A few years ago, Kwame and I happened to be in Hawaii in late April, coinciding with a series of Japanese public holidays known as “Golden Week”. The time off catalyzes a surge in travel and the islands were packed with Japanese tourists. Every time I tried to make a reservation for a meal or to go snorkeling, I was cheerfully rebuffed: “I’m sorry, it’s Golden Week.”1
I’ve been reminded of the term these past few weeks. Between the late-summer sunshine and flowers, Paris Olympics2 and the shiny, new Democratic ticket, things have felt like an especially golden time. A friend and I were comparing notes on how excitedly we were watching clips of the latest Kamala Harris rally or Tim Walz meme. I even nearly doubled down on my childless cat lady cred when we spent a few days considering adopting another cat (an idea vetoed by our long-time resident feline)!
I’ve also logged on to Zoom or watched reruns of several of the many affinity group calls which coalesced after Biden endorsed Harris. Taking inspiration from the initial Black Women for Harris Zoom, everyone from Cat Ladies to White Dudes, elders to those living with disabilities have organized calls to help fund the momentum of hope that many in the US are enjoying with both dollars and discussion. Organizing by identity has its critics, which I get — the last thing we need is more separation or tribalism — but I viewed these group calls as an initial first step toward understanding our respective places in this moment. I Zoomed in for a ‘White Women for Harris’ call one Thursday, before joining an ‘All Women for Harris’ call a few days later. All have struck me as affirming, encouraging and endearingly human. Most action is imperfect but its better than the alternative.
Worry constricts and conceals; hope expands and inspires. I’ve been surprised to find myself so moved and downright elated these past couple of weeks. New space seems to have opened up in my brain and my everyday life, which is great personally and creatively, and moreover, collectively, as there’s still plenty to do. Writer and activist Amy Siskind recently reminded readers:
“…we are at a high point, they are at a low point. We might get higher, they might get lower; but either way, we are 86 days away from the election and a lot can shift and happen.
DO NOT take your foot off the gas for even one day. DO NOT take anything for granted. EXPECT bumps in the road, and prepare to be both resilient and persistent.”
For me, that’s looked like writing postcards to encourage voters3, organizing an local concert fundraiser for the fall, and talking to my people about why I’m so excited about this election.
Speaking of golden, one of our favorite songs to cover is John Prine’s ‘You’ve Got Gold.’ It's extremely satisfying to sing its chorus but even more so now.
Evidently the spring holiday period is great for the Japanese film industry as well, who first adopted the term "Golden Week,” having riffed off the radio industry’s “golden time” descriptor for the period when a station gets the most listeners.
I was especially thrilled to watch American Kristen Faulkner win the women’s cycling road race in such spectacular fashion.