Sly and RB do PA

Late Monday Sylvia and I, anxious and worried about the outcome of the election decided to go to PA to help with encouraging people to vote. This election was obviously important but also so so emotional for people. We were a collective mess and thought maybe having an activity would help. It did.

We traveled down down to Levittown, PA on election day to knock on doors, ask people if they voted and if they hadn't encourage them to vote and tell them where their polling places were. We worked through the Obama campaign HQs in Bucks county where my friend Ellie has been for months. We got our assignments and headed to the section of Levittown where all of the streets begin with the letter "H." We were so excited and enjoyed walking up and down and trying to engage with the area. Our knocking was the fourth time this community has received information about the champaign and where to vote and some people were less than amused that we were coming again. At one house I knocked and when the woman came to the door I told her that "We were just checking to make sure folks voted today." She rolled her eyes and said "I have had 4 phone calls at home and work and now y'all come to my door?!" I apologized saying that it is just a REALLY important election and we want to make sure people are actually voting. I encouraged her to put a little "I voted" sign on her door and we would stop knocking. She half smiled at that but made it very clear that is was time for me to leave. I thanked her profusely and as a I was walking away she said begrudgingly "Thank you for your passion."


We knocked on about 80 doors, nothing compared to some of the people we met who hadn't slept or stopped for weeks and months. It was a tiring reality but it was a reality. People are done. People are so tired of the political feelings of pain and loss. I am scared that people will continue the rhetoric that racism is over and that "ultimate color line has been crossed." I am actually terrified. But I am also thrilled that people can admit when something in necessary. I am hoping this is a real leap in the arc of the moral universe.


Also thrilling (and intense) is the reality of the political landscape in Levittown specifically.


Love.