On this episode of Where Do We Go From Here?, I talk with the incomparable Zandria Robinson, a writer and associate professor at Georgetown University. Coming from Memphis, she’s written at great length about the Black cultural traditions that have shaped American cities and identities. She’s currently working on her ancestral memoir titled Surely You'll Begin the World. Her published books include the award-winning This Ain’t Chicago: Race, Class, and Regional Identity in the Post-Soul South (University of North Carolina Press, 2014) and Chocolate Cities: The Black Map of American Life (University of California Press, 2018). Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, NPR, Glamour, Oxford American and more.
We met because I was searching for a writer to write liner notes that could put a client’s debut album in the proper historical context. Zandria was that person. She is an artist through and through, inspiring, warm, and forceful—exactly the sort of teacher I always hoped for but rarely got.
This is a different episode from what you may have come to expect. We talk about artistic journeys. Death. Fear. Modern organizing. American cities, specifically Memphis and its place in the past, present, and future of music. It is a broad ranging conversation that showcases Zandria’s one of a kind heart and mind. She drops a lot of gems, especially for aspiring artists.
A few key takeaways from our conversation…
Loss can be a beginning. Early in our conversation, Zandria generously shares a story about the passing of her father. We talk about how loss and the enormity of grief can summon powerful, mysterious creative forces.
Open yourself to art—making and consuming it. Art can be a mechanism for tapping into your inner child. For understanding the world and creating language to survive its tragedies. Zandria speaks convincingly of art as healing, art as release, art as resistance, hearkening back in her way to a Nina Simone quote I reference often: “An artist's duty, as far as I'm concerned, is to reflect the times. I think that is true of painters, sculptors, poets, musicians. As far as I'm concerned, it's their choice, but I choose to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself. That, to me, is my duty.”
In times of uncertainty and profound need, turn to your community in-person. I’ll let Zandria speak to it: “…because of the ease of technology, [we] have sort of gotten away from being in community with the people that we do know in our city. Like, let's physically be in space with each other. Let's touch grass together. Maybe let's touch hands. Let's share a meal. And not necessarily out at a place, which I think has become part of our culture of just like, let's go out and get a drink. No, we need to be at the house with our charcuterie boards and our herbal teas. We need to support each other in these ways. These kinds of conversations are phenomenally sustaining for us. Because what we will need more than anything is to be able to sustain ourselves. And it's hard to do that in online community today.”
Memphis then, Memphis now, Memphis forever. We closed the episode by turning to hip-hop’s often unsung epicenter, Memphis. Zandria speaks to its place with the passion and concern that only a native can conjure: “people will persist to innovate on this tradition. It is almost like the expansion of the universe. Like it's going to continue, like these stars gonna continue to make themselves. That's just, that's how matter works. And so what I think in terms of practically what we will see is continued engagement with an innovation on these spiritually heavy bass sounds.”
Special thanks to Anna Kasper for producing, Will Grogan for providing music, and Hugh Huntingford for designing the Applied Science logo and podcast cover image.
An update on my personal fundraising efforts. Thanks to the amazing subscribers who’ve upgraded to paid memberships. This month alone I’ve raised $1380 for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition’s Firefighter Fund. I will be making my initial donation at the end of this month and will continue to donate as and when I receive new paid subscriber income. I am also open to suggestions for other organizations I could donate to; if any of my readers have ideas, please feel free to reach out to me directly.
LAist has published a helpful guide for renters trying to make sense of their rights and options in the post-fire LA landscape.
Mutual Aid Network of Los Angeles’s spreadsheet lists an expansive number of funds, organizations, and aid types across the expanse of the city. A great place to start.
15 Food and Drink Fundraisers To Support L.A. Wildfire Relief, organized by the incredible folks at L.A. Taco.
HitsDailyDouble has compiled a wealth of resources for people within the music community, including emergency financial assistance, support with pets/animals, temporary shelter, food, medical and mental health services, gear storage, and free clothes.
A comprehensive volunteer and support guide from local organization LA2050.
A good post from The Angel on different ways to get involved with relief efforts.
A book/PDF written for parents to help explain the enormity of wildfire to their children.
PBS SoCal’s resources for how to talk to children about wildfires.
A U.S. government fact sheet on protecting children from wildfire smoke and ash.
A spreadsheet of GoFundme’s for Black families from Altadena who have been displaced or lost their homes. Altadena is one of Los Angeles’ historically Black centers, a place where generations of hard-earned wealth and equity in the land were decimated in a matter of days. (first seen via Saul Williams)
An excellent primer called AQ101 on wildfires themselves and the pollutants they release into the air.
Two camp resources for those in need of outdoor childcare (though there are still numerous reports about the danger of the air quality in parts of Los Angeles that are down wind of the fires; I am certainly no expert, so I would do your own research).
The official government map of the fires.
A comprehensive resource guide from Trusted Advisor.
A collection of GoFundme’s that are under 20% funded, shared by 5PM LUCKY (via Ventura-based brand RatBoi):
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