As more people champion movements like Black Lives Matter or the Women’s March on Washington, many have started to realize that being ‘woke’ — the idea of being aware of social problems — may also be alienating others within their own movement.
“I often think when we become involved in social justice work, we begin to operate as if we’ve always been this knowledgeable on multiple topics and identities and forget something woke us up. Nobody was actually born woke, ” Brittany Packnett, co-founder of Campaign Zero, a police reform initiative, and vice president of national community alliances for Teach for America, tells NationSwell. “There was someone there to teach me and use language to invite me in instead of making me feel ostracized.”
Language has always complicated the progressive movement, garnering attention in recent years as a handful of leaders were denounced for not using the right terms or for not being sensitive enough to minority groups.
In March, author and feminist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie was singled out for not being inclusive when discussing trans women. She defended her words, telling The Guardian, “This is fundamentally about language orthodoxy. There’s a part of me that resists this sort of thing because I don’t think it’s helpful to insist that unless you want to use the exact language I want you to use, I will not listen to what you’re saying.”
So how do you become more inclusive with your words? Packnett, a 2017 Nationswell Summit on Solutions panel speaker, says to keep it simple and use the same language as those who are trying to “wake up” to social issues — even when you’re frustrated.
“I understand when people don’t have that amount of patience,” Packnett says. “But when that happens, we have to tag other people in who are emotionally able to be more forgiving, to be more patient and to open up the language to call people in, instead of calling people out.”
In October, Linda Sarsour, co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March, told a room full of activists at a conference about inspiring social change at the Brooklyn Museum that progressives can be too “intellectual.”
“Sometimes I’m sitting in spaces and people are trying to explain to me ‘hetero-patriarchy’ — and I get it and keep having those conversations — but I always say if my Palestinian immigrant mother in [Brooklyn] doesn’t know what you’re talking about, then we got a problem,” she says. “We have to remember we’re organizing people with people who have high school diplomas, who may have sixth grade literacy levels. If we’re not reaching most lay people… then we’re not doing a good job.”
Tag: social activism
Inspired by the #IceBucketChallenge, Students Are Nominating Celebs to Pay Their Tuition
Never underestimate the power of social awareness campaigns.
That’s the lesson we’ve learned during the past month as celebrities, your Facebook friends and people around the world have been dumping buckets of ice water on their heads to raise funds and awareness for ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). Thanks to the #IceBucketChallenge, the ALS Association has raked in more than $100 million and counting.
Piggybacking off the viral sensation, socially savvy college students have decided to use the power of the hastag to draw attention to the cost of higher education.
Called the #PayMyTuitionChallenge, these young men and women are “nominating” the rich and the famous — President Obama, Jay Z, Beyoncé, and Bill Gates to name a few — to pay their college tuition.
MORE: Does Dumping Water on Your Head Actually Work to Raise Awareness?
According to EducationDive, the #PayMyTuitionChallenge hashtag clocked in more than 30,000 tweets in just over 36 hours at a rate of 4,000 student tweets per hour.
And while celebrities have yet to respond to the recent barrage of tweets, the learning management system Blackboard definitely noticed and even launched a scholarship campaign around the challenge.
The company offered one $15,000 award and two $5,000 awards going to the runners-up. To enter, students had fill out a Blackboard website and explain in a video, photo or written response how they will use their education to make the world a better place. The most popular submissions received the scholarships. Blackboard said they received more than 350 entries from all over the world, and last week, the company announced their three winners.
As we’ve previously mentioned, college tuition is only rising and our country’s total student loan debt has soared past a staggering $1 trillion. American grads are saddled with more student loans than ever before, and it’s clear that we have to fix this broken system.
As second place scholarship winner Keeyuania P. from the University of Southern Mississippi said, “Education is one of the best investments a young adult can make. Education has the power to change the world.”
DON’T MISS: Ask the Experts: How Can We Keep From Drowning in College Debt?
