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Learn about the principles and practice of nonviolence as an active force for personal, social, and political change. Co-hosted with Grassroots Leadership Criminal Justice / Participatory Defense Organizer and Visions After Violence Fellow with Texas After Violence Project Robert Tyrone Lilly and Jim Crosby, the show covers current events, learning opportunities, and nonviolent direct action taking place locally. Airs 1st Thursdays of every month from 1-2 pm CT at KOOP Community Radio 91.7 FM in Austin, Texas, and streaming online at koop.org.
Okay. Here's a little song I wrote called The New Stag of Leaves. I wanna dedicate it to, the kids and teachers at Apalachee High in Winder, Georgia. So it's my gun violence awareness song. Boom boom boom boom.
Speaker 1:Went to 44, went staggerly, stretchability lines dead cold out on the floor. That bad man, oh cruel Stagalee. Yeah, boom, boom, boom, boom, went that 44 and AR-fifteen in his hands, he coulda killed a whole lot more. That bad man, old cruel Stagalee. But maybe he'd gone off to war and killed against his will.
Speaker 1:The VA couldn't help him. Congress wouldn't put the bill for that bad man, old cruel Stagalee.
Speaker 2:Ear.
Speaker 1:Or he's 15 and video kills have been his steady diet, not killin' for real, the only thing to quench his appetite. That bad kid, that cruel young stag elite. He hated school, the bully's there, his teacher wore a frown, and I was going back to show them all. It's time to mow them down. He thinks a gun means power, he's another Stagulli.
Speaker 1:Gotta follow the money, though. Always follow the money. Well, the arms makers sold the guns. NRA bought the votes, got to make them hear the screams coming from our anguish throats. Our bad men, our cruel Stagullis.
Speaker 1:There are some bad men, our new cruel Stagullis. The new Stagullis.
Speaker 3:Well, y'all, we have arrived at in yet another nonviolent Austin Radio Hour. I am your co host Stacy Frazier, pronouns she, they. I am here in camaraderie, solidarity, and friendship with brothers Robert Tyrone Lilly, brother Jim Crosby, and Aaron Reverend Aaron Walter. Thank you so much. Walker.
Speaker 3:Walter. Thank you. Thank you, reverend Aaron. Our friendship our friendship is is blooming, but, we're in that beautiful new friendship phase of our season. I love it.
Speaker 3:So this is part of the Austin Cooperative Radio Hour Collective, and we are coming to you live once a month to advocate for and educate, about nonviolence and all its manifestations in principle and practice. We are I am a Kingian nonviolence conflict reconciliation trainer, as is my comrade, brother Krawzi. And, many things. And we're all out here doing a lot of work here in the greater Austin area. So I'm excited about today's conversation looking around the room here, to talk about our shared passion and interest and belief in music as a tool for social justice and nonviolent resistance, and, can think of no better guest than, reverend Erin today, to join us.
Speaker 3:So welcome to the show.
Speaker 4:I have been wanting more time with each of you. So when I saw who was gonna be on the show, it's such an exciting moment. So
Speaker 3:Right on. Thank you. Yeah. Before we move further, I must say that the views expressed here are not necessarily those of the CO OP board of directors, staff, volunteers, or underwriters. So brother Jim, you had, an excellent suggestion for, today's show topic of the music association.
Speaker 3:Show. Yeah. So why don't you jump in?
Speaker 1:Okay. Part of what we wanna do today is to honor Bernice Johnson Reagan, best known as founder and leader of the of African American excuse me. The African American can oh my goodness. I hope this doesn't last for an hour. The African American female vocal group, Sweet Honey and The Rock.
Speaker 1:Reagan passed away on July 16th this year. She was 81. Before starting Sweet Honey in the 19 seventies, she was one of the founders of the Freedom Singers in the early sixties as members of the student nonviolent coordinating committee, SNCC, and active with the Albany movement in Albany, Georgia. They were the 1st civil rights musical group to travel nationwide, spreading the message and music of the movement. Activist James Forman later said of Bernice Johnson Reagan, I remember seeing you lift your beautiful black head, stand squarely on your feet, your lips trembling as the melodious words over my I won't sing it.
Speaker 1:Over my head, I see freedom in the air, came forth with an urgency and a pain that brought out a sense of intense renewal and commitment of liberation. And when the call came to protest the jailings, you were upfront. You led the line. Your feet hit the dirty pavement with a sureness of direction. You walked proudly onward singing this little light of mine, and the people echoed shine, shine, shine.
Speaker 1:So maybe to kick us off, Aaron, I thought I'd ask for your reflections on the legacy of a person like Bernice Johnson Reagan and a group like Sweet Honey and The Rock. Are there ways in which you see your combination of music and activism as connected to theirs?
