Joining the Green Party & Channeling Our Inner “Hulk”

This is a serious discussion about political realities, using a make believe anti-hero as a metaphor. During the 2012 session of the Georgia state legislature, average citizens got treated to the hostile proclivities of an emboldened Republican majority and the ineffective waywardness of diminished Democratic caucus. As noted in Creative Loafing’s annual Golden Sleaze Awards, “It is agreed by all rational minds that what Georgia most needs from its leaders is legislation that could help create jobs, fix problems in the upcoming transportation-tax vote, and make relationships between lobbyists and lawmakers less cozy. Instead, we were treated to red-meat bills about abortion, drug-testing people seeking welfare, and undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children who now are seeking a college education. Attempts to do good by Republicans and Democrats alike were scuttled in favor of the same ol’ bills boosting the same ol’ corporate interests.” It’s enough to make me angry as the Hulk … and Green.

The Hulk is a fictional character, a superhero in the Marvel Comics Universe created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Cast as the emotional and impulsive alter ego of the withdrawn and reserved physicist Dr. Bruce Banner, the Hulk appears shortly after Banner is accidentally exposed to the blast of a test detonation of a gamma bomb he invented. Subsequently when made angry, Banner will involuntarily transform into the Hulk, depicted as a giant, raging, humanoid monster. Although the Hulk’s coloration has varied throughout the character’s publication history, the most consistent shade is green (Wikipedia).

“Don’t Make Me Angry, You Wouldn’t Like Me When I’m Angry”

Like Bruce Banner, many citizens of Georgia feel pushed to the edge by an increasingly oppressive political environment. Often fueled by blatant racism and cynical class warfare, certain leaders of our state have made it their inane business to consistently diminish the quality of life for poor and working people while remaining loyal to corporate interests. Some of the attacks on common sense and decency in making public policy leave me seething with rage at how cruel and malicious too many Georgia elected officials can be while busy holding folks back, outright destroying lives, and suffocating hope.

I am angry about MARTA. Public transportation is my primary way of moving around the city for work, whatever play I can fit in, and exercising my family responsibilities as the father of my two young children. As is the case with many working people in Atlanta, it is critical to my quality of life that the transit system remains affordable and functional. MARTA General Manager Beverly Scott warned recently that deep service cuts are pending in part because the state legislature continued refusal to lift regulations on how much the agency can spend on operations (Steve Visser, AJC). As Maria Saporta decries, “MARTA continues to be used as a political football in a twisted game between state and regional leaders…. The State of Georgia provides virtually no operating dollars for MARTA, yet it continues to hold a heavy, self-righteous stick over the transit agency” (Saporta Report). Essentially maintaining racially motivated, petty paternalistic control over a resource they don’t pay for, the state legislature is upholding the worse part of its southern political heritage.

I am angry about having to persistently defend the most basic of civil rights. In this difficult economy when there is so much else to contend with, those of us who know how critical it is to protect the vote and other civil liberties are forced to respond to wave after wave of attacks on victories hard won in the past by the blood sacrifice of our ancestors or elders. Members of Occupy Atlanta, as well as representatives of the civil rights and labor community, had to rally against bills before the Georgia Legislature that would outlaw everything from peaceful protests to abortion. Senate Bill 469 in particular would have criminalized non-violent protests and picketing of labor disputes had it not been opposed by an extraordinary coalition of groups that included the Tea Party.  As noted by political columnist Tom Crawford in Creative Loafing’s piece mentioned above,  the only demographic group left unscathed during the 2012 legislative session was “white Christian males who are still employed and don’t have to apply for public benefits.”

“The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets.”

As the Hulk, Banner is capable of significant feats of strength, the magnitude of which increase in direct proportion to the character’s anger. As the character himself puts it, “The madder Hulk gets, the stronger Hulk gets!” Similarly, I believe truly progressive citizens in our state would exert greater impact of public policy in the state if we would embrace our inner Hulk and turn to the Green Party of Georgia. Many of us might feel like I do, that we would rather be occupied with simply creating the kind of society in which we wish to live by doing things like building local food systems or developing independent Black institutions that support self-determination in our communities. The harsh reality is that we have political enemies that are hell bent on making life as hard as possible for each of us, our families, and our neighbors. We have no choice but to respond, but how we respond is an important choice.

I encourage anyone who may feel as I do and consider becoming involved with the Green Party, especially as it relates to local elections. Black people in particular would do well in my opinion to take a look at an alternative to being taken for granted by the Democratic Party in Georgia. As indicated by commentator Roger White however, “Regardless of whether Blacks are voting Green or Democrat or not voting at all, our influence and power will only be as strong as our grassroots movements are” (Red, Black, but Not Green: Green Party Challenges in the Black Community, Left Turn). The most important imperative therefore is for all of us to be willing to organize and fight for power to effect the changes we want to see. Along with offering a superior policy platform with the 10 Key Values, the Green Party of Georgia encourages us to “Vote our hopes, not our fears”. We would be stronger to do so and able to smash the opposition to our futures while envisioning the tomorrow of our dreams.

The Green Party of Georgia and this writer are actively re-organizing a Fulton County affiliate of the state-wide party. Please contact Kwabena Nkromo at 404.604.8781 or future.metro.atl@gmail.com if you are interested in becoming involved with this effort.