Activism

Whatever is written about the Democratic presidential nomination before the concession of one candidate or another is likely to be premature at best. Still, for those historically-minded, a great deal of significance has already happened. When Hillary Clinton, a few days ago, accused Barack Obama of leading "a movement" and not "a campaign," she inadvertently identified the most important phenomenon in mainstream American politics, and not only liberal politics, in a generation.

From Art Spiegelman's Maus to Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, the graphic form has proved a powerful narrative tool. Combining memoir and social commentary in a visually appealing package, such illustrated stories blur the boundaries of art and history, reality and fantasy. It should be no surprise, then, that social movements-those rare hybrids of reality and fantasy-are finding themselves increasingly illustrated. Walter Benjamin's argument that radicalism politicizes art seems more relevant now than ever.

"With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

Watch the historic speech here online.

Resistance against public housing demolitions in New Orleans.

"If you try to bulldoze our homes, we're going to fight.
There's going to be a war in New Orleans."
- Sharon Jasper, New Orleans low income housing resident