Speaker 4:Wow. Well, I was just blessed to listen to you, and I was getting emotional thinking about her, and Sweet Honey and Rock and the Freedom Singers. I'll I'll speak to that in a second. Just so for folks who don't know me, I'm reverend Erin Walter. I use sheher pronouns.
Speaker 4:I'm the minister and executive director of the Texas Unitarian Universalist Justice Ministry. So that's the Justice Network of Texas for Unitarian Universalist. And, I know Jim through, campaign nonviolence, but also the Poor People's Campaign, and we've partnered on a lot of work together over the years. I'm also the lead singer and bass player for a band called Parker Woodland. And so we we try to infuse our, punk rock and indie rock music with the messages and and the spirit that, for justice that's important to us.
Speaker 4:So that's some context for for what brings me here. But so I grew up Unitarian Universalist, and Sweet Honey in the Rock was my mom's favorite. And I have such memories of growing up listening to them. Every time they came through town, my sisters and I would pool our money to get my mom tickets.
Speaker 1:Where were you? What then?
Speaker 4:Austin. I'm I'm a native Austinite, born and raised in South Austin. So I mean, just sweet honey. I mean, there's no there's no better. And then when we got into this work with the Poor People's Campaign, y'all, the Poor People's Campaign We Rise songbook is online for everyone to find.
Speaker 4:It is the greatest gift. They've compiled all of these civil rights anthems, current movement songs, hymns, chants. You can click and get the lyrics, the video, all of it. It's just I turn to it constantly. And and it's an extension of of everything that you've just described.
Speaker 4:And so it all of that work that she did, and that her generation did is feeding us today in the work. Absolutely. And I trust that it's feeding my children. You know, I have a 12 year old and a 15 year old who are really into this stuff too. I trust that it's feeding them and generations to come that we've yet to meet.
Speaker 1:And I know you spent, seemed like, all of last year when the ledge was in session
Speaker 4:Yes.
Speaker 1:Down at the capitol. What's the combination for you of doing Parker Woodland and Yeah. Camping out at the capital?
Speaker 4:Good question. I mean, they are so intertwined, and it's really important to me, to live a life of, like, authentic tapestry, weaving those together. I I don't wanna be a minister over here, a justice seeker over here, and a musician over here. It's all one. So, you know, we led a sing in outside the house chamber when we were fighting for LGBTQ rights, specifically healthcare, for trans youth, and the music was so important to that.
Speaker 4:It's in my songs that we write, you know, we released a pride anthem in June and one of our new songs is about climate justice and, war and colonialism and the impact that it has on our souls and our planet. Mhmm. So it's it's it's all one for me, which makes for a busy life, but a vibrant life.
Speaker 1:Stacey, you have World on Fire?
Speaker 3:I do. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Cued up as we say.
Speaker 3:I do. So we're gonna turn to that in just a sec, but I want to share, a a a of how this tapestry is woven so intimately. I am wearing today a shirt, a Dawah shirt, which is diversity and wellness in action, cofounded, created by, Chaka Mahone, of the, hip hop socially justice centered, group, Riders Against the Storm, and, you know, Shock and Key derived their name after Sweet Honey and The Rock reference. So that's the full circle of this. It's everywhere.
Speaker 3:And then I first, really put Sweet Honey and the Rock in regular rotation at the Selma Center for Nonviolence Truth and Reconciliation because Ella Song is played almost every single time there's a level one offering workshop, and so Ella Song is the one that, that that is most in the forefront of my mind. And so I actually wanna play Ella's song for a little bit first. Let's let's, let's pay homage for a moment here.
Speaker 1:Go for it.
Speaker 2:Will you believe in freedom? Can I rest? We who believe in freedom cannot rest until it come. We who believe in freedom and freedom. We will believe in freedom.
Speaker 2:And freedom. We will believe in freedom. And That which touches me most is that I had a chance to work with people, hatching onto others that which was passed onto me. We who believe in god's favor. Yes.
Speaker 2:Singing with us. Come They comfort. They have the courage where we fail. And if I can not shed some light as they carry us
Speaker 3:Alright, y'all. That was Ella's song. And I wanna invite into the conversation brother Rob's voice. What's on your heart?
Speaker 5:We who believe in freedom. You know, as I listen to the song, I can't help but be reminded of those Negroes of antiquity who had no freedom, but yet believed in freedom. And in the fields all across the country, particularly in the south, they labored and toiled from sun up to can't see at night singing songs of hope and joy Despite and in spite of the circumstances that they had to bear in the moment. So you asked the question how do songs and music fit into justice work? It is the heart and soul of justice Some people say music is the universal language Justice is a universal language and There were people who believed in justice who Yearned for it and so much so they created hymns and Odes Singing its praises sweet honey on the rock gave us a modern rendition of that old time reality and So I think it's just appropriate not only to honor them but in addition to honoring them to remember those who died not having realized the time to win and despite it being a challenging time, you know, many of us still hold a song in our heart.
