...presented by Living Liberally
by Justin Krebs
"While literature can be a beautiful solitary experience, it can also bring people together in a community."
This sentiment is at the heart of the growing Reading Liberally network of book clubs and tours, but the quote itself comes from Andrew Slack, the 20-something founder of the HP Alliance -- which is making sure our Harry Potter-crazed world recognizes the powerful social justice messages in the adventures of J.K. Rowling's young wizards.
Andrew is by no means alone. Harry and the Potters, a wizard rock band, will be playing to a crowd of 2,000 at New York's Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria on Thursday as a build-up to their 6,000-person concert on Harvard Yard on Friday -- a week after the 5th film hit the theaters, and the eve of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final book in the series.
"Hundreds...thousands of people getting together to rock out to songs about the power of love," explains Slack. "And not in a hippyish way...these are teenagers who feel a connection to the books and to each other."
The nearly 10,000 friends on the HP Alliance's MySpace page demonstrate that connection...and Slack wants to make sure they are talking about more than whether Hermione and Ron will end up together. Especially: the genocide in Darfur.
From their press release last week:
In anticipation of the back-to-back release of the final Harry Potter book and the fifth movie -- HP Alliance is working with the Genocide Intervention Network and several human rights groups to organize hundreds of house parties all over the world.
On July 14, each house party will listen to an HP Alliance podcast where Joe Wilson, former U.S. Ambassador; John Prendergast, senior advisor to the International Crisis Group; and Dot Maver, executive director of the Peace Alliance will discuss the history of the Sudanese genocide and how regular people can do something to stop it. The podcast will also feature "Wizard Rock" bands like "Harry and the Potters," a young Harry Potter fan who got the state of Kansas to divest 38 million dollars from companies that fund the genocide in Darfur, and is co-sponsored by the popular Harry Potter news site, the Leaky Cauldron.
Using house parties to connect Harry Potter with a serious issue like the genocide in Darfur has helped capture the attention of young adults all over the world. "I'm 16 years old and have been actively trying to do just what you guys are planning for years!" said HP Alliance member Michelle. "I'm just a teenager, but I have a voice and a big heart and want to put all my effort into planning an awesome party to help spread the word and help Darfur!"
But the social justice message of Harry Potter isn't issue specific. Beloved Dumbledore rejects the entire right-wing style of divisive, fear-mongering politics. After Voldemort's return, Slack notes, Dumbledore warns of the dark wizard's ability to tear people apart, and argues the only way to counter it is "an equally strong bond of friendship."
And throughout the books, today's political topics are drawn out in black-and-white.
On the evil of torture: Dumbledore begs the Ministry of Magic to rid themselves of the Dementors, saying that a free society has no place for their kind in our penal system.
On the right to trial: Harry's godfather Sirius Black was held and tortured for 13 years without a trial, and in the most recent volume Stan Shunpike and Mundungus Fletcher were imprisoned without trial despite the Minister's knowledge they may be innocent.
On the value of diplomacy: communicating with the foreign and frightening Giants proves better option than isolation or violent conflict.
On racial equality: full rights for "purebloods," "mudbloods" and Muggle-born wizards.
On worker's rights: Hermione's campaign to empower the House Elves.
The 7th and final volume will reach millions of readers within the first weekend -- citizens of all ages who can learn about justice and equality in an open society...and who can take action in the real world to fight the battles Harry fights in his.
As Slack (who'd welcome comment directly at andrew@thehpalliance.org or via their MySpace site) concludes:
A story can change the world. Traditional politics isn't the only way to make people aware or to get people active. We can do a lot with this story and with this gigantic community of readers that's dedicated to fighting the dark arts in the real world. |
