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Philosopher, organizer, and beloved movement elder Grace Lee Boggs would often begin conversations by asking, “What time is it on the clock of the world?” According to Grace, one answer is that “in the midst of this epochal shift, we all need to practice visionary organizing.” For her, that meant moving beyond protest organizing: “Instead of viewing the US people as masses to be mobilized…we must have the courage to challenge ourselves to engage in activities that build a new and better world by improving the physical, psychological, political, and spiritual health of ourselves, our families, our communities, our cities, our world, and our planet.” In her view, visionary organizing “begins by creating images and stories of the future that help us imagine and create alternatives to the existing system.” (from Practicing New Worlds by Andrea Ritchie)
As reacting to the polycrisis grows more overwhelming and exhausting each day, I find myself drawn to Boggs’ vision of responding to the current moment by imagining and organizing for a better world. Although, I wonder what Boggs would say to the fear that those who are destroying the current world simply move on to destroy the better one she imagines.