Speaker 5:Mhmm. The songs you shared today are the songs you hold in your heart. There's songs I hold in my heart and these are the songs that drive my steps forward, you know, to give me inspiration in my moment of challenge. So I was just sitting here with my eyes closed. It's maybe some of you were doing the same thing, but I was thinking back to those persons who prayed for me to be here today if it were not for their tenacity, their dogged determination, and their resilience, my life wouldn't be.
Speaker 5:And I have to believe it was somebody who held such songs as their hope for a new time, a new day, a new time to come.
Speaker 1:Brother Rob, you know my main musical influences are old time, Pre Electric, Country Blues, John Heard, and and Reverend Gary Davis. What are yours?
Speaker 5:Old time? You're talking about old old time?
Speaker 1:Those were 19 twenties they were first recording.
Speaker 5:19 twenties. I like the Jim Crow blues.
Speaker 1:No. But, I mean, what what's the main music you've listened to growing up and stuff?
Speaker 5:Okay. So thank you for clarifying that question. So I'm 54 as of yesterday.
Speaker 4:We have the same birthday. Happy birthday.
Speaker 5:We all 3 have the same birthday.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. How cool.
Speaker 4:Happy birthday, Rob.
Speaker 5:Happy birthday
Speaker 2:to you too. Happy birthday,
Speaker 3:us. Literally you too. Wild. Yes.
Speaker 2:That's why I love it. His is in 2 weeks,
Speaker 4:by the
Speaker 2:way. Man.
Speaker 4:Roomful of Virgos.
Speaker 5:Have mercy. Look at us collaborating so well.
Speaker 1:Yes. Vigorous. Also organized.
Speaker 5:I would say this, for me, I'm a child of hip hop. And hip hop, when I was thinking about music and I was thinking about protests and I was thinking about justice, I was thinking about the innovative way we made something out of nothing and that's the same way. You didn't hear an instrument in that song they just played. They were using their voice, their melodies, and tapping on something. That was what we did when we were coming up in the street.
Speaker 5:So for me, I'm a child of hip hop, but I'm not ashamed of it despite its perversions by the capitalistic systems who, exploit it for its, you know, earning ability. At the heart of it, I go back to public enemy. Mhmm. I go back to the poor righteous teachers. I go back to, dead prez.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 5:You know, some of those hip hop icons, and their music inspires me in in in in what I do. But, yeah. I think I'll stop there.
Speaker 1:That that, playlist you're talking about, Stacey, that's gotta be a whole future show, obviously.
Speaker 3:Yeah. As I was prepping in the the the green room over here, I decided, that I'm gonna just share these musical references we have today in the form of a public collaborative, playlist called nonviolent Austin Radio Hour so we can just keep it going as we go along doing our thing here in upcoming days, months, weeks, and years.
Speaker 4:That's awesome.
Speaker 3:So, Jim, you just had an idea earlier, brother Rob, to to to segue from what you were just sharing about the connections between hip hop and punk. Mhmm. And this now ties us back into some of reverend Aaron's music, And I don't know if you wanna tee up a question related to that or if I did it enough.
Speaker 1:You know, the the like I say, it was old country blues for me, but, I'm 20 years old older than y'all and, at least. And, so it was you know, there was some early rock in my early days and then, you know, serious rock and roll through the sixties. And and, so as you know, Aaron, I've become good buddies with John d Graham in the last couple of years. And he gets styled as a punk rocker in early, you know, part of the Austin punk scene, 19 eighties. What's the difference between rock and roll and punk rock?
Speaker 4:Oh, gosh. Well, those question I I love all kinds of music, so it's hard for me sometimes to do that differentiation. And, I grew up here in Austin with the broken spoke, so, like, old school country. My dad loved Aretha Franklin. My mom loved The Beatles, Sweet Honey, like we said, all kinds of stuff.
Speaker 4:But, you know, Stacy mentioned, Dawah. I lived in Chicago for a few years, and when I moved back in 2011, one of the first new friends I met, one of the first communities that I fell in love with when I moved back, was around Riders Against the Storm and what has now become Dawah. Shaka and Key also lead this incredible dance party called Body Rock ATX, and I love to dance. And so a friend just kept saying to me, yes. A friend just kept saying to me, you gotta go to this Body Rock ATX, and it was a friend from church.
Speaker 4:You know? So, like, when your church people know what, you know, your nightlife should be, that's a good sign of your church your church life. And I when I finally went, I was like, oh, this is it. You know, Body Rec ATX at Sahara Lounge, and that became a a part of my life big time. And so, anyway, I I love Dahua, and they've got an event tomorrow night.
