My fifth book. I am thinking my last book. Not because of a time element but that I have chosen a different literary device and delivery system. It took me years to build confidence about this content and another year to really suffer over the method.
Of course, it is about Miss Alice Paul. She is my primary muse. I have invested forty years in knowing her, understanding her and, sometimes, unintentionally emulating her. I mean much more than fasting. She was a force of nature. She was single minded, unrelenting, often rude and always challenging. Miss Paul was not at the front of the march but in the office drawing maps, listing components, assigning tasks. She was the brains of the operation and if it did not go her way, she was not happy.
On the other hand, she had her reasons as most often when things went off the rails it was because people did not listen or, worse yet, did not ask. She was not a diva. She did not attend final votes or bill signings. She was arrested, fasted, was force-fed and served the longest prison sentence. She was prosecuted by the Department of Justice and labeled as mentally ill by the jail psychologist. She was not austere but deeply intentional. She was privately conservative but publically the most radical. Well known to be unappreciative, however she would say that the work is for equality not for her, so she did not have to say thank you. To know her, you have to face a lot of facts.
I have read over fifty books now and have another fifty on the table. I have learned that many authors have no idea who she was. I would hit a story and think – whoa – wait, that isn’t right. Much of the best information was in articles or footnotes or the outstanding phone interviews with women who knew Miss Paul. Can I even say that one included my fast pointing out that it was in the lineage of Miss Paul. FLIP ME OUT!
- to write about Miss Paul as an activist. She was an activist and I am an activist
- to compare and apply Miss Paul’s methods into current day activist practice
- to write this without an end, a deadline, a coda
- to not spend a year writing and then be broken hearted that there is so much more to say
The Solution
- write it in serial format
- publish it online as I go
- keep this open ended and see where it goes
BOOM I just got to thinking – why stop there? Just keep adding more
- My speaking information – PowerPoint and youtube
- Bibliography – the most comprehensive I have ever seen
- Guest page for you to submit something
- Miss Alice Paul Shop with contemporary designs
I hope you enjoy my every expanding universe. The introduction and first chapter are up now. The second chapter will be up in a few days. Come by often as it is constantly growing. I love showing Americans that Miss Paul is our very own Non-Violent Direct Action expert. She has a lot to teach us.
http://MissAlicePaul.com
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