The health and economic disparities of the COVID-19 pandemic for Black and Brown communities and the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, to name two significant concurrent forces, set off “lightning in a bottle” moments for racial justice organizations. Last year saw a confluence of such events. The tireless activism, organizational, and coalition-building work that makes them possible happens over many years…and then, bam! An event or a policy shift-nearly always of violence or oppression-sets off a massive reaction. What this report lifts up and helps the reader consider is the nature of these viral “lightning in a bottle” moments, characterized by sudden, large-scale influxes to organizations of media attention, digital engagement, and financial support. The #BlackLivesMatter and #MeToo movements were, of course, also generating participation in unprecedented numbers. The racist, xenophobic discourse and policy that defined the Trump presidency thrust immigrants’ groups further into the limelight. The report details the growth experiences of two immigrants’ rights organizations, NILC and a grassroots group in southern California called Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (ICIJ). “It’s about the cultures and practices and systems that are in place that allow you to build a bottle strong enough to withstand that lightning moment and then utilize that energy moving forward.” “We came up with it initially because it really did feel like this out-of-the-blue thing that happened, and we had a following and the funding to really sort of fulfill our wildest dreams.” But as she and her coauthors, consultants Rachel Baker, Robert Bray, and Marjorie Fine, dug deeper into these experiences, she says they realized the bottle was even more important than the lightning. She explains that the “lightning in a bottle” metaphor is more multifaceted than it appears at first blush. Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments in Rock and Roll will be released Januvia Ecco (an imprint of HarperCollins).Adela de la Torre, who was the communications director at NILC during that explosive surge in attention and support surrounding the Muslim ban, is the lead author of the new report. Lenny Kaye is the rock and roll historian we’ve always needed. This is just what I needed to provide perspective on the music books I plan on covering for The Aquarian in 2022. Lightning Striking is an essential part of your library if you’re a music buff like me. I was beguiled, entertained, and mystified during my journey reading this book and I’m sure you’ll agree. I especially loved the passage covering Los Angeles in 1984 where glitter and glam collided with NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) on the Sunset Strip where, “By 2 A.M., when the bars close, the Strip resembles an underage, red-light district, all sexes on display, drugs, and backstage access better barter than cash.” Kaye takes you to the streets from the subterranean clubs on Bowery in New York City to downtown Seattle where a new sound combining punk and alternative music emerged. The narrator depicts everything from the frenzy of a young crowd dancing to a new style of music made just for them courtesy of Alan Freed to the allegiance of four lads from Liverpool that eventually altered and amazed those who tuned into a certain television show. Lightning Striking depicts every pivotal moment with care. I’ve had many of these moments in my life and you probably have as well – that’s lightning striking right there. While some of these incidents may have been accidental, it created a spark that made people stop and notice. You will notice that each of these destinations and situations are consequences from what came before them time and time again. I’ve been struck by lightning many a time, many a place,” he says. “The odds of being struck by lightning are 300,00 to 1. In his newest tome, Lightning Striking: Ten Transformative Moments in Rock and Roll, Kaye vividly illustrates the people, places, and events as if you were looking through his eyes. Kaye was born with, grew up with, and grew old with rock and roll (his words, not mine). He is best known as Patti Smith’s longtime guitarist, collaborator, and friend in addition to being an insightful and inspiring music scribe. Lenny Kaye has been a fixture in the music business for decades.
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