These two pages were typed by people in attendance at the Commitment March in Washington D.C. on 8/28/2020, at the base of the Lincoln Memorial directly after speeches by Martin Luther King III and Yolanda Renee King, the granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., on the anniversary of his “I Have A Dream” speech, at the height of the George Floyd Uprising.
Typed on my 1958 Hermes 3000 manual typewriter, incidentally of the kind popular among journalists at the time of the 1963 speech – not obtained for this significance, just the kind of typewriter that I own.
These two pages were made over just about two hours, masks worn, gloves offered, and keys sanitized between contributors. The typewriter was set up on a bench, in the kindly forfeited space of one person. Some of my neighbors helped invite others to write, and contributed additional sanitation supplies. People of many ages stopped by to satisfy their curiosity and come up with something to say, and I had to keep up with the enthusiasm.
This exercise, which I call Share Your Words (a succinct explanatory sign), brings forward voices often unheard, in exactly their words of expression. It’s not exactly an exquisite corpse, which has each participant continue the contribution of the previous according to rules, but a freeform collective page. Typewriter pages exist as created in the moment, lending a measure of trust to the messenger. I also love offering a moment where people can interact with this empowering technology, which doesn’t require electricity, creates instant transfer to physical copy, and is strictly for the creation of words and records. Every time I’ve shared my typewriter for a collective event, more often just for the fun of literary gatherings, it is someone’s first time using one. I’ve seen the spark of enjoyment light many faces, often people who didn’t expect their thoughts to be carried to an audience or become part of a record. Just the appeal of a novel experience invites people to try it who may not see themselves as writers, and the casual nature of bystander freeform contribution allows people to express themselves without the pressure of importance. Lightheartedness ensues, as well as raw honesty.
A previous Share Your Words session was held at Standing Rock Reservation during protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline, on Veteran’s Day 11/11/2017. The record is on this author website, and has its own Facebook page.
https://evalisaelasigue.wordpress.com/2017/05/27/typewriter-share-your-words-at-standing-rock/
https://www.facebook.com/shareyourwordsatstandingrock/
The Commitment March pages were initially quick-shared on my main project website, bonesofstarlight.com, and my own facebook feed. Now they’re getting a post on this author website with searchable text transcriptions, a spot where they can stay. I also intend to make its own facebook social media page, as I did for Standing Rock. The page images are welcome to be shared anywhere, by anyone, under CC-0 open copyright.
The original images are included below with both a transcription edited for clarity, and an exactly-worded transcription.
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-P1 EDITED TRANSCRIPT-
– This page began on 8/28/2020 –
– on the anniversary of “I have a dream…”-
This is the world now. We will live forever.
The pain is very real… you don’t have to justify it.
Action NOW!
All I want in this world is for the next generation to have the
same opportunities as everyone else.
BLACK LIVES MATTER = BRAIN MATTER….VOTE COMPLETE THE CENSUS GET INVOLVED
This generation will change the world. We are sick and tired of being
underestimated and watching oppression.
Stop the Abuse in the military against men and women, and write our Black
History in the History Books. Women Veterans and wives helped win all the wars in
and for America. Queen Feisal
I hate that we have to come together like this, but I am happy that we
can come together. Black lives matter. Love, Alex Moore
Luke Stewart’s life mattered. He was murdered
by a Euclid police officer in Euclid, Ohio. We want justice for Luke. Terra
Stewart his sister, and family want justice.
“The human experience is a delusion of egocentric society, and the
people who are empowered are the poison that needs to be rooted out.
Our value is based on how someone else sees our worth,
instead of basing our values on what we individually
bring to companies and our community.” [transcribed ELE]
tanya burgos, msw
Racism is a Public Health Issue. It deserves an ICD Classifiication Code.
WORDS MATTER! The Narrative Matters. White youths are troubled. Black youth
are criminal. White addicts have a disease, Black addicts are criminalized.
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–
-P1 VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT-
– This page began on 8/28/2020 –
– on the anniversary of “I have a dream…” –
this s the the world now.we will live forever
the pain is very real… youdont have to justify it
Actii Action NOW!
all I want in this world is for hethe next generation to have the s
same opportunities as everyone else.
