Judy Baca  Not Comfortable with Empathy

Continuing with some quick thoughts about a Judy Baca mural.  When I raised the topic of empathy in the discussion, she said she didn't like the word empathy. She sees it as a looking down on people, similar to sympathy or pity. When I talked to her while we were walking to the car, I tried to explain Obama's position on empathy.  I got the impression that she would actually like a different theme, something she is more comfortable and familiar with.   

 

I see Judy as a very caring person, she has given voice and expression to the disenfranchised in her work. However, this Richmond Empathy project is build on Obama's approach and call for more empathy in our society. Obama just mentioned it again in this news conference on choosing a new supreme court judge based on empathy.

 

From my experience, artists tend to develop a set of themes and styles and sort of specialize in them.  The theme of empathy is not something she is inherently familiar with. Her style, it seems to me,  flows more out the Peace and Justice movement, represented by Jessie Jackson for one. It's a more, power to the people and the oppressed, approach. Giving a sense of dignity and heroics to this community. While very valid and important, it is different from the empathy based value system (mutual openness, inclusivity, non combative) that Obama represents. Obama calls for a culture of empathy.

 

Judy saying she doesn't like the word empathy is very troubling to me.  The empathy based approach that Obama represents is the approach that the American electorate have supported and given a mandate too.  It is this approach that we want to support with our work.

 

I will be writing up my thoughts in more detail, but just wanted to pass this clip on since I just saw it on Google news.

 

best

 

Edwin