Favorite books
“Toussaint could defend the freedom of the blacks without reservation, and this gave to his declaration a strength and a single-mindedness rare in the great documents of the time. The French bourgeoisie could not understand it. Rivers of blood were to flow before they understood that elevated as was his tone Toussaint had written neither bombast nor rhetoric but the simple and sober truth.”
“I’ve had enough of someone else’s propaganda,” I had written to these friends. “I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”
“Power is an illusion of perception…On an individual basis, in most interactions, this thing we call power — authority — exists only as it is perceived.”
“..for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.”
“Every so often, however, we discover another portion of the greater story, another section that was left out. We learn—not everything—but a little more. And because we learn more, the world is a little brighter. Our understanding is a little clearer. I’d like to think our capacity for empathy, for caring, is a little stronger, too.”
“Thousands more must be staring into darkness like us, gripped by scandalous thoughts, extravagant hopes, and forbidden plots. We lie in wait for the right moment and the just cause, which, at this moment, is simply wanting to live. And even as we write this final sentence, the sentences that will not be revised, we confess to being certain of one and only one thing – we swear to keep, on penalty of death, this one promise: We will live!”
“Stories aren’t fiction. Stories are fabric. They’re the white sheets we drape over our ghosts so we can see them.”
Articles
Podcasts
Speeches
This year, I discovered a new love of mine: speeches. I have always enjoyed reading the words of others, but I realized that I also love listening to prominent activists such as Malcolm X, Stokely Carmichael, and Angela Davis.
Speeches are potent tools for swaying the public, especially if arguments are crafted well. They can change people’s minds, show them new perspectives, and inspire them to take action. But they can also be used to spread propaganda and lies. The power of a speech often lies in the speaker and their intention. In 2024, I had the opportunity to listen to several speakers live and discover the words of powerful orators from history.
Here are some of my favorite speeches:
Cornell West: “The Fight for America’s Future: A Teach-In with the Labor Movement,” held October 3-4, 1996 at Columbia University, NYC
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Film/TV
Musical theater spotlight:
“The Outsiders”
Like most teenagers, I first discovered “The Outsiders” as required reading in middle school. I felt immediately understood when reading about a week in Ponyboy Curtis’s life. I related to his feelings of invincibility, hope that life improves, and belief in brotherhood.
It’s hard to put into words what this book meant to me when I read it. I’ve re-read it several times since then, including other books by S.E. Hinton. In all of her books but especially “The Outsiders”, she validates the feelings of young people and allows them to be profoundly impacted by their experiences. Too often adults dismiss the idea that teenagers can gain wisdom at a young age.
When I discovered the musical, I had the entire soundtrack on repeat. I once again fell in love with Ponyboy Curtis and the Greasers. Listening to the music brought me back to little, middle-school Saumya who was so scared, so shy, and so worried but found comfort in “The Outsiders.” It gave her hope that the emotions she was feeling, no matter how trivial they were, actually mattered. “The Outsiders” musical made me feel nostalgic and inspired by the power of art to make people, young people, feel valued in their experiences.
My work:
2024 was the year I stepped into adulthood (very scary and exciting) and started working my first full-time job!
Working for a labor union has been perhaps one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I met amazing people whose life stories inspired me and I learned an immense amount about the labor movement. I had the opportunity to shadow organizers where I saw the procedural and effective nature of organizing conversations. I am entering this new year feeling even more motivated and energized to help build a multicultural, empowering labor movement. Workers built this country and it’s time we receive the respect we deserve.
I genuinely believe we are in an incredibly exciting time for the labor movement. I mean just these last couple of months, Amazon workers and Starbucks workers walked off the job in protest of their measly pay and lack of benefits!! That’s some union power, and we are only getting stronger. People are seeing how the systems in place continue to exploit the workers who make our country run. This realization will help us come together in our power and realize the strength of our collective voice!
With all that being said, I produced some of my favorite work this year! I interviewed workers and elevated their voices. Sharing their stories has reminded me of the impact of storytelling, especially for people who have been severely underrepresented.
Here are some of my favorite works from this year:
Saumya Monga 