I wanted to talk about a concept that has become somewhat of a mantra to me here at the shop. A few years ago I went to a meet up called Bike!Bike! where a bunch of us bike co-op types meet up and talk about earn-a-bike, three speed internal hubs, group rides, volunteer orientations and other topics. Someone from another project then said a phrase that I repeat often: “Well is it charity or solidarity?”
Charity is a word often used this time of year. Soup kitchens become even more full than usual in the winter. Salvation Army has their red buckets on every corner. It is the time of year to “give.” I’ve got nothing against charity, but it isn’t a solution to me. Soup kitchens often do so much more than feed people. Feeding is just the basis of it. Because with an empty belly other work cannot be done. If you know about Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, you know that someone who doesn’t know where their next meal is coming from doesn’t worry about getting a PhD, they worry about eating.
So the charity part (which is important) puts food in the stomach, but if you look at examples like the Earthworks Farm on the East Side you will see that eating is just the beginning. Teaching people to grow their own food and take control of their own health is the solidarity part (which is the MOST important).
Also solidarity is not enforcing ones beliefs on another. What may be good for me may not be good for you. I think of all the soup kitchens I worked with when I lived in Lansing that would require folks to come to a bible study before they fed folks. Sure that may be what some people needed, but others just needed food. This was charity only and not solidarity.
People come from all sorts of cultures and experiences so one size will never fit all. However, education and sharing of experience will only help us grow. When a space is provided for folks to learn in a non-judgmental way, they can take what they need and adapt it to their own experience.
So often people will ask me why the Hub doesn’t just give away bikes to people. It is true that we have many bikes in our warehouse waiting to be built up. I think this would be charity only and not solidarity in this case. That is why so many bike co0ops do different versions of Earn-a-Bike. If a participant learns to maintain their bike and built it, than it is truly their bike.
When that bike breaks down, they aren’t dependent on the Hub for another one. They can fix it to keep it rolling. Also, they built it, it is their bike. It isn’t something that was given or forced upon them. It is a machine they shaped with their own hands.
We aren’t perfect here at the Hub. Those of us that work here come from certain backgrounds and often need to be reminded to look at things a different way. But our collective structure helps with that. We love to argue with each other until a common understanding is reached. Those long difficult conversations often create a stronger solution than what was originally offered.
We also get great input from the greater community as well. Everyone interacts with us in different ways. I learn much from volunteers that come to the shop month after month to help. We have donors that shop in our retail space, give us money, come to our fund raising events or just give us the bikes that they don’t need anymore. To all these people we are grateful.
So when I repeat that mantra of “Solidarity, not charity” I think of all the people that have come through this shop. I try to see things from different viewpoints and design Back Alley Bikes into a space where we can transform each other. It can be freezing up here in this office in the winter and this job certainly doesn’t pay the best, but at this point in my life I’m extremely thankful to be where I am.
This time of year is a lonely one for many people despite the holidays. If I’ve learned anything in the past year, it is that family and community are whatever you want it to be. Right now, I’m working towards a community around this shop. I may not do everything right but I’m excited for this next year. Just like a bike tour across invisible state and national boarders that aren’t really there, I am free. I owe this to many people. What I owe is not charity and handouts, but solidarity. I seek community and a brighter future as much as the folks that come to us seek a new bike.
So here comes 2012 – hopefully a brighter future. All I can do is hope for it. But my hopes are stronger with a group in solidarity with me.
see ya’ll in 2012,
jason x