Global Getdown: It's not just a night of entertainment

           It was such a pleasure seeing so many students, faculty, and staff come together to cheer on and appreciate their community. The vibe in the room was one of love, thoughtfulness, and compassion. Watching multigenerational song, movement showing powerful emotion, and the sound of the Maori warriors, all created a strong emotional pull inside of me. Why this event is so impactful is because this vibe of togetherness does not translate outside of this space often in the world. Global Getdown is not just meant to be one night of entertainment. It is meant to show that in difference there is strength.

Embracing diversity is not just to see diversity, cheer, and move on, but rather recognize and understand that your own humanity is intertwined with people often referred to as ‘the other”. Perhaps, being the other is your experience, and perhaps not. In a world that values white skin, those with monetary wealth, patriarchy, and unrealistic beauty standards we struggle to achieve these unattainable qualities. It is like we are being forced to look into a mirror that continually compares our inadequacies to an ideal.  

It seems as though there is an air of injustice smothering all. In fact, this is a world infected with the disease of hate manifesting in pain, racism, sexism, classism, and a variety of other oppressions that are able to thrive. These injustices bleed, and scar. After watching the racial violence toward people of color in Ferguson, or the inappropriate Ray Rice and Janay Palmer costumes that show an utter disregard for Domestic violence I am tired. We have been picking at the same rash for far too long instead of finding a permanent solution. We are only putting band aids over gashes.

          Yet, change is possible. What change means though is recognizing that there is inequality and that the system is broken and requires major alterations. A system changes with persistence, advocacy, and education. What this requires is similar to a performance. It requires active planning, figuring out where to go, what to do, and who the primary members will be. This requires practice, working as a team, and seeking help, or creating change when necessary. A performance also requires the background players. These individuals in solidarity work to help the movement function efficiently. These members make sure all the little details are set to make sure the event runs smoothly. Then of course there is an audience. These individuals commit to active engagement and support for the performance. Their role is to pay attention, attempt to understand, and celebrate those performing. The audience’s voice has the power to change a performance, or a nation, share the message, and see a new perspective. A performance of diversity requires collaboration, recognition of inequality, and desire to create change.

        Global Getdown was an illustration of embracing change and diversity within the PLU community. PLU has the opportunity to create change through speaking out, and being informed of injustice. To create change there is light; the more lights on the harder it is to blow them out. The flame of justice is strong and is fueled because people are struggling, dying, and broken based on systems that deny diversity.