The night after the election last week, UNC-Chapel Hill music professor Rahsaan Barber hosted a jazz concert billed as “Music of Hope and Healing.” The event was coordinated by Carolina Public Humanities and took place at Flyleaf Books.
“I think music is a beautiful way to serve people,” Barber said. “So the night of music about hope and healing really resonates with what I kind of try to do anyway.”
Rahsaan Barber (saxophone) performs along with Jake Victor (drums), Kevin Beardsley (bass), and Holland Majors (keyboard) during the “Music of Hope and Healing” event the night after the election.
Several key outcomes of the election, including Donald Trump winning the presidency and the Republican Party gaining control of both chambers of Congress, went against the hopes of the majority of Orange County and have many locals worried. Barber’s approach was one of an array of different responses from local people and organizations addressing widespread anxiety about the results.
Barber compared the principles of playing jazz in harmony with other performers to the importance of approaching a divisive political atmosphere with respect and understanding.
“One of the great things about jazz is the value that we have for one another. Hopefully it’s obvious to the listener, how we listen to each other,” he said. “It’s where jazz sets itself apart. It’s not just that we’re dependent on listening to each other to figure out how to play the part, we’re depending on each other to figure out what the part is.”
Ruth Bard, a psychotherapist in Chapel Hill, said the election results had very strong negative effects on the mental health of many of her patients.
“I’ve been sitting with people all week last week, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, with people sobbing, just crying, just devastated, full of fear, just really, really scared with so much uncertainty in the world. I have certain clients who are more vulnerable and their symptoms have increased. I’ve had to see certain clients at an increased frequency,” she said. “Their symptoms are increasing and maybe they’re more suicidal, maybe their addictions are ramping up. People in recovery from substances are having relapses. It’s pretty bad.”
Some locals have sought a sense of unity and comfort in their religious communities. Judea Reform Congregation, one of the main reform synagogues serving Chapel Hill and Durham, hosted a service the day after the election. The congregation engages in activism related to reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and a variety of causes that most members feel put them at odds with the incoming administration. Rabbi Hannah Bender described the necessity of hosting the post-election service the following day.
“We felt like it was really, really important to at least offer an opportunity for people to come and hold that grief together,” they said. “Jewish law is created for people to know how to be in community with one another; we’re not supposed to do any of this by ourselves. And I think that that is in a faith sense, but also in a political sense.”
Bender discussed the importance of spirituality in drawing strength from community during difficult times.
“Part of the beauty of having this as a religious space is we already have these touch points every week where people come and gather together,” they said. “All of the tools for this spiritual nourishment exist already in our tradition for us, and we just need to draw upon it as a source of strength.”
Carrboro mayor pro tem Danny Nowell also emphasized the idea of strengthening connections within the community in a heartfelt letter he posted on X.
“We need stronger bonds in our day-to-day lives. We need to make more of a practice of just being there for each other, and I think this is something a lot of people have felt,” he said. “The first step toward new institutions is building stronger community institutions. I know that Carrboro ultimately will choose to build community ties in a way that will help us weather the next four years and possibly come out the other side ready for a better four years following.”
One of Nowell’s ideas to start addressing that is to host more cookouts. He has already scheduled one for this Sunday at noon at Baldwin Park, urging people to visit if they need support or are looking for a space to discuss next steps. You can RSVP for the cookout here.
Whoa check this out we have both a flyer and an RSVP link! Come on out to Baldwin Park next Sunday to grab a plate and meet some neighbors—RSVPs appreciated but not required!
RSVP here: https://t.co/cQD0SGxMWl pic.twitter.com/ROexHx3cu0
— Danny Nowell (@nowell4carrboro) November 10, 2024
Nowell’s message was ultimately hopeful about the town’s resilience.
“I’m positive Carrboro is going to handle this in the healthiest way possible,” he said. “I am absolutely convicted that Carrboro is in a place to face the next four years as well as we possibly can.”
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