Urban Transcripts (Mar 2021)
(R)evolutionary powers for regenerative economies: Learning from natural law and leaders in Jackson, Mississippi
Abstract
“What time is it on the clock of the world?” Jimmy and Grace Lee Boggs posed this question on July 4, 1973 in Detroit as they reflected on the costs of the 1967 Rebellion, the history of revolutions in the 20th century, and the promise and prospects of “making an evolutionary/revolutionary leap towards becoming more socially responsible and more self-critical human beings.” How would we answer their question today? It is 2020 and our global alarm clock is ringing. In the wake of the global pandemic; the onslaught of deadly wildfires, hurricanes and extreme weather associated with escalating climate change; and the growing awareness of systemic police brutality and persistent racism, more people are waking up to the reality that dominant economic structures represent a dire threat to life on the planet. Although some still want to return to their dream state and “bounce back” to how things were before the pandemic, many others are increasingly vocal about their unwillingness to return to business as usual. Increasingly, movement leaders and corporate leaders alike are calling for reimagined economies that serve life, not just profit. Some even explicitly call for a fundamental paradigm shift to a regenerative economy. However, definitions of this paradigm shift are varied and strongly contested.