Speaker 4:They're celebrating their 5 year anniversary. Congratulations to Shaka and Key and the whole community. Your shirt says giving to the givers, and that is what they do. And that theology or or or theomusicology, that they also express. One of their songs is flowers for the living, you know, that we we want to celebrate.
Speaker 4:We wanna have love and beauty and joy and all that that brother Robert was talking about that, like, feeds us. They're a beautiful example of that here in Austin.
Speaker 3:And body rock was when I moved back to Austin after leaving for 20 years. I came back May 2021. That also was my first, like, getting back into meeting people and friendships was through going to Body Rock and meeting Chaka and Key, and Key kicked off my other co op show, Racism on the Level. She was my first guest.
Speaker 4:Amazing.
Speaker 3:I love these connections we're weaving. Yeah. Well, and Illuminating them rather.
Speaker 1:We're all in it together.
Speaker 4:That's right. That's a beautiful thing. And and I when I was studying to
Speaker 5:be a
Speaker 4:minister, my, teaching pastor knew that music was important to me. I didn't have a band yet. I think becoming a minister helped me find my voice for the things that I wanted to sing. I had always been a bass player in other people's bands for, like, 20 years, but I found my way to writing and and what I wanted to express. But he encouraged me, Brian Ferguson, to think about not just the upbeat stuff because I'm known for for my rainbows and glitter and my upbeat vibes, but to really naming and facing what is hard, what is painful because we need both.
Speaker 4:And so that, you know, that's how our theme song, the world's on fire and we still fall in love, came to be. And a lot of our music is about that, expressing both, that we will not turn away from what needs to be transformed, and then there's joy.
Speaker 3:I think we're gonna need to play. The world's on fire and we still have home love right now. Awesome. You're good with it. Here we go, folks.
Speaker 3:That was the world's on fire and we still fall in love by reverend Aaron Walter who is joining us on nonviolent Austin Radio Hour. You have been tuning in on K00P 91.7fmk0op.org, streaming everywhere, not just in our beloved city of Austin. And we're going to take a quick break, and then we will be back momentarily.
Speaker 1:The following is a test of the emergency alert system.
Speaker 2:Those who have
Speaker 6:This annual fashion show features amateur and professional designers who use at least 90% recycled materials to craft garments that reflect this year's theme of avant garde, a playful twist on Avant Garde where the spirit of nontraditional ingenuity meets the natural world. The evening will include the featured fashion show and award ceremony, a dinner, themed cocktails, and more. Doors open at 5:30 PM on Saturday, September 7th at the TDS Wildlife Ranch and Pavilion. More info at trashmakeover.com.
Speaker 1:Experimental, electronic, noise, minimalism, improvisation. These and other strange sounds can be heard on commercial suicide. K0ophdonehd3. Hornsby, 91.7 FM. Radio for people, not for profit.
Speaker 1:Sunday nights from 8:30 to 10 PM.
Speaker 3:Welcome back y'all. You are listening to Austin Radio Hour. I am your host Stacey Fraser, pronouns she and they. I am joined as always with brother Robert Tyrone Lilly, brother Jim Crosby, and we have a very, very special guest today, Reverend Aaron Walter. And I, failed to correctly identify the song that we played right before the break, The World's on Fire and We Still Fall in Love, is by the band Parker Woodland, in which reverend Aaron is a member.
Speaker 4:Cool. Yeah. Thank you. I just wanted to make sure I just wanted to make sure I gave shout out to my bandmates because it's a collective thing. It's not just a me thing.
Speaker 4:So thank you. Thank you for playing it though.
Speaker 1:And that band game name came from where, Erin? Oh, it
Speaker 4:comes from the neighborhood. We were neighbors that just got together to jam in a church one day at the intersection of Parker Lane and Woodland Avenue, just east of where I grew up in Austin, and so we named the band after that. I love my community. I love my neighborhood, and so that's what it is.
Speaker 5:I was particularly interested in the in the lyrics. We fall in love even though the world is on fire. That struck me as an unusually peculiar line, but one that I could relate to because I, you know, I think it speaks to who I am. You know, I'm not going to say that 99% of the time I'm consistent, but there is to a certain degree I am an optimist and even though the song spoke to the world being on fire, it still talked about this undeterred determination to experience beauty in the midst of all the struggle that the world has to offer us. Where did that line come from?
Speaker 4:Thank you for that. I remember being in just a room in my house and and needing to express just exactly what you said so beautifully. Right? That that despite the fact that we have so much to struggle against and for and and work to do, I I always still find myself falling in love with friends, with people, with experiences, and I just didn't wanna lose that. And I wanted to really name the commitment to that ethic of even when things are hard or maybe especially because things are hard.
