I am deeply committed to social activism; the words of Desmond Tutu inform my actions every day: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” At Phillips Academy, I am active in Women’s Forum, BOSS Magazine, and GSA.These activities give me the opportunity to speak out on issues such as race, feminism, LGBTQ+ rights, and intersectionality, but as much I value discussion, I would like to move beyond mere conversation; I want to do something. I want my life and my work to make a difference in the world.
From Slacktivism to Activism is an interdisciplinary course that will be team-taught by members of the sociology, history, political science, philosophy, and psychology departments. Through readings, case studies, guest lectures, and class discussions, students will discover what transforms an initiative into a social movement and elevates an activist to a position of social leadership.In addition, students will develop a template to put positive action behind their heart-felt convictions and will use this template to develop a
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business plan for an initiative about which they are passionate. Some students will obtain financial backing to bring their plans to fruition. The class will proceed along three vectors: (1) classroom lecture and discussion to explore theoretical and practical aspects, (2) outside speakers and case studies to help students learn from experiences of other social activists, and (3) a team competition in which student groups develop detailed business plans to be presented at a campus-wide symposium on social activism. The most promising initiatives will be funded by grants from a Colorado College Kickstarter campaign for social activism. The classroom portion will proceed along traditional lines with team-taught lectures and discussions, 3-4 papers, and two exams. Outside speakers will be brought during the second and third weeks to speak to the class in the morning, mentor student teams in the afternoon, and deliver a campus/community address in the evening. In the first week, each student will give a persuasive presentation on an initiative about which they are passionate.
Class members will rank the presentations, the top 3-5 initiatives will be chosen, and students will be assigned according to their preferences. At the same time, students will initiate a Kickstarter campaign, inviting students, faculty, parents, and alumni to contribute. Student teams will work to develop a business plan and funding proposal for their initiative, working with professors, outside speakers, and alumni mentors to refine their ideas. In the last week of the block, student teams will present their proposals at a campus-wide symposium on social justice. An alumni panel will evaluate the proposals and award Kickstarter funds to the proposals they find most compelling. Members of the student body will be invited to sign on to the initiative they find most
engaging. (Speaker list and detailed reading list are available upon request.)
In Chavez's argument, he explained the importance of nonviolence during the Civil Rights Movement. He used Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s movement as an example of successful protest using nonviolence. Although Dr. King's example proved to be effective, after he died, several members of the movement resorted to violence which caused the death of thousands of Americans. Chavez argued nonviolence is the only way to protest violence in order to attract support for his cause: the farm workers' movement. Chavez's rhetorical choices, through his tone and allusion to history, effectively influenced farmers to protest without violence.
The Progressive Era was the period of reform and social activism from 1895 to 1920, it was an attempt to get rid of all the ills that had penetrated American society during the Gilded age. The Progressives were people who tried to make the life of the average American better, they believed in the ability of humans to create a better world. Industrial capitalism, burgeoning cities, the influx of immigrants, and the depression of the 1890s were some of the sources of the reform impulse of the era. The Progressives were primarily middle class citizens such as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, businessmen, etc. Many of them were part of the Republican and Democratic parties. They were greatly influenced by the Europeans.The Progressives believed
Rodney King a black man who lived in Las Vegas was severely beaten by four white police officers. The officers were brought into court and tried on charges of assault. The officers were acquitted of the assault charges. Immediately protestors took to the streets, to express their angry over the judge’s decision. Protestors found the ruling to be unfair and was fed up with the ill-treatment. The violent protest turned into a riot. A lot of damage occurred; over 50 people were killed, over 2,300 people injured, 8,000 arrests and estimated over $1 billion in property damage. The riots exposed the police abuse, poverty, and lack of economic opportunity. If it was not for the violent protestors no light would have been shed on the way black were being
Laws are implemented to enforce civil proceedings in society, thereby enabling individuals to operate and function within a morally stable population. But there is a delicate and uncertain balance between doing so and restricting personal freedoms--for though individuals should not be wholly free to conduct themselves as they please (for fear of anarchy), neither should they be confined to a level by which they are unable to direct their life’s course and pursue personal betterment. When citizens feel this to be the case, they have the right to peacefully display their grievances with enacted law for the advocation of positive change in the society. For if a society is truly free, the government
The Women’s Suffrage Movement was successful in that it achieved its original goal of earning voting rights for women. This movement officially began in the United States in 1848 at the first women’s rights convention in Seneca Falls, New York. They drafted 12 resolutions calling for voting rights for women and overall equal treatment of women. This historic conference created a primary goal of obtaining voting rights for women. The first national women’s rights convention was held two years later in 1850 in Worcester, Massachusetts. This convention held over 1,000 participants and started an annual national convention.
