“When I first declared my desire to work in a loving environment, friends acted as though I had truly lost my mind. To them, love and work did not go together. But I was convinced that I would work better in a work environment shaped by an ethic of love.”
-bell hooks, All About Love: New Visions
We released this podcast on Sunday night, and 36 hours later I received this email from a friend and colleague:
Just wanted to drop a note and let you know how much I loved the most recent podcast. I love them all, but this one came at a really great time for me.
thank you to you and Abram.
It was a great affirmation. We think this is a special episode, one where we looked inward and discussed the most universal theme: L-O-V-E.
The genesis for the episode occurred last spring, when I got in an argument over the phone with someone I supervise. I wanted her to do something, she did not want to do it, and we were going back and forth. Ultimately, I ended the conversation by telling her what she needed to do, then followed up by sending her an email with the same directive. Pretty standard workplace behavior, actually.
But it wasn’t standard for our relationship, and she was hurt. She called me out on it. She new the email I sent was the first step of what is called the “ladder of discipline,” that trusty protocol that can result in moving someone towards termination. The whole interaction felt inconsistent with what Abram and I had been talking about on this podcast, and it made me start to question: is this the type of supervisor, and the type of person, I want to be? What is the alternative? How can I perform this role and still live out my values?
Somehow the questions I was asking reminded me of bell hooks and her book, All About Love: New Visions. I’d read hooks before, but only heard allusions to this particular text. Still, I had a feeling that my questions were about love, and I trusted that hooks would help us find some answers.
She did. She also helped us ask new questions. This was the episode where we made ourselves most vulnerable, and where we really tackled some of the deepest questions about what it means to be a radical bureaucrat.
We hope you enjoy it. Please comment on the blog, tweet us @radbureau, or email at info@radicalbureaucrat.com. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
In solidarity,
Sam (and Abram)
Before You Go: UTLA Strike Day 2!
Last week we suggested that you read up on the teacher strike in LA, and today was Day 2. It is making national news, and there is no end in sight. Follow the UTLA on Twitter @UTLA. Here’s a recent op-ed on why they are striking.