Speaker 4:We need love. We need beauty.
Speaker 1:Can you give us an arbitrary mathematical percentage on how much of that fire was ecological?
Speaker 4:Oh my gosh. No. I'm not the numbers person in my band or or really any areas of my life.
Speaker 3:But but you are a climate justice warrior.
Speaker 4:Oh, that is I mean, I care deeply about that.
Speaker 1:Put it this way. If that wasn't a part of it, what were some of the other things, issues, or whatever you're talking about?
Speaker 4:Oh, well, oh, well, certainly, it was a part of it. But when I was writing that song, it was 2018. So people are often surprised like they think it's recent, but it's not quite that recent. So I mean, truly, I my first career before I was a minister was as a newspaper reporter. And I I care a lot about the truth and the news that the community receives and the lens from which we are delivered the news.
Speaker 4:And so fake news and and certain politicians in particular and the things that were being spewed, was very upsetting to me. And so that song is is partly about that. And and all of the justice issues that that are at play are affected by whether we have people who are trained to give you the news in a way that is helpful, productive, conscious. You know? So True.
Speaker 4:True. I mean, dare it's like I can we even say that? Is can we even say that anymore? I want there to be I want there to be truth in the news.
Speaker 3:Yeah. I, you know, I just completed a movement broadcast journalism intensive last year, as part of my, you know, shows here on CO OP, with a a national group. Mariame Kaba, it was, organization was one of the hosting teaching organizations and something that I was taught and I have unlearned, because learning is yeah. Unlearning is, you know, important these days as learning. Absolutely.
Speaker 3:Right? And so I learned unlearned the idea that news should be unbiased. That was revelatory for me because if you think about that, it's impossible, first of all, but secondly, it's not. It will you you can use journalism and musical journalism and podcasting to do movement organizing and justice related work, and that's the truth. So I wanted to share that because it was an for me.
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely. I mean, we were taught even when I was in journalism school in the nineties about different types of journalism, and some have a distinct point of view, and they're clear about that in the mission of the media, and that can be a positive or not. And, also, even if you're just positioning yourself as a straightforward, you know, like the Austin American Statesman, just a straightforward newspaper for everyone, you still don't weigh, quote, unquote, two sides. I mean, there's many sides to many things. But you wouldn't go in and say, well, I'm gonna give each of these two voices equal weight when you know that one of them is untruthful or you know that one of them is clearly racist or you know, you know, any number of reasons why.
Speaker 4:It it's a journalist's role, I believe, and was taught to discern some of that for sure. So
Speaker 3:And shout out to CO OP community radio that we are sitting here reaching you on because this is community owned and operated, the longest continuously running community owned and operated station in the country.
Speaker 4:Really? Yeah. How awesome. Wow. Yeah.
Speaker 1:It just struck me that that 2 possible synonyms for unbiased, one more positive would be nonjudgmental, more negative might be uncaring. You know? So, you know, getting it all in context and how we evaluate any any attempt to be unbiased or or, you know, getting at the truth with a capital t, if we put it that way.
Speaker 5:Yeah. You know, there's a thought I'm not being able to I'm not able to push out of my mind as I'm listening to this conversation, you know, as I think about music, I think about spirituality. And even though, I sense the world through my my my physical receptors, right, like my eyes, my ears. There's something transcendent about who I am too. Music speaks to that transcendence when I hear a song and and and it captures me and takes me away.
Speaker 5:I'm not here in the physical in the same sense that I'm sitting in this chair. I'm I'm able to go beyond my my limitations in the physical realm. I say that to say, connecting it to this conversation, that I think, you know, for me, I have I choose to lean into that that ephemeral part of who I am, right? So I'm not just taking in the world information based on my intellect. Like, there's a part of me that has to register it internally.
Speaker 5:And if, if I reject that internally, then some things problematic. I need to do more investigation. That doesn't mean it's it's the final litmus test, but it is definitely a part of the the fact finding process for me, right? I'm a spiritual being having a a a carnal reality, right? A carnal experience.
Speaker 5:And music is also a way that I receive truth, and music is also a way that I receive truth and information. The other song that we listened to by Honey on the Rock was alluding to the the dead are not gone, right? They're just what they say, they're under the ground. I think this They're
Speaker 4:not under the ground. They're They're
Speaker 5:not under the ground. Okay.
Speaker 4:They're still they're still with us. They're still listening to them.
Speaker 5:Right. Right. And so that's that's a radical statement. Right? That's that's a radical statement in that, you know, these people are believing whoever wrote this, whoever gave this to us are suggesting that there's more to this reality than what we see.