Activism is not where you originate from or where you are located, it’s what you do. Activism allows us to make social changes; this can occur in many different ways. It allows us to make a change in the world through political, social, economic, and sometimes even through environmental changes. It’s usually lead by individuals but the majority of the time people gather collectively through social movements. An activist is the principal of a social movement. Activist arouses particular information that impacts individuals and allow them to gather, protest, and make social changes. There are many different types of activism first we have those who “demand solutions to contemporary problems through taking the oppositional stances to mainstream
The social justice program especially is a unique opportunity for students at St Mary's College to use their positions of privilege to make a meaningful difference to the global community. Initiatives such as project compassion, Vinnies on Parade, Live Below the Line and Vinnies winter appeal are all opportunities for St Mary’s students to put into practice the ethos of justice and use their privilege to raise funds and awareness for those who are disadvantaged. This program is something that is very much at the heart of the culture of St Mary’s, and something that has moulded my own journey here. Every year from Year 8 to Year 11, I have been awarded the privilege to represent my class in a group of like-minded people- all working towards a common goal- to educate our peers on social justice issues, and raise funds for organisations that assist people facing them.
The women’s suffrage movement was the struggle for the right of women to vote, run for office, and is part of the overall women’s rights movement. In the 19th century, women in several countries most recognizably the U.S. and england formed organizations to fight for suffrage. Beginning in the mid 19th century, several generations of woman suffrage supporters lectured, wrote, marched, lobbied, and participated in civil strike to achieve what many Americans considered a revolutionary change in the Constitution.
This chapter talks about social change and how it happens and the theories behind social movements. The five essay questions at the end of this chapter are answered below.
Not only do we need to understand the ‘issue’ or ‘societal problem’ that many people face and are impacted by every day, but we need to meet and work alongside those whose daily realities are shaped by injustices, while not creating any divides or barriers in the process. Everyday people are affected by the issues that organizations fight for or against, and once we realize how people-centered things like advocacy, outreach and service are, I believe young people will realize their call to action and their potent...
The American Constitution was created with the goal of forming a “more perfect union”1 and thereby undoubtedly a free society. The peaceful resistance to laws to draw attention to their moral faults, better known a civil disobedience, has contributed to the creation of a “free society” in two senses; a society free of injustice, and a society in which individuals are free to act upon civil liberties (our rights). Resistance to unjust law is the main pillar on which this nation was born, as the revolution was an act of disobedience. In their wisdom, our nation’s founders provided a base for the continuation of such protest through the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as the First Amendment provides for the freedom of political speech and
Throughout history, the main catalyst toward social progression were disobedience and rebellion. The first step in changing something you don't approve of is taking a step toward changing it, which in itself is a form of disobedience. If you don’t do anything about it, then the situation will never be resolved. Like David Thoreau once said, “Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.”.
I may not be able to control what goes on in society, but I can make a difference by educating my students and preparing them with tools and knowledge so they can become active and participatory democratic citizens who can change the injustices of the world. It is imperative that I stay up to date with cultural and societal events and understand the entirety of an issue by seeing both sides to the story and getting the facts straight. I value a community of peoples who are supportive and respective of each other, who will build one another up and not tear each other down. Although this is an ideal situation, I know that this is not visible in all classrooms and takes a lot of hard work and commitment to achieve. Along with that, I feel that I must be fully in tune with myself, my identity, who I am.
“Disobedience is the true foundation of liberty. The obedient must be slaves.” -Henry David Thoreau The productive disobedience that leaders like Gandhi, Dr. King and the women of the Suffrage Movement became part of the change that we know in the world today. Although laws may have been established and widely followed, these resistance pioneers saw a flaw in the system and fought for the needs of themselves and the future generations. Though many rights have been granted to minorities and oppressed citizens, there are many struggles that still exist for the masses.
One of the defining factors of a free society is one’s ability to oppose what is deemed wrong and fight for what one believes is in the benefit of the people. We cannot assume or conclude that the government, or any authoritative body, is always moral or just; thus, it is our duty, citizens of the nation, to maintain the balances of power, its distribution of equality and its considerations of morality. It is a necessity to monitor and ensure that justice is preserved throughout, and if it is not then peaceful resistance is the key to improving our free society. Humanity is in a constant struggle for achieving true equality and peace; however, this struggle may at times have to be directed towards the law and political entities. The