In a letter to Little Rock, Arkansas, US, Nicole Seymour reflects on her departure from the city and the reasons behind it, including the stark contrast between its impressive civil-rights history and present-day issues like entrenched poverty and gentrification. She recounts a pivotal moment when she read a local activist’s pessimistic view on racism and equality, which led her to explore civil-rights political theory. Nicole delves into Brandon Terry’s discourse on the permanence of systemic racism and the concept of struggle despite inevitable defeat. Drawing parallels to environmental activism, she emphasizes the role of irony in maintaining critical perspectives and motivation. Nicole concludes with a deeper understanding of Little Rock and herself, acknowledging the complexities of both.
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