I nominate @charliesheen for #PayMyTuitionChallenge pic.twitter.com/DpxYqyvAJC
— I'm Shmacked (@ImShmacked) August 22, 2014
I nominate @KylieJenner because you can spend tuition money on bracelets when I'm struggling to buy a mcflurry #PayMyTuitionChallenge
— ashley | (@EscapeeAshx3) August 21, 2014
I wish this #PayMyTuitionChallenge was real cause once I saw the tuition for this school year, I was like pic.twitter.com/bKFpnAYUkE
— Briana (@livelikebriana) August 21, 2014
I nominate @BarackObama @Beyonce @TheElIIenShow for #PayMyTuitionChallenge. You have 4 yrs to accept #Stanfordstudent pic.twitter.com/dx8yXNKEv5
— ashley♡ (@AshMik64) August 21, 2014
Miley Cyrus Calls Attention to Homelessness. Is She Doing it for the Right Reason?
At the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, a scantily clad Miley Cyrus and her foam finger twerked her way into our collective memories. At this year’s awards, the pop star somehow managed to grab everyone’s attention again — and she barely even left her seat.
After presenter Jimmy Fallon announced her Video of the Year win for “Wrecking Ball,” Cyrus had her VMA companion, a 22-year-old formerly homeless man named Jesse, take the stage instead.
“I am accepting this award on behalf of the 1.6 million runaways and homeless youth in the United States who are starving and lost and scared for their lives,” he said. “I know, because I am one of those people.”
“I have survived in shelters all over this city,” he continued as Cyrus cried in the audience. “The music industry will make over $7 billion this year, and outside these doors are 54,000 human beings who have no place to call home.”
MORE: Does Dumping Water on Your Head Actually Work to Raise Awareness?
While in front of the microphone, Jesse also explained how viewers could donate to My Friend’s Place (a center that helps homeless youth in Hollywood with housing, jobs, school and healthcare) by visiting Cyrus’ Facebook page.
Undoubtedly (to paraphrase a tweet from Maria Shriver following Cyrus’ win), this is a very smart use of air time.
As the New York Times points out, however, Jesse’s appearance raises a few questions: Is Cyrus trying to improve her image? Did she notice the viral potential of social media activism of the #IceBucketChallenge? Is this tongue-wagging exhibitionist suddenly a philanthropist?
All of which leaves us asking: How genuine is Cyrus? We’re not sure, but the fact that there’s a prize for donating to My Friend’s Place — a VIP trip to Brazil and a chance to hang out with Cyrus — is unsettling, to say the least.
Her rep tells the Times that Cyrus took a page from Marlon Brando, who sent a woman named Sacheen Littlefeather to accept his Best Actor Oscar for “The Godfather” in 1973 to protest of the treatment of Native Americans by the film industry.
ALSO: Which Celebrity Is Building Green Homes For Native American Tribes?
And, according to the Times, she was also “informally advised” by Trevor Neilson, the president of G2 Investment Group and co-founder of Global Philanthropy Group, who worked has worked with Bono and Sharika on their charitable campaigns.
Interestingly, Cyrus also admitted to Ryan Seacrest in an interview she, perhaps, wanted something with a little more substance following last year’s scandalous VMA performance. “There’s going to be talk, so what do I want them to talk about?” she said. “If I’m going to be given this loud of a voice and this big of an image and this big of a platform and this huge of an opportunity to talk to young people in American right now, what am I really trying to say? Because I don’t think what I was trying to say is what happened the year before.”
My Friend’s Place does appear to be a reputable organization for Cyrus to talk about. It’s received a four-star rating from CharityNavigator, spending just about 90 percent of its funds on programs and services and only 5 percent on administrative costs.
Whatever your thoughts are about the former Disney starlet’s intentions, we’re probably going to hear much more about her newest charitable cause. “I’m just getting started,” a statement from Cyrus reads. “And I want to make sure my fans are part of helping me to give back and make an impact on this issue. We all have the power to make change happen. This is about helping youth, people just like you and me have the opportunity to find their inner power and potential, no matter what their circumstances.”
Bravo for raising awareness and funding for the 4,000 young homeless people on the streets of Los Angeles every year. And as for doing things for attention? That’s so Miley.
