BAMN. Miranda Massie comes to UVM
Published April 25, 2007
By Nate Bradbury
Every student at UVM is probably familiar with the roles that Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X played in the battles of America’s Civil Rights Movement.
Contrarily, you may be less familiar with Clarence Darrow (critical to the founding of the ACLU), Thurgood Marshall (Brown v. Board and the first African-American Supreme Court Justice), or Clarence M. Mitchell (pivotal leader in the struggle for the Civil Rights Acts of 1960 and 1964). These three men were important leaders in the struggle for equality in America during the 20th century, but their names carry little historical currency.
If it surprises you that the gains of the Civil Rights Movement have been eroded over the past half-century, then it wouldn’t surprise me if you didn’t know Miranda Massie’s name either. Ms. Massie is – in my humble opinion – a critically important member of the Civil Rights Movement redux.
Ms. Massie is a civil rights attorney based in Detroit, Michigan. She worked stridently as an activist and organizer to establish two essential and interconnected institutions that are fighting for equality in the United States.
By Any Means Necessary (B.A.M.N.) was established as a “coalition to defend affirmative action, integration, immigrant rights, and fight for equality by any means necessary.” Massie said that the organization’s name is meant to “communicate the rejection of business as usual” when it comes to the racist and discriminatory practices that are found at all levels of our society.
United for Equality and Affirmative Action Legal Defense Fund (UEAALDF) is the legal arm of B.A.M.N. Ms. Massie acts as legal counsel and the lead lawyer for the cases that her organization chooses to pursue.
In our interview, Ms. Massie told me that there are two concepts that get lost in the day-to-day shuffle of college life. First, “Racial equality and integration are the defining criteria for American democracy [and second,] the struggle to achieve them is one we must win, and can win.”
These ideas – coupled with her overriding optimism – drive her work to enact the “promise of the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington,” that hasn’t been upheld. In addition to the current attacks on the Brown v. Board ruling in Seattle and Louisville, Ms. Massie is fighting re-segregation cases in Los Angeles and Michigan.
Ms. Massie said that “a bold and optimistic [student outreach program] is required,” to foster the type of mass action that is needed to manifest lasting change in our legal system.
One fundamental characteristic separates Ms. Massie from other activists: she has an undying belief in the fact that the battle for civil rights and equality can, will, and must be won.
Ms. Massie is an amazing activist, tireless organizer, and best of all by the time you read this she will probably be on campus already. On April 26th, she will be on campus giving talks to groups of students.
Come listen to Miranda Massie’s talk Thursday:
“Defending Affirmative Action and Debunking the Myth of Meritocracy.”
The talk will be this Thursday, April 26, at 6:30 in John Dewey Lounge, Old Mill
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