The Southern Freedom Movement Assembly: Reflections on The
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THE SOUTHERN FREEDOM MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY: REFLECTIONS ON THE PEOPLES MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY PROCESS AS A CONVIVIAL TOOL By James Edward Braggs Jr. A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Humboldt State University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts in Social Science: Environment and Community Committee Membership Dr. Betsy Watson, Committee Chair Dr. Mark Baker, Committee Member Dr. Mark Baker, Graduate Coordinator July 2014 ABSTRACT THE SOUTHERN FREEDOM MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY: REFLECTIONS ON THE PEOPLES MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY PROCESS AS A CONVIVIAL TOOL James Edward Braggs Jr. This study takes a focused look at the methodology of the Peoples Movement Assembly (PMA) and its specific use through the Southern Freedom Movement Assembly (SFMA). In particular, I examine the history, politics, process, and practice of the PMA as a grassroots social justice movement building strategy used by working poor communities of color across the US South. I argue that the PMA is an important political process for confronting neoliberalism because it provides a way for communities in struggle to democratically facilitate the formation of multi-front initiatives. Moreover, the use of PMAs, and popular assemblies more broadly, represents a shift in the way people are collectively exercising power for positive social change. Because of this, the PMA is a convivial tool, a social device that cultivates practices of self-determination through the development of shared struggles across communities, issues, and identities. Because I participated in the organizing and coordination of the 2012 SFMA and 2010 National PMA, this study will rely heavily on my personal experience, observations, and reflections as one of many grassroots organizers involved throughout the Southern Freedom Movement Assembly from 2010 through 2013. I also draw from convivial research approaches as guides to make transparent the co-production of specific knowledges in and through this process. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Personal circumstances pushed the timeline of this thesis far beyond institutional parameters yet loving, committed relationships insured its completion. First and foremost I am deeply grateful to my wife and closest friend, Sierra. Thank you so much for your patience, encouragement and long suffering. You’re brilliant and strong beyond measure. Deep gratitude and appreciation to my friend, colleague, and mentor Manuel Callahan for exposing me to the theory that made this project possible and for his unconditional support and intellectual counsel over a period of ten years. Let it be known that if I had fully listened to Callahan’s counsel from the start I would have finished my thesis long ago. Most importantly my political imaginary was greatly expanded because of your friendship and willingness to share beyond a world of limits and for that I am forever grateful. To the Southern Freedom Movement community, you changed me. Organizing with you all was a privilege and a blessing. I have a deeper sense of purpose and political clarity because of you all. You are my beloved community and my only desire is to contribute to the deepening of our roots. To my committee chair Betsy Watson and graduate coordinator Mark Baker, your gracious support and patience ensured I could finish. Thank you. A special thanks to Eric Rofes -RIP- for introducing me to Project South. You are remembered. iii Dad, your counsel and encouragement helped me stay resolved to finish, thank you. Patrick, you’re loved, I hope you find peace and rest where you are. And last but not least, Momma, I love you and am proud of the fact you raised me. Believe it or not, the only reason I dug into movement work and built with the people I did is because I see your reflection in the struggles I encounter. Seeing you in them is when their brilliance becomes undeniable. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................... iii TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................... v PREFACE ........................................................................................................................ viii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ................................................................................. 1 The Southern Freedom Movement Assembly ................................................................ 1 Strategy ....................................................................................................................... 3 Political Energy ........................................................................................................... 3 The Alliance ................................................................................................................ 4 Questions ..................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter Outline ........................................................................................................... 6 The Peoples Movement Assembly as a convivial tool ................................................. 12 Process ...................................................................................................................... 14 Politics ....................................................................................................................... 17 Practice ...................................................................................................................... 20 Method: Towards a convivial research approach ......................................................... 22 Convivial Research ................................................................................................... 22 CHAPTER TWO: SITUATING THE SOUTHERN FREEDOM MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY ..................................................................................................................... 27 The People’s Movement Assembly: Atlanta 2007, Detroit 2010 and Lowndes 2012. 28 First Shift .................................................................................................................. 28 v Second Shift .............................................................................................................. 35 Third Shift ................................................................................................................. 36 The Southern Freedom Movement Assembly: Hurricane Katrina, 2010 NATIONAL PMA process and 2012 presidential elections .............................................................. 37 Hurricane Katrina ...................................................................................................... 38 2010 National PMA Process ..................................................................................... 43 2012 Presidential Elections ....................................................................................... 47 CHAPTER THREE:THE SOUTHERN FREEDOM MOVEMENT ASSEMBLY: BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER LOWNDES .............................................................. 51 Before Lowndes: BAMs, Alliances, Organizing Drives and Campaigns ..................... 51 Formation of the Southern Movement Alliance ....................................................... 52 2011 Summer Organizing Drive ............................................................................... 53 The 2012 We All Count Campaign .......................................................................... 58 During Lowndes: Roll Calls, Fishbowls, Freedom Songs and Freestyles .................... 59 Synthesis Fishbowl ................................................................................................... 60 Overview ................................................................................................................... 61 Purpose and Goals ..................................................................................................... 62 Main Elements of the Assembly ............................................................................... 64 After Lowndes: Coordinated Actions and More assemblies ........................................ 80 CONCLUSION: (Re)ASSEMBLYING DEMOCRACY:CONVERGENCES, ASSEMBLIES AND THE OVERTHROW OF DIVISIONS .......................................... 82 Connections by Circumstance ...................................................................................... 84 Intentional Connections ................................................................................................ 87 Compositional Analysis and the Southern Freedom Movement Assembly ................. 91 APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................... 100 vi REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 119 Primary Sources .......................................................................................................... 119 Websites ...................................................................................................................... 121 Books and Articles ...................................................................................................... 121 vii PREFACE “it’s no good talking about who started or initiated something,