Zen and the Art of Will H. Moore

There is this old hip hop song "Tennessee" by Arrested Development

Lord, I've really been real stressed, down and out, losing ground
Although I am black and proud, problems got me pessimistic
Brothers and sisters keep messin' up, why does it have to be so damn tuff?
I don't know where I can go to let these ghosts out of my skull
My grandma past my brother's gone, I never at once felt so alone
I know you're supposed to be my steering wheel, not just my spare tire

(Home!) But Lord, I ask you
(Home!) to be my guiding force and truth
(Home!) For some strange reason it had to be
(Home!) he guided me to Tennessee
Take me to another place, take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me, let me understand your plan
Take me to another place, take me to another land
Make me forget all that hurts me, let me understand your plan

Lord it's obvious we got a relationship
Talkin' to each other every night and day
Although you're superior over me
We talk to each other in a friendship way
Then outta nowhere you tell me to break
Outta the country and into more country
Past Dyesburg and Ripley
Where the ghost of childhood haunts me
Walk the roads my forefathers walked
Climb the trees my forefathers hung from
Ask those trees for all their wisdom
They tell me my ears are so young (Home)
Go back, from whence you came (Home)
My family tree, my family name (Home)
For some strange reason it had to be (Home)
He guided me to Tennessee (Home)

(Refrain)

Now I see the importance of history
Why my people be in the mess that they be
Many journeys to freedom made in vain
By brothers on the corner playin' ghetto games
I ask you, Lord why you enlightened me
Without the enlightenment of all my folks
He said, cuz I set myself on a quest for truth
And he was there to quench my thirst
But I am still thirsty

​(Go below for the full effect but stop at the same point.)

So, why am I beginning with some old rap song about some black guy talking to god and referencing Will?  Well aside from the point that Will is complex, it was all to get to the line: "I am still thirsty".  I cannot think of a better way to discuss him.  It cuts to the core of his existence and our relationship with him.  Will wanted to know.  He had to know.  He had to open it up, loosen parts, probe, dis/reassemble, occasionally burn or bend and then put it all back together.  

Meet Will, take a Mindwalk and time/space faded away. You were transformed by the experience.  You saw new things - including yourself and you were grateful for the journey. Will also seemed to value the experience and he seemed to always be ready of them - even seeking them out.

This thirst however is also a curse.  Some things cannot be put back together.  Some things cannot be taken apart.  Some things have no straightforward or satisfactory answer.  But, never really one for staying away from a fight, Will would take these on too: being, meaning, truth (yeah, that one especially) - these were all fair game for him. Catch Will at the right moment and he would take you there.  Catch him at a different one and he would accompany you on your journey.  Seemingly more than willing to occupy space/time in your world for a few, pulling you into his when needed/necessary.

Our mindwalks were epic - every possible topic was covered and in many ways I found myself within them.  We did not start this way though.  We were initially competitors when we first met - divided by a discipline that tried to make it seem that there was not space for all of us. We believed this at first but overtime we realized that this was not the case and that we were much stronger, wiser, effective - together/unified against - well.... that varied: racism, elitism, sexism, ignorance, habit, poorly developed scholarship, superstition or boredom.

He was ever thirsty.  Conversing about how poorly the media covered conflict, we decided to create "Chris and Will Call's em Out" where we met to discuss framing/narrative and political violence.  Conversing about torture following 911 and trying to pull off a study on the topic, Will figured something out and ran with Courtenay Conrad to make something (an NSF and an AJPS).  Conversing about Clark McPhail's conception of variation in behavior within a protest event, we decided to try and implement an effort to document who did what to whom and when not just in a protest event in one place with human coders as McPhail had done but track it in one place with multiple video recordings as well as its subsequent march across space.  Conversing with Patrick Ball at HRDAG about conflict data Will was motivated to converse with Scott Edwards at Amnesty International to try and figure out what we as social scientists could do to help social justice.  They came up with Citizen Media Evidence Project (which was then rolled out to different campuses, including mine).  Conversing about the lack of US acknowledgement about lynching, we decided to try and develop a digital memorial for the victims.  Conversing about what was wrong with conflict and peace studies (generally a lack of systematic exchange and community), we decided to create the Conflict Consortium putting on dinners, conferences, houses and later a virtual workshop where you can see approximately 50 examples of Will H. Mooreing - including what was believed to be the best one which was 3 days ago.

Now, you have not heard of many of these because they did not all work out or catch on but they were attempted and Will drank of those experiences (as did I).  I believe that what was accomplished at the Conflict Consortium was precisely what we discussed doing and Will loved doing it.  It was not a crowning achievement but it was a major step in the right direction.  After the last session, we chatted about how that was a fabulous exchange. All the elements were there: we had diverse ranks, genders and disciplines.  We laughed that we still needed some more people of color which was a longer-term discussion we had that was not at all funny but we knew that that was going to be an issue and he worked on that one hard. The session was useful for the author as well as the broader audience and we had fun (as always).  Actually, Will was not done.  Several days ago, he finished organizing several mini-sessions comprised of the people that we were not able to include in the regular sessions. He wanted everyone to get feedback and to get better.  This is/was his way. 

This is how I see my brother.  This is why I loved him.  Watch those videos.  That is Will doing what he does - taking lemons and making a nice pale ale.  He elevated.  He connected.  He inspired.  He saw.  He made you see.  You might not have liked all that you were shown but you were always clear about how Will saw it.

Indeed, this is the legacy Will deserves.  I remember after our friend Steve Poe passed, Will and I had a conversation about what would be an appropriate award to create for him.  Folks were coming up with a best grad student award and I remember Will railing against that because an award that embodied Steve would have had the winner go to a nearby high school to teach them about what they had learned.  I don't want to see Will memorialized and frozen in such a way.  Rather, he should be turned into a verb.  To "Will H. Moore" should be a signifier for giving a damn, spending the time to see someone/their argument and fostering not only understanding within the recipient but also an infectious desire to improve the world.  For whatever Will is and will be, he made you thirsty as well and I for one will not only pour a little out for my homie but I will pursue an engorgement of knowledge, truth and engagement that would make Will smile but feel a little uncomfortable.  Indeed, thinking about Will's response to this, I am reminded of a different song by Sly and the Family Stone where they tell their friend: "I want to thank you for letting me be myself.... again."  

This is perfect Will.  

Now, I will apologize in advance for writing more about my brother but you don't have to read it.  I do however have to write it.  I could sail by him - not as in past but as in by/because of.  Will was the star in the cloudless sky.  I drift now a little but still have enough Willness to remember the direction set forth.  Seeing the words that others have written about him, it is nice to see that this is seemingly the case for many others.  

Something crucial for me now though is the institutionalization of the sentiment and have people Will H. Mooreing all over the place.  Knowing his students and those he touched, they do this already and hopefully their students will do the same.  It is perhaps too much to hope that they not only live Will H. Mooreing but that they also name it.  Will probably would not care for the latter but love the former.  That's ok though.  What is a Will if he ain't a lil uncomfortable?

Peace my lovely friend
Holding it down on the earth
​Do some Will H. Mooreing folks because love's in need of love today

​a little stevie for your journey brother......