Speaker 5:And I think music is a way for us to be reminded that we're not just physical beings. Right? And despite the things that we experience physically, there's another reality. I'll say it this way. I was this morning, sadly, reminded of the physical world that I live in by hearing of a 19 year old man male in our membership, the grassroots leadership.
Speaker 5:What their family was advocating for is actually, advocating for mercy and understanding in the court. He had he he had, been alleged to have committed some crimes and unfortunately, he stood before the judge to stand the count and they tried to tell a more humane holistic story of this young man's life. And he was eventually sentenced to a 180 months, which means 15 years. You know, there is more to us. Right?
Speaker 5:And I was going somewhere with that thought, but perhaps I won't be able to tie it fully together because of, you know, my mind going so quickly. But for me, just being remind, reminded of the fact that we live in a very difficult time. So, you know, this family now has to wrestle with how do we make peace with this Or do we fall into despair? And so one of the things I told my colleague I said to remind them that their loved one is still alive Right there there in that place, but they're still alive There's still ways in which we can interact with them develop them encourage them, and challenge them to become their better versions of themselves. Despite the fact that the society only saw my physical act and my deed and they've conflated that with who I am and now I've been punished, you know, whole because of their their inability to see that there's more to who I am and there's more to my story than what you see on the record.
Speaker 5:I just wanted to tie that in. I think that's important for us to remember as we talk about justice today.
Speaker 4:Absolutely. People are more than the worst act or any one act and and that, embodiment when in Unitarian Universalism, one of our sacred sources is lived experience. So like you were talking about, there's things that you truths you may know or experience through music, through your life experience that that other people might argue statistically or or based on their own experiences is not true, but but you know you know in your body and spirit, you know. Anyway, I appreciate what you shared.
Speaker 5:Well, just one other thought I've mentioned. So I'm not a scholar and I'm not a theologian, but I do love to read. And so I was reading, Hebrews 11 verse 1 and it talks about the word faith. And the word in the Greek language is pastiche. And the word represents the idea of trust.
Speaker 5:And actually, if you go back in the English language, old English language, it actually means love. Mhmm. Yes. And so, you know, when you believe in something, it is because you have trusted that thing, relied on it so much, you can depend on it, you have confidence in it. All of these words are tied into that, and therefore, it degenerates in you love.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:Speaking of love, love is community and, we always save space, for some community happenings and, I, certainly wanted to make sure that we bring up the Austin Peace and Justice Fest that is happening later this month. It's gonna be Sunday, September 29th. It's gonna be 12:30 to 6:30. There has been a Facebook event created for it, and it will be on our digital home. This show's digital home, which is the nonviolent Austin Facebook group.
Speaker 3:So you'll have more information about that, but I have people in this room who have been to these events in the past. So, what are they like, and why should people consider coming?
Speaker 1:It's at the Princeton Palace, on Princeton, Drive in Southeast Austin, not too far from Parker Woodland and, the intersection of Parker and Woodland. And, it's in on the wonderful backyard stage of, basically, the therapy sisters who looked them up on Facebook. And, they'll be performing. Certainly, Parker Woodland will be performing. My friend John d Graham will be on there, and, I'll play a song or 2.
Speaker 1:And my son, Andrew, I'm happy, is gonna play, something. And and,
Speaker 4:Ray Primm, Neshima Alheem. Thanks.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah. It's a great list. Caleb DeCasper, reverend Kaya Hartwood. Go ahead. I didn't mean to interrupt you, but I have the rest of the list memorized.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. And and that's indicative of of Lisa and Aaron and I have kinda coproduced this the last couple of years, and, it's been a blast. So, yeah. Come and and people that came last year, you know, we're out, you know, in in Lisa's backyard, basically.
Speaker 1:And and, people saying and and we need to get more young people in it, but a lot of people there were closer to my age and saying, this reminds me of old Austin. So it's got some of that feel of of community. And, yeah. What is it gonna be?
Speaker 4:It's the last Sunday of September. 29th. Yep. And it's a picnic blanket, lawn chair, you know, bring a picnic, free, donations, things like that, but a community community event.
Speaker 3:I'll be bringing bill I will be bringing my 6 year old. So it's kid friendly.
Speaker 4:Very kid friendly. I think we've had some pets. Pet friendly. Yes.
Speaker 3:They're they're our pets, at least. And and let me give flowers to Lisa Rogers right now in this moment who is a true community well, a community hub, a third space, that social space that that Lisa and her wife have created, that is the Princeton Palace. So if you're listening right now, which you likely are, thank you and I love you.
Speaker 5:I have not had the pleasure of going out to be a part of it, but my hope would be I'm gonna set my intentions because my good friend, Jim, has been consistently inviting me to spaces. He said, Rob, I wanna get you into this space so I'm going to bring my wife, perhaps even my son since he's kid friendly, Just give him a taste of old Austin. He hasn't had a chance to experience that.
