The Inspiration Of "When We Rise"
What I read: When We Rise: My Life in the Movement by Cleve Jones. Published November 29, 2016.
I recently re-read this book. When I first read it in 2016, it struck me as a book for our time. Rather than just a beautiful autobiographical story of a life in LGBTQ activism by an icon of that movement, it seemed pertinent to the struggles facing so many of the oppressed and marginalized.
Since the book’s publishing we have collectively experienced the necessity of the Me Too movement to address sexual violence against women, and the Black Lives Matter movement to eradicate white supremacy and build power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities. Recently we became acutely aware of a spike in anti-Asian violence emanating from the hateful scapegoating of that population amid the pandemic.
Along the way we have witnessed countless other instances of hate, discrimination, and bigotry originating from many sectors of our country, including from the former occupant of the White House and his minions.
Four and a half years since Cleve Jones’ book was published it sometimes feels like we’re moving backward in terms of civil rights. Of course, overall, we are not. Things are much better today than in years past. Still, even as we revel in the amazing gains made by Jones and others on the front lines of the LGBTQ and other civil rights movements, we have also experienced horrific right-wing backlash evidenced, for example, by the rise in transphobia and the rampant murders of trans women.
Instead of falling prey to the anger and depression that is entirely reasonable considering such setbacks, I decided to re-read When We Rise because it gave me hope upon first reading. It did so again as I finished it today.
Woven within the book’s narrative is a life inspired by respect for individuality and differences embodied in a man who chose to live his life out loud, proud, and deeply engaged with the ongoing struggle for equality. His overarching message is that there is power in the unified efforts of all marginalized people to help each other rise and thrive.
It can be tempting to only stay in a specific activist lane, but it’s by recognizing the shared human struggles of everyone that we can together make change for the better for all. There is power in numbers. The people are always ultimately in charge of their destiny, even if during some dark times that seems to not be the case.
I wrote this after first reading the book and I could have easily written it this morning as I’m writing this post because it’s still how I feel.
One of the recurring messages that When We Rise delivers is that while LGBTQ people most certainly deserve and should fight for their rights, it is incumbent upon everyone to champion the rights of others who may not fall into their own demographic camp. People of color, liberated women, Jews, Muslims, immigrants, the poor, the disabled, the elderly, LGBTQ people and others must come together and stand with one another to claim the right for them all to live in peace according to their own sets of beliefs and ways of life. When We Rise hammers this vital point home and it’s a message we must all listen to if we’re to have a future worth living.
I believe that our future can indeed be brighter not just for those to whom power comes easily, but for everyone from every walk of life. We can live in an atmosphere of mutual respect and support if we muster the energy and will to make it happen.
The book is a masterclass in how one person can make a difference when discrimination and injustice must be challenged. One person with a clear mission and purpose can rally colleagues who can then rally the masses to invoke meaningful change. My wish is that everyone can muster within them the character of Jones to improve their local communities and the nation at large.
Cleve Jones is also a dear friend. I admired him and his work long before we met and the love and friendship we share today has only elevated my admiration as I’ve gotten to know him better.
When ABC News interviewed Cleve about the television mini-series inspired by his book and titled the same, When We Rise, what he said reminded me that anytime one witnesses Cleve speak you become acutely aware that he can deliver a concise, articulate rallying cry for justice like few can. His book does the same. He said this during the interview and it’s equally applicable to the modern day.
I think that it is an important story, not just because it is my story, but because it is a story of time and place that mattered, and issues that mattered, and struggles that mattered, even today.
The lesson of When We Rise is that one need not be resigned to a situation of oppression. You, and that means you, the reader, can help bring about change. You can get involved. You can call, write, dialogue, march, organize, fundraise, campaign, and otherwise contribute to the army of impassioned leaders who see a brighter future for us all – all of us, together, as a human family.
We can celebrate our shared identities and cultures if we commit to making life better for everyone.
The book inspired a powerful ABC television mini-series, When We Rise. If you have an opportunity to watch it, do it. You’ll be glad you did.