Social-Justice Activism

Authentic inner-derived values instill a call to action. When we believe that change is possible, working for change is a natural step forward.

Organized social-justice activism is not everyone's work of choice. Yet one way or another, all conscious-minded people engaged in society are nevertheless social-justice activists. Activism takes the form of our personal lifestyle and consumption choices, our conversation topics and messages, our behavior on the job, and our worldview.

In the U.S., electoral political change typically seems like the mainline to social and governmental improvement. But in a socio-political system with immense corporate and big-money influence, avenues for electoral change can often seem limited, if not blocked.

However, as long as this nation still holds some compliance to the Constitution's First Amendment of free speech, then social-justice activism will continue to play a role in the makeup of our laws and civic policies.

A good example to remember is that the United States did not withdraw from Vietnam because a few individuals moved to Canada or Sweden to avoid military service, or because the leaders of the anti-war movement negotiated a reduction of the bombing runs over Vietnam. The United States left Vietnam because a sustained uprising of popular will forced one President of the United States to drop his plans for re-election, and pressured his successor to scramble until he had achieved something he could call "peace with honor."

Here's another way of framing an activist cause to a well-known problem:

What is the cause of global warming? For most within the environmental community, the answer is easy: too much carbon in the atmosphere. Framed this way, the solution is logical: we need to pass legislation that reduces carbon emissions. But what are the obstacles to removing carbon from the atmosphere?

Consider what would happen if we identified the obstacles as:

The radical right’s control of all three branches of the US government.
Trade policies that undermine environmental protections.
Our failure to articulate an inspiring and positive vision.
Overpopulation.
The influence of money in American politics.
Our inability to craft legislative proposals that shape the debate around core American values.
Poverty.
Old assumptions about what the problem is and what it isn’t.

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A few suggestions on social-justice activism:

Choose carefully where you believe that a real difference can be attained via suggesting positive solutions to problems. Being active only to be re-active, or reacting only with anger or indignation, accomplishes little.
Display activism within the context of a grand scheme of social values. Reacting to isolated issues only is not only difficult for the general public to comprehend, but also subjects activists to accusations of irrational and disjointed behavior.
Though direct actions may attract those individuals who have the intellectual interest to explore the facts surrounding an issue, most will view actions simply on their surface level. If complex issues will be much more negatively scrutinized by uninformed observers than positively supported by the well-educated, these actions may be counter-productive. Another tactic or strategic outreach approach may then make more sense.

Uncountable social action organizations have been founded to unify our various causes and concerns. Whether our interests lie in social justice issues, environmentalism, human or animal rights, or various other causes, activist organizations are ready for your time, your service, and your financial support.