Speaker 3:Perhaps even Dior, your new Labradoodle.
Speaker 5:My new Labradoodle. Yes. Yes. Yes. She's waiting my return to pick her up from the sitter today.
Speaker 5:I I do wanna shout out one thing that's transpiring in my neck of the woods. So I'm a fellow with the African American Leadership Institute. And for those who don't know about this, it was the brainchild of both, Heath Creech and Beanie Score and they founded this effort to help African Americans that are coming into the community find community. These are people coming into work but may have struggled in the past to find a place where they could receive that cultural nourishment. Right?
Speaker 5:So this organization, the African American Leadership Institute, is an opportunity for folk to come out and learn about Texas. Excuse me, Austin, Texas, learn about the issues that plague the community, the challenges with gentrification, the places to go for cultural, expression. This is a 9 month fellowship. I'm on my 8th month now, so next month will be my last month. They're opening up the, the registrar for new new registrants.
Speaker 5:So if you're interested in finding an outlet for community, this would be an opportunity for anyone who has that, interest. Go to ali.org, aali.org.
Speaker 3:Thank you for lifting that up.
Speaker 1:Another PSA occurs to me, tonight at, Mount Zion, not Greater Mount Zion, but Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church on, East 13th Street, I think it is, just west of Airport Boulevard, is, a movie at 6 o'clock. What's it called? Do you remember hearing about it, Rob?
Speaker 5:No. I haven't, and it's putting me to shame because that's my church.
Speaker 1:It's I
Speaker 4:know. It's hard to keep up. There's a lot to do out there.
Speaker 1:It's it's the possum trot story, which is a town in Texas that basically I understand mainly a church decided to adopt a bunch of kids from the foster system. And, so yeah. Just it looks really wonderful.
Speaker 5:And Well, that's consistent with my church because we do a lot of work related to those youth that are in the foster care system. So I can see that I can see that as being an outgrowth of what we are putting value on.
Speaker 1:Erin, you got some PSAs for about this weekend, don't you?
Speaker 4:Oh, boy. Friends, I'm so excited. This is a really big weekend in my life, and I'm I'm emotional, but I'm just grateful to to be in this moment. So my band, Parker Woodland, we have our first full length album that comes out tomorrow. We'll be doing thank you.
Speaker 4:Congrats. Oh, we've worked friends, we have worked so hard, and it's been such a beautiful thing. But it's not easy. You know, any creative endeavor, any community endeavor, you just it's it's it's day by day day by day. I've been doing it while parenting and doing the the justice job and everything.
Speaker 4:So anyway, we celebrate this weekend. Parker Woodland will do an in store performance and record signing at Waterloo Records at 5 PM tomorrow. All are welcome, and everything I'm gonna say is all ages. Then we have a 2 show stand for the album release at the Mohawk on Red River. The Friday night show is sold out, but they added a second date for us on Saturday, this Saturday at 2 PM.
Speaker 4:And I love a day show. I love a day show.
Speaker 3:Thank you. Parents. I love a day show too.
Speaker 4:I know. And all ages Congratulations. Thank you so much, Robert. We are over the moon. So thanks for thanks for that, and thanks to our CO OP family.
Speaker 4:CO OP has really been on the journey with Parker Woodland. Our guitar player, Andrew Solon, was on the playback team during the pandemic. Like, he did the behind the scenes CO OP tech stuff to keep it running. So we love co op, and great to celebrate with you.
Speaker 3:Reverend Erin, I wanna play a track that is not yet available, but will be really soon, I think, on on some on the majors. I have 2 teed up. I have benediction.
Speaker 4:I have I think benediction would be great for the nonviolent Okay.
Speaker 3:Radio hour. Alright. Let's listen to it. Thanks. And let's try to listen to it.
Speaker 3:Thank y'all for your impeccable patience. Of course. Thank you. What was the inspiration that heard that lovely track
Speaker 4:Thank you.
Speaker 3:That you heard overlap on? And that was totally producer owning newbie error there. You heard Sweet Honey as a back drop initially there.
Speaker 4:That was fun. Well, the the lines that you might not have heard at the beginning were, even though your heart is breaking, cast a wish up to the sky. Even when your voice is shaking, there's a dream to keep alive. And the inspiration for that song so we we deal with a lot of heavy things. And over the course of this album, there's no such thing as time.
Speaker 4:And we really wanted to leave the listener with something peaceful, a a very clear declaration that we are hopeful and that we as a people will rise together in love. And the specific inspiration, Jim and I were at the Poor People's Campaign march on Washington in 2022. Right? 2022, 2023?
Speaker 1:It was 22 years ago, and I wasn't there because I tested the day before COVID.
