Collective Efforts + Self-Education = Social Change | Mickey Z.

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Photo credit: Mickey Z.

Mickey Z. -- World News Trust

Jan. 28, 2014

Thesis: We cannot be effective activists if we work alone. We cannot be truly radical without cultivating love and compassion for our fellow humans (and non-humans). We cannot be a revolutionary if we expect oppressed communities to bear the burden of enlightening us. We cannot help inspire drastic social change without embracing self-education.

Yeah, I know. Activism is often like high school. Cliques, drama, egos, petty squabbles evolving into deep chasms. It’s so damn tempting to write off all those so-called comrades who don’t share your epic vision or your one-of-a-kind discipline or your... whatever. You’ll start the damn revolution all alone. Who needs them, right?

You need them. We all need “them.” For so, so, so many reasons. For example: it’s collective efforts that create the checks and balances. Unless we work as a team, we might aim our rage and anger at the wrong targets. Without a community around you, it’s easy to slide into misanthropy (a common trap for animal rights activists). Without face-to-face comradeship, privilege can and will remain dangerously unchecked.

As activists, we learn in many ways but perhaps the most powerful catalyst occurs during group interactions