With July 4th right around the corner I’m reminded of the many acts of rebellion, peace, controversy, and emphasis on the greater good that have made this nation what it is today throughout its history. Activism is in our nation’s roots–change didn’t come easy or equally but it was always worth fighting for. Yet the one thing I have noticed in my time in the nonprofit sector is the reluctance people have to call themselves activists. In fact, I’m starting to believe that the word “activist” in one of the most polarizing words we can say. The word often conjures up three images:
- someone who sheds all forms of comfort and privilege to stand in solidarity with the less fortunate;
- someone who is angry and loud ready to argue at all times;
- someone who is a dreamer, focusing on stories of hope and love yet will soon shed their idealism once they get into “the real world”
These images make activism seem impossible and unappealing to the majority of us who are moved to act on causes we are passionate about, yet don’t want to join a community of perceived dreamers, demons, and saints.
Unfortunately, these images are outdated, inaccurate, and detrimental to social change. For one, it ignores the range of acts that have always been present in all social movements. It makes it easier for us to withdraw from social change work, feeling it is too big and we are too small to do anything or that there are “more important things” to worry about. For those of us who do work full time in social change work through nonprofits and other organizations, shunning the term activist creates an unfair hierarchy in terms of whose cause and whose work is more valuable. And finally, we lose sight of the bigger picture, disconnecting ourselves from critical issues that affect us, the purpose of our work, and those who could potentially be allies.
At the same time, I understand the desire to ignore labels completely and focus on being an activist. However, this isn’t merely an unfamiliarity with the term–it’s an active rejection and it’s pretty hard to be something that you dislike. When we identify with a larger community, we launch social movements and keep each other accountable. We get closer to defining not only ourselves but also what we envision for the future. And we break down barriers to becoming an activist by removing the stigma. This isn’t merely about screaming “I am an activist!” from the rooftops (although there is nothing wrong with that); it’s about seeing ourselves as part of a group and inviting others to do the same.
So how can we reclaim activism?
1. Read about leaders and movements: We tend to capture our leaders in a bottle, ignoring the context in which they became leaders. Our celebration of Rosa Parks highlights this tendency: she was tired, didn’t want to stand up, and from there the civil rights movement began. However, as Paul Loeb explains in his book Soul of a Citizen (which I HIGHLY recommend for people invested in social change work) she was trained in non-violent protest for years. This wasn’t a random act; instead it was the culmination of many small acts over time. Learning that activism is a journey of small steps and changes makes it more accessible.
Also in researching we learn about the diversity within our movements. People come into social change work in many ways, with many different stories, and backgrounds. For example, did you know that at age 23 Adam Werbach became the youngest president of the Sierra Club in its history? His involvement in environmental issues started when was in high school with small acts. When we see our reflection in history and how ordinary people did extraordinary things, it’s empowering.
2. Begin with one thing to work on in public and in private: Just like with any change, if you start too big, you’ll get frustrated and give up. Do you have to run for office and purge your home of any foods that are not organic? No-if you do you’ll overwhelm yourself. Instead, why not try a Meatless Monday or attend a meeting in your community about a pressing issue? I emphasize doing something inside and outside of the home so that we realize change is possible and necessary from both places, and our successes in each play off our involvement in both.
3. Connect with others: Sharing your journey and realizing there are many others who want to change the world is comforting and powerful. Much more can be accomplished when we have the support of our peers. We can divide responsibilities, hold each other accountable, share resources, and celebrate our accomplishments together. Additionally, when we are collectively mobilized, we inspire and motivate others to act.
How else can we reclaim activism?