Speaker 4:Right. You went a different year. He was gonna be there, but I was there, and there was just the most beautiful experience after all the speakers, all the luminaries, Reverend Barber, Cornel West, everything. After all of that was over, the organizers, the tri chairs of the Poor People's Campaign from every state were up on the podium singing to each other. And I like, it gets me emotional every time, and not looking at anybody else, but just together huddling and singing about, the rising tide.
Speaker 4:And I hear the chains falling. And and so I wanted a song to express that that sense of being the rising tide.
Speaker 3:That was beautiful. Thank you. We have a few minutes left. I don't know if we have any closing thoughts for today about music's role in what we're doing together as a movement for justice, but happy to do around Robin.
Speaker 5:I guess I'll start it off. I'll just say, you know, as I listen to you today, and I know Jim's about to play his guitar, reminded that every one of us has a gift and a talent. And sometimes I think we make others special and we deflate ourselves. So I want to encourage myself and encourage others today. If you are creative on whatever level, express your gift, give your talent to the universe.
Speaker 5:Time, will not be forever, in this form. And so I just wanna encourage you, write your poem today. I'm reminded of I'm working on a book right now, and that's something I've, for years, dreamt of doing, but I'm seizing the moment because when I leave, I wanna leave something for others to cherish me by. Mhmm. So today is your day.
Speaker 5:Believe in yourself and offer your gifts to the world because the world will be a better place with them.
Speaker 4:Amen to that. Now say
Speaker 3:that perfection doesn't exist. It's a tool of white supremacy culture and you see us showing up as humans, even me, you know, right fumbling over this engineering board, trying to run all these mics. Like, I'm I'm here, I'm showing up, and I'm perfectly imperfect. And every one of you listening right now have some gifts to play, and we are here as community to welcome you in.
Speaker 4:I love that. Invite. I'll I'll build on that welcoming you in. Invite people in. Share the things that you're writing.
Speaker 4:Robert, I can't wait to read your book. I just people need more invitations. There's too much isolation. So the more we can bring each other into what we love, and the quote that guides my life is from the black liberation theologian Howard Thurman. He said, don't ask what the world needs.
Speaker 4:Ask what makes you come alive and go do it because what the world needs is people who have come alive. And I wanna know what makes all of you come alive. Look me up in Parker Woodland if you feel so inclined. I'll be the one to answer your your email or your Instagram message, and I wanna hear about what's making you come alive out there.
Speaker 1:Thank you. Alright.
Speaker 3:Jim, how about some words before you sing
Speaker 4:us out?
Speaker 1:Well, I I put you on the spot, Stacey, and asked asked you to talk about your t shirt, and I wanted to say that I'm wearing a t shirt that y'all might have to to help me on the on the front. I can read, but not without facing away
Speaker 2:from you.
Speaker 1:We are the swing vote. Yeah. On back, Stacey, will you read what it's
Speaker 3:coming on? I sure will. It's, move that lovely flowing lock of of hair you have. Moral voices, justice, choir, mass poor peoples, and low wage workers assembly, and moral march, June 29th, Washington DC.
Speaker 1:So as as Aaron was talking about going 2 years ago to DC, I got to go this year. And I I may have told y'all last month, I'd I'd never sung in a choir before in my life and got to go 5 days early and have 4 days of rehearsals with this choir that was amazing. Basically, a lot of experienced and even professional gospel singers and a jazz band that's phenomenal. Look up Freddie Green, street genie. He plays a lot on the street.
Speaker 1:He's he's a sax player, and, he was the band leader. And, so, yeah, it was just a total mountain top experience for me, especially the version of We Shall Overcome at the end of the rally. What are you gonna say, Stacey?
Speaker 3:I'm just gonna say thank y'all. We're rounding in. Jim is gonna take us out as always with music, and we will see you next month at this nonviolent Austin Radio Hour here on k0op.orgstreaming in 91.7 FM. Takes place every Thursday of the month from 1 to 2. And my other show, Racism on Levels, will be in 2 weeks, and Jill Henderson from Bakari Foundation will be my guest.
Speaker 3:So I love all of you in this room with me, and I love all of you out there, and see you next month. Take us out, Jim.
Speaker 1:Okay. This is called Hot Time Monday Afternoon, and it's based on John Hertz's, version of Hot Time in the Old Town tonight. And it's basically a tribute to the Moral Mondays Movement in North Carolina back in the in 2013 2014. So look that up. It's a hot time in the Capitol come Monday afternoon.
Speaker 1:It's Moral Monday and it can't come too soon. It's a hot time for senators who need to change their tune. A hot time's coming Monday afternoon. We're gonna make our voices heard till we can't be ignored like Moses with a word from the lord. Nonviolence is our method, justice our