220 miles. 8 days. 4 crazy advocates.
Four West Michiganders (whose sanity could perhaps be questioned) are undertaking a 220-mile walk (May 2-9 from Port Huron to Grand Haven), to help raise money for Korye, a cultural dance and drumming group based in Cape Coast, Ghana. Although I could use this article as a venue to tell you about the walk, why we are raising money, the amazing work of Korye and the reasons for the walk, I would rather talk about why this even matters.
I say this not in a callous way, but rather from a vantage point of experience. I know how hard it is for people to understand the connection between Ghana and the US, through the work I do at LiWWA (my non-profit based in Ghana). What does a cultural drumming and dancing group based in Ghana, have to do with our daily existence in West Michigan? What do education issues in West Africa have to do with education issues here?
It would take many pages to explain all these intricate connections, and so, instead of speaking theoretically, I am going to speak from a personal perspective, for I can only speak from the place where I find myself at this moment.
A couple of weeks ago, I participated in TOMS One Day Without and walked around Grand Rapids and Grand Valley without shoes. As I was walking around campus, I would run into people who would question why I didn't have shoes on, and I would proceed to tell them about the mission of TOMS and my reason for participating (you can read more about my day at Elemental). I ran into a staff member, later that afternoon, on campus, who asked me about my reason for walking without shoes. And as I proceeded, I told him my reason. I lightheartedly mentioned that he should take his shoes off too and participate. He responded by saying, "Uma, not everyone can assimilate to your culture and walk around without shoes."
This staff member's response shocked me. I walked away. I didn't know what to say. I was rather stunned. How does a statement like that -- a statement that immediately decreases the identity of a person, diminishes their richness, declares superiority -- come out of an educated person's mouth? I didn't mention this situation for my recounting of the Elemental story, because, in many ways, I am still processing this encounter. I am still in disbelief and perhaps even hurt. My Indian culture has nothing to do with TOMS One Day Without and this fact is the reason I bring this story up, because it is at the heart of why I believe this walk, this mission, and raising awareness of not only issues of global education, but issues in West Michigan.
Michigan is one of the most segregated states in the U.S. West Michigan has one of the most segregated school systems in the country. Diversity is a HUGE issue here. We see ourselves here, in West Michigan, as progressive, understanding, conservative, but appreciative of discourse. What we fail to recognize, however, is that these discourses continually fail to stress that we continue to view the world from a very, well, West Michigan perspective. This is precisely why this walk is important.
To understand another culture takes time. To learn their customs, music, dances and language takes patience and openness, from which, hopefully, grows appreciation. To say, however, that people that live thousands of miles from you are your brothers and sisters on this earth -- that takes love.
It is heartbreaking for me to realize that people in this area are uncomfortable with extending love in a way that transcends race, class, color and status. We exist within our comfort zones, saying that we support organizations and believe in their missions, while simultaneously refusing to connect on a human level with the very people these organizations are supporting and working with.
This walk is 220 miles long, across the state of Michigan, and it will be, hopefully, completed in eight days. The people who are walking are not Ghanaians; we are all at heart West Michiganders. But we love this Earth, we love our fellow humans, and, for all of us, this is our way of opening our hearts and, in a small way, saying, "I am one with the kids in Ghana; I am taking the time to recognize this issue, to sit with it, mentally, emotionally, physically. I am fully immersing in this universe in the only way I can."
The Walk Across Michigan is about raising awareness and money, but it is deeper on so many levels. I hope that in some way, we can broaden our horizons; I hope that when Korye comes here in the fall, we can extend our love, not just learn music and dance from some phenomenal musicians and drummers. I know this article is quite personal and it might even sting a bit. But to me, life is never lived on the surface, as the motto should be: Go deeper, be kind to each other, and, if you have too, walk until you can open your hearts!
To find out more information about the walk or sponsor a walker, please visit www.wamcaghana.org or email [email protected].
Uma J. Mishra is Founder and Executive Director of LiWWA , an organization that works to provide clean water to villagers in Ghana. Uma is a senior at Grand Valley State University finishing her major in English and minor in Chemistry. She is also a U.S. Army Veteran and will be starting her Masters Degree at GVSU in Fall of 2011. Uma is adamant in demanding that international development work should be critically approached but performed from a place of love for our fellow man. LiWWA, under the direction of Uma, is focused on providing clean water for other villages in Ghana provided that a holistic view and proper cultural assessments are performed in order to form the best instillation plan.
Walkers pictured, from left to right: Sean Mackey, Meg Collins, Mike Tidball and Uma Mishra.
Uma Mishra photo by Dave Johnson
Walk Across Michigan Promo Video