Anti-martial law community meeting, c. 1975. Involvement in any issue inevitably produces conflicting views about organizing and the particular issue's relevance to the community. Movement activists, like Prosy Albarquez-Delacruz, recalls how they struggled to maintain unity -- despite differences -- by asking difficult questions (see text below).
Photo courtesy of KDP Archives, Helen Toribio.

Holding a Pigeon in My Hand: How Community Organizing Succeeds and Falters

By Prosy Albarquez-Delacruz

My life [in the United States] was not so simple. There was a clash of cultures and orientations, especially between 'Americanized' U.S.-raised Filipino Americans and recent immigrants like myself. Our conflicts sometimes took the form of differences in political directions and, later, as clashes in leadership styles. But the differences resulted in creating a foundation for sisterhood exchanges and the sharing [of] life stories, which cemented long-term friendships. I continued to seek clarity and answers on where this activism should lead. What was the big picture? What was to be done?

[01 Transforming Ourselves]     [02 Not Without Struggle]     [03 Serve the People]
[04 Listening to the Small Voice]     [05 The Big Picture]     [06 Revolution]
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