special thanks to Jason Bayless and A Radical Guide for production support and Alfonso Saldaña for support on graphics. Transition music in this episode is from Eleanor’s EP, No Solo.
Resources discussed:
- Find Mutual Aid networks in your community
- If you haven’t yet, you need to read A People’s History of the United States by Howard Zinn (and yes, Kaitlin is right, the audio version is narrated by Matt Damon and Howard Zinn)
- Eleanor’s website – Art Killing Apathy
- Eleanor’s film – Hard Road of Hope
Eleanor’s media recommendations:
A couple definitions and acronyms mentioned:
- BIPOC = Black, Indigenous and People of Color
- Critical Race Theory = A race-equity framework and approach to understanding educational inequality and structural racism to find solutions that lead to greater justice. CRT seeks to critically examine the law as it intersects with issues of race and to challenge the mainstream liberal approaches to racial justice.
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Dear People,
I have listened to two of your podcasts so far. I appreciate your frank and lively discussions, awareness of issues, and admissions of not having all the answers. I look forward to your presence in my living room for every one of our get togethers.