[ph]
DON’T MISS: How L.A. Plans to End Veteran Homelessness by 2016
One Project at a Time, These Women are Showing the Power of Crafting
Some people make statements with the pen or by taking action, but three women are taking a different approach and enlisting the power of the sewing needle. Yes, the sewing needle.
They’re pioneers in the newest form of social activism — dubbed craftivism — where messages of protest and awareness are knitted or crocheted in an effort to inspire change.
Meet Betsy Greer, the woman who brought craftivism into our vocabulary. For Greer, it all began after she watched a political puppet show in the New York City Village Halloween Parade. The simplicity of the show caught Greer’s attention, and she realized that subtlety can inspire just as much change as loud voices.
That’s when she started crafitivism, or “a way of looking at life where voicing opinions through creativity makes your voice stronger, your compassion deeper, and your quest for justice more infinite,” according to Yes! Magazine.
Her equipment — knitting, cross-stitching and embroidery — have been used to create anti-war graffiti, as well as a new project, which focuses on PTSD. The work depicts the experiences that soldiers have during an episode in order to raise awareness about the disorder.
Then there’s Sarah Corbett who has taken craftivism to a new level. Not one for marches and demonstrations, Corbett began her craftivist by blogging as “A Lonely Craftivist.”
However, she realized that there is strength in numbers. So in 2009, the Craftivist Collective was born. The focus of the group is on positivity, peacefulness and meditation rather than preaching. Being part of the group does not take away one’s individuality, but rather gives individuals a chance to work at their own pace, contemplating the issue and the piece. Group “stitch-ins” are a chance for all to come and discuss their work and issue at the hand.
Cat Mazza came into craftivism from a slightly different world. Originally, Mazza was on the Carbon Defense League where she saw how the group used “tactical media” to spread their message. The tactic was inspirational and Mazza left to form MicroRevolt, a feminist group dedicated to the anti-sweatshop cause. In addition to crafting, MicroRevolt has a few extra tools in its belt — including performances, workshops and web-based projects.
From 2003-2009, the group launched an anti-sweatshop project with a particular focus on Nike. To protest the sporting goods company, they created a 15-foot-wide red quilt containing the Nike swoosh, and a knitted or crocheted square from 40 countries and every U.S. state. Their current project is logoknit, where the logos of sweatshop offenders (Gap, Disney and Apple) are knitted onto articles of clothing. Anyone can join and design a logoknit with the free web application knitPro.
So what’s stopping you from grabbing your needles?
MORE: For The People: This New Service Lets You Hire A Lobbyist
For The People: This New Service Lets You Hire A Lobbyist
As Change.org, Kickstarter and other online crowdfunding platforms and petitions have shown us, rallying together on an issue can make a difference. But we’ve also learned that it can sometimes falls short when it comes to the notorious muscle power — aka: lobbyists — working on Capitol Hill.
But a new San Francisco-based startup is making lobbying a little more accessible to the general public. Billed as a “crowdsourced social activism platform,” Amplifyd is a site that invites users to hire their own lobbyist for a mere $4.95. Whether your issue is student debt or saving the forest, you can hire someone to call an elected official and gripe about why they should care.
The site has only been live for a few days but is already working on 11 different political issues including net neutrality, gun control, fracking in California, protecting wolves and the type of milk Starbucks offers.
Like Kickstarter, each campaign has a page explaining the issue and who you need to call, in case you want to take matters into your own hands. You can add the number of phone calls ($4.95 each) you’d like a lobbyist to make. The page also explains where your money is going and what to expect to happen next.
For example, the campaign “Enough! All Gun Sales Should Be Subject to Background Checks!” implores you to ask elected officials to support legislation for background checks on gun sales. The page explains that most of the money donated will go towards Everytown For Gun Safety, an organization funded by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. After the phone call is made, Amplifyd will send you a recording of the conversation.
While political lobbyists are bound to have more influence than Amplifyd’s hired hand, it’s refreshing to see a startup take on an industry that’s reserved for the political elite and make it available to the greater public. Perhaps if we all had lobbyists, we’d feel like we could truly make a difference when it comes to the issues we are passionate about.
https://vimeo.com/89070470