The Liberation of Rural and Raised-Rural People
Rural liberation is imperative as we humans move to solve problems such as the climate emergency, racism, and all other forms of oppression. We need to understand what rural oppression looks like, in the United States as well as everywhere in the world, and discharge on it, listen to rural people, and work to end rural oppression so that rural people are a significant part of making change.
I grew up in rural western New York, USA. I am proud of so many things about people who live in the country [in rural areas]. We are intelligent, connected, powerful, and an important part of the world. We gather almost all the natural resources humans need for survival, such as for food, shelter, and clothing. We are great problem solvers, know how to be resourceful, and care deeply about our families and communities.
There are many rural people in the United States from many different backgrounds. And there are many stereotypes about us. The U.S. media portrays us as ignorant, unintelligent, gun owning, violent, and/or naive. In general they limit our visibility to white men, omitting women, Black people, other People of the Global Majority, Indigenous people, Jews, LGBTQ people, and many other groups.
Historically, U.S. society (and I would love to hear from people in other places in the world) has failed rural people, limiting their access to education, the Internet, and utilities and other infrastructure. For decades, legislators have created and passed public policies, knowing the devastating effects they would have on rural areas. All of this is part of the oppression of rural people.
We need to understand what has happened to rural people as we work for justice, healing, and connection in the United States in the coming period. Knowing how the government and public policies have affected rural people will help us think better about rural oppression. We need to build relationships with rural people, listen to their stories, ensure that rural communities get access to resources, and always stand up to rural oppression.
If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take time in sessions on these questions:
Who are the rural and raised-rural people you know and love? What do you love about them? Who are some rural people you’d like to get closer to?
What first comes to mind when you think “rural,” and what are your earliest memories of rural people?
Who are rural people in the media who are not white men? Find their voices, hear their stories. If you are a USer, notice that not all rural people are conservative or Republican or fascist or militia members.
What makes you not stand up against rural oppression—in particular, when rural people are called ignorant or stupid or are mocked when they have Southern accents (also part of Southern oppression)?
White Co-Counselors can look at the following:
Where do you have fears about standing up against racism and anti-Jewish oppression, in particular when rural people are acting it out?
When white rural Gentiles (or any white people) voice racism and anti-Jewish oppression, it doesn’t make sense to drop them as friends because of this confusion. That can send them off to be around more people who “think” like they do. It concentrates those patterned ways of thinking. It leaves them vulnerable to even more extremist thinking. And it leaves Indigenous people, Black folks, other People of the Global Majority, and Jews to deal with their patterns.
Where is it easy for you to blame rural, working-class, and poor people for their racism and anti-Semitism? Where does it seem like they are unreachable or like their racism and anti-Semitism are worse than anyone else’s?
I would love to hear first from people outside the United States about their experiences as rural people and from non-white Co-Counselors in the United States.
Thank you,
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for USA political issues
(Present Time 202, January 2021)