BLACK LIVES MATTER = BRAIN MATTER….VOTE COMPLETE THE CENSUS GET INVOLVED
This generation will change the world.wwe are sick and tired of being
underestimated and watching oppression.p
Stop the Abuse in the military against men and women. And write our Black
History in the History Books. Women Veterans and wives helped win all the wars in
and for America. Queen Feisal
i hate that we have to come together like this but i am happy that we
can come together. black lives matter. love alex moore.
Luke stewart life mattered he was murdere
by an euclid police offic e i neuclid ohio we want justice for Luke Terra
Stewart his sister and famiky wants justice.
The human experience is a delusion of egocentric society, and the
people who are empowered are the poison that needs to be rooted out.
Our value is based on how someone else sees our worth,
Instead of basing our values on what we individually b
bring to companies and our community. [scribed-ele]
tanya burgos, msw
Racism is a Public Health Issueb It deserves an ICD Classification Code
Wod
WORDS MATTER! The Narrative Matters. White youths aretroubled, Black youth a
are criminal. White addicts have a disease, Black addicts are criminalized.
– – –
-P2 EDITED TRANSCRIPT-
– page 2 on 8/28/2020, march on Washington D.C. –
– Get Your Knees Off Our Necks –
-say anything you think or feel today-
Today is a day we can start anew. To see the different beautiful faces
brings hope.
As Queen, I was very pleased with the outcome of this movement.
Stop seeing us as our black skin. I am human, I am a woman, I am a mother, I
am an auntie, I am a sister, I am a daughter, my blood is red. My heart breaks.
I love you, please learn to love yourself. KO
I’m tired. AC Pope
Black trauma – the pain, this should not be a thing for every generation.
I am here today not for myself, but for my generation and the generations to come,
to know that we stood against injustice and for equality. – Justin Agudosi
Enough is enough is enough. The time for change is not in the future, it’s now.
From Javier Chicas – What a learning and deep experience it was today, with the whole
Black Lives Matter movement, today on August 28 2020.
Our freedom cannot be accomplished under capitalism. Free
the people, free the press, and then we see economic and social
liberation blossom.
Come together right now, peace.
Free Dr. Cosby Free R. Kelly transcribed ELE
I am pregnant, and scared for the world my baby will live in.
Hopefully, we can get our shit together in time.
A little bit of faith goes a long way.
R Adrianna
Children don’t deserve to suffer.
BLM – always has and always will.
Fe Bri Jessica Niki 2020
–
–
-P2 VERBATIM TRANSCRIPT-
– page 2 on 8/28/2020, march on Washington D.C. –
– Get Your Knees Off Our Necks –
-say anything you think or feel today-
oToday is a day we can start anew. To see the different beautiful faces
bt brings hope.
this march www
as queen i was very pleased with the outcome of this movement
Stop see ing us as our black skin. I am human, I am a woman, I am a mother, I
am an auntie, I am a sister, I am a daughter, my blood is red. My heart breaks
i love you plase learn to love yourself ko
i’m tired acpope
black tramna the pain, this should not be a thing for every generation.
I am here tdy mot for ,yself but for my generation and the generations to come
to know that we stood against injustive and for equality – Justing Agudosi
enough is em ouegh is enought the time for change is not in the future its now.
From Javier Chicas, wha a learning and deep experience it was today with the whole bl
Black Live Matter movement today on August 28 2020.
fr d Oir freedom cannot be accomplished under capitalism. Free
the people, free the press, and then we see economic and social
liber ation blossom.
Comr tohether right now peace
Free Dr. Cosby Free R. Kelly (?) [scribed ELE]
i, p r
i am pregnant and scared for the world my baby will li eve in
hopefully we can get our shit together in time
alittle bi o f i a little bit of faith goes a lon way
r adriann a s. children don’t de servet to suffer
children don’ deserve to suffer
lm blm always has and always will
fe bri jessica niki 2020
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