When it comes to the change that needs to happen and that we want to make happen, we are easily overwhelmed. Why, there's so many ways to do it right and almost an INFINITE number of ways to do it wrong. We don't know how to organize, we don't know how to speak, we don't know if anyone will even care.
People are constantly telling us that life isn't fair, we're being dramatic, this is the way things have always been, and (the worse one in my opinion) it is UNLAWFUL to ask for that.
There's so much stacked against us.
And so in that, I will give you a break. But don't get used to it.
I have a question for you: do you think that anybody knew how to do any of that?
The cool thing about the revolution is that there is no floor plan or guide that takes us exactly from point A to point B.
In my description of the blog, I mention #MovementofMovement. What that is is me denying the presumption that this world is full of complacency and that there is no possibility for change. I have met so many people just in Tampa, FL who have proven that there are people who care about the world we live in enough to organize and change it.
One thing that has happened for me this year was that I learned more about advocacy and civil participation. I want you to understand that America and I have never been good friends. I never forgave them for racism or "moved on" because we never moved on as a nation. People are drowning themselves and hatred and bigotry and bringing people of color down with them. Into a grave they were digging for us since the day they stole us from our homes.
And frankly, I never saw myself as a stakeholder in this nation. Yeah, I was born here, but I just saw it as a vehicle to knowledge. I would get my education and go to Liberia. Flee from a place that loves to abuse me. Can you blame me? My parents are African and that gives me somewhere else, somewhere I have a chance at being respected.
But then I thought about the people who don't have a choice. The poor people of color in this country who only know one home, a country that didn't give them a chance to be human. What are they going to do? As I grew up, I learned about the people that wanted to build something new in a place that I saw as hopeless.
It's almost funny because Africa has historically been represented as this destitute place of emptiness, where nothing can grow and no hope can be found. For a long time, this is how I saw America and it's social, health, and civil rights issues. That nothing can be done.
But then I took a class on social movements and learned about the passion that is behind some of the biggest (and smallest) movements we have seen throughout history and I knew that I couldn't be content leaving a whole country, my country, to suffer.
I may not love her, but I love her people. The indigenous, the oppressed, the ones that some see as a stain are all I can focus on. Because they didn't ask for it. They wanted humanity. That's all. I can't help but want to chip away at the seed that has grown to a nation of hate. The people that came before me thought it was a worthwhile fight.
So be mad, be worn down, but don't be complacent.
This past summer, I traveled to Washington, DC for the first time in my life. I never had any real desire to go. What, go see the pretty buildings built by laborers that would never be served by them? But my organization I had just joined the leadership board for and cared a lot about (Partners in Health Engage at USF) was going to learn about public health advocacy.
On this trip, we met with representatives at Capitol Hill to ask for funding to be increased for the Global Health Fund to help treat Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in other countries. This was my first time ever being involved in government and a true grassroots campaign and it felt... good. I felt like I was doing something to actually change things.
None of this actually becomes effectual until you do the work continuously, but even just that gradual chipping can be inspiring. I decided this summer after watching Take Down the House on Netflix, and seeing everyday people go after something because they believed in making this country better, that I want to be a part of organizing in some way. We do it in our organization, Partners in Health Engage at USF, but I don't want to stop at graduation.
So here is something I put together called the Pillars of Activism. These are things that I have learned not only from other people but my own experiences in being a beginner activist. This also does not mean in any way that I have done all these things or have "made it".
Pillars of Activism
1. Education
You might think is a no-brainer or you might not understand the importance. However, education is such an important part of activism. Knowing more and more about what you are fighting to change is so important because not only does it work to keep you motivated and knowing how issues are affecting people, but it gives you a way to increase community and bring other people to your cause.
Also, know what you're up against. There are people who are working to keep themselves richer at the expense of other people's well-being. Do you really think that career politicians aren't educated on how the political system functions or what loopholes they need to follow to keep their seats in government? You don't have to be an expert, I certainly am not, but the more you know about the rich and the powerful and how they're bad for this country, the more power you have against them.
2. Allyship
I mentioned community and I think a big part of community is allyship.
Allyship is defined as an active, consistent, and arduous practice of unlearning and re-evaluating, in which a person in a position of privilege and power seeks to operate in solidarity with a marginalized group ( https://theantioppressionnetwork.com/allyship/).
The important thing to know about allyship is that anyone can be an ally but it is not a single identity. It is a commitment to the service and illumination of others within marginalized identities. You aren't an ally because you say that you support a group of people, although this is a part of it. What makes someone an ally is the responsibility they feel to a group AND that group recognizing that person as an ally.
