Speaking at Goddard College: Mumia Abu-Jamal










5 thoughts on “Speaking at Goddard College: Mumia Abu-Jamal

  1. Our language sticks us with labels, and we all know what they are from an early age. We have a basket of apples to choose from. We work hard to attain certain labels, and dispel others. Our labels are our reputations, our resumes, if you will, and sometimes those labels are effected by the people we are associated with, and their reputations. For example, you are a great teacher and writer, mother and wife (not necessarily in that order). You are a faculty member of two respected institutions. You are a professor, mother, and friend. You worked very, very hard for those labels. You are proud of them, and you should be. Others know you by them. Your reputation is sterling. Some labels you earned recently and some you earned thirty or more years ago. You have your labels; I have mine; and Mumia Abu-Jamal has his. And now Goddard, not just the class who invited Abu-Jamal to speak, is associated with his labels, his reputation, all of it, and not with someone with a reputation like yours. And that’s sad. It’s sad that Goddard College has created an environment where such a thing could happen, encourage it even.

  2. Actually, he has spoken at graduations at Goddard before, and was a student there, both in the 70’s and after he was imprisoned. He has also spoken at graduation at Evergreen State in Washington State.. what’s sad is that this time it became such a big deal

  3. Jane – I’ve been avoiding the computer and writing all week because I’ve been in such a rut of purpose. Am I a teacher? a writer? a runner? a parent? How can I be all of this? I finally sat down to make myself write today and reread your piece. It’s somehow easier to think “today I will teach” or “this morning I will parent” or ” I am not running right now.” You know just what to say (or write, I suppose) to me. Nothing new. Thanks! -Sj

Comments are closed.