Cultures have many forms of communication. Words, images, movement, music and more. These forms are used to express who we are, what we think and often how we feel. Within our culture are different strata: beliefs, economics, governance, age, income, political affiliation, religious beliefs, education and different lifestyles. Outside of cultural norms are the outliers, the people who do not conform–the rebels with or without a cause.
On a cold, sunny morning in March, in Binghamton, NY, I google ”skate park near me” and get directions to a small municipal park alongside the Chenango River. My grandson and I arrive and drive by a baseball field and a small playground to reach the skate park. The place is empty on this Sunday morning. Today, he brings his remote-control battery powered car to navigate the steep contours of the skate park.
Most surfaces are spray painted in bold tags, comic faces, images and words. My grandson’s electric car zooms around and over these expressions of joy, distress, despair, abuse, anger, empathy, humor and vulgarity. I record the graffiti like an anthropologist recording evidence of a tribal outcast. I am amazed that this place exists. Skate parks have existed for several generations and tolerate expressive words and images unlike most public places. The graffiti itself screams out, Hail Satan. I’m curious about the person who is leaving this message behind. It matches the mantra in my head: Fuck Trump.
Today marks the third week of the war in Iran. This place is like a war-torn zone. I hear the voice of the people silenced and oppressed. As I stand here, I no longer dismiss the expressions spontaneously painted. I read them carefully, reflecting on the frustrations and alienation underlying these messages: rebellious, yet philosophical.
I invite you to see the skate park through this lens: not just graffiti. It’s a place marked by the resistant youth, doing skateboard stunts practiced day after day to circumvent trouble. This park captures all forms of free-expressions. Even here our First Amendment Right must be protected. Yet, more than protected, the message behind these expressions need to be understood.
The batteries of my grandson’s remote-control car have lost power. The car slowly comes to a halt. His interest in the park wanes. We return to our car and drive away. I don’t even think he recognized the anger and vulgarity painted on the surface of the concrete. And he surely doesn’t know what I’m thinking. This place is telling me to to rise-up, to say what I want to say and to push forward at the risk of being arrested. I’m starting to feel good about being an outlaw again, harkening back to my teenage years. I feel like it’s now time with Trump in office to follow the path of rebellion with a passion that I feel is expressed in this alien landscape.