For me, in public health activism and wanting to work in disadvantaged communities for the rest of my life, I recognize that I do not hold all of the identities that I might encounter. Yes, I am a first-generation woman of color but I hold different experiences than a Native American woman. In these spaces, I strive to listen and learn and earn the title of allyship so I can be most effective.
3. Little Effort is Better than No Effort
This is the whole basis for #AMovementofMovement. We have to reject the assumption that every activist is the one who will stand on the side of Lady Liberty or get repeatedly arrested for their cause. No one starts out that way.
Passion will take you further then you ever think it will. You need to act on the side of your passion and not be complacent on the side of your doubts.
4. Refusal to Assimilate
It is really easy to tell yourself that you shouldn't be doing this. People will tell you you're overreacting and you might begin to believe them. You will think about how fun it must be to be blissfully ignorant of everything going on. You might regret going into this work because of how your grandmother now talks about you.
This is completely normal. I get it.
But standing up for what you believe in was never meant to be easy. Everyone is trying to just fit into a system that wasn't even made for them. We shouldn't be shrinking ourselves to a construct built on the oppression of people. The only way to change the system is to challenge the routine lifestyle that allows it to flourish. We need to push back. Everyone around you might be asleep to the harm you see being done. Show them why they should care.
5. Know Your Why
Clear vision is vital in deciding your path to activism. It might be someone else's story that you felt great empathy for. It might be that it is something terrible you experienced yourself as a result of a system in place. Whatever the reason is, have a reason. Have something that makes you do things that you never believed you could. Have that thing that opens your mouth to share your passions. Not only does this build momentum within you but it allows you to establish your network, your constituency. People power is so important! Having like-minded people working towards a common goal gets things done.
6. Stop Prioritizing Convenience: Purchasing Power
This goes into refusing to assimilate and be complacent. This is usually a very hard step for some people. I understand that some community organizers and people that truly are passionate about the cause don't have the financial resources to always make the decisions that align with their values. An example of this would be shopping at WalMart. WalMart supports many problematic industries including the private prison system and also sells goods that come out of exploitative situations. However, most grocery stores will have these similar issues. So sometimes it is almost impossible.
But,
we can do something.
Okay, okay, so you might still have to go to WalMart every once in a while. But maybe try to bring reusable bags and treat the employees with as much respect as you can. Maybe buy some of your produce from local markets to support the local economy and not large corporations. It all goes back to effort. How much inconvenience are you able to experience to put the pressure on the powerful. Collective purchasing power is as influential as political participation.
I boycott Chick fil A. For me, this is relatively easy considering I am vegan. But, at the same time, I could eat waffle fries all day. I do this for personal reasons of allyship to the LGBTQ+ community and additionally, their open support of Trump is unacceptable to me. I may not make a huge difference to Chick fil A's profits, but it sends a message to my peers because I am able to explain my stance and reasons and possibly change minds in the process.
7. Find a Community
I already expressed the importance of having people around you to support you. People, especially large numbers of people, also add credibility to your cause. It isn't ever just about numbers though. While it feels good to have a lot of people behind you, you want people who are working towards the cause just as much as you are. They should be moving through what is referred to as an Active Citizens Continuum.
The continuum contains steps to being involved in an issue. Not everyone has to be an on-fire leader. In fact, you want to be able to work towards everyone moving through this continuum at their own pace. This promotes individual growth which will lead to a strong constituency. Activism is collective but is also very personal.
8. Use Your Voice
Don't be afraid to speak up. You don't need to know everything. You don't have to have all the answers. I know that I don't.
You are powerful. There is no leadership gene. It isn't a talent, but a skill. Grow your power and practice establishing it. If you don't believe it, neither will anyone else. There is nothing that you are missing inside of you to do this. But you need to open your mouth to disseminate an idea. I believe in you.
#AMovementofMovement isn't about knowing everything or being the loudest or the most radical. It's about finding your own way to make positive change in this world.
My Understanding U.S. Health Care professor just gave me the best advice relating to my future. I asked him where I would be most effective in reducing health disparities. I began to list vehicles of change: community organizing, state-level advocacy campaigns, et cetera and he stopped me mid-sentence. He looked at me and said that he cannot answer that. He said that all he could say is that whatever I am good at is where I am going to have the greatest impact. He then said that I should never try to fit myself to a career option because I feel like it'll make a greater impact. Using my talents and skills to the fullest of my ability is where I can change this world.
And I offer that same advice to you. Go after what you're good at and change lives. It's that easy.
(Cover Image from Quentin Monge)
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