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Youth organizers from the Fyre Youth Squad enjoy the
fruits of their labor at a Blowout Consciousness event
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Blowout Consciousness
Blowout Consciousness was a 2009-10 bi-monthly series of multi-media political education, community organizing, and cultural events in New Orleans that brought activists, organizers, local culture producers, and community members together to confront social justice issues. As lead organizer for the series, I gained invaluable experience that I now share by offering Blowout Consciousness: Lessons in Cultural Organizing from New Orleans to organizations and individuals seeking to use the power of culture for progressive social change.
What is Cultural Organizing?
Cultural Organizing has been defined as "a means of placing culture at the center of an organizing strategy. It can be done to unite people through the humanity of culture and the democracy of participation.” (Caron Atlas, Cultural Organizing: A Conversation at the Intersection) Great examples of cultural organizing shine throughout history.
The documentary Amandla chronicles how rhythm, song, and call and response helped to unify and fortify thousands to take the streets and face unthinkable police violence.
Many of the most powerful images from the Civil Rights movement involve singing in churches as preparation for shouting in the streets. Freedom songs were sources of strength and unity of purpose. 
These examples, along with those of the Black Arts Movement and the Straight Edge Punk Movement are precursors to the more current engagement of hip hop as a driver for revolutions across the Middle East in 2010-11.
Cultural expressions that challenge injustice change people's hearts and minds. People who felt afraid and powerless suddenly feel bold and empowered. Those who couldn't imagine a better world begin designing the future. People once separated by social boundaries become comrades. Cultural organizing is an essential part of initiating and sustaining any social justice movement.
How do we do it?
1. Identify an important, community-wide cultural expression.
Your community has its own beautiful cultural expressions. Something that people can enjoy across age, class, gender, race, and political differences. It might be food, music, or dance. It could be a sport or some long-standing community gathering. It could be a shared folklore. Cultural organizing starts when you identify what cultural expressions your community values.
2. Find allies and partners; use culture to bridge the gaps.
A good next step is to connect with others working for a just society. If you have identified a truly valued community cultural expression, finding people who are excited to come together around it should be the easy part. Then the hard work of negotiating partnerships starts... and the magic happens!
3. Get a Cultural Organizing field guide and go!
Blowout Consciousness: Lessons in Cultural Organizing from New Orleans offers goals, objectives, strategies, and tactics for cultural organizing; a cultural organizing plan and timetable; and lessons from real life cultural organizing in post-Katrina New Orleans. A great starting point, Blowout Consciousness includes a list of web-based resources for cultural organizing. Get this field guide for beginners and serious cultural organizers alike... and GO!
If you are a non-profit and would like a free copy of Blowout Consciousness, contact me at 5dstorytelling@gmail.com and put Blowout Consciousness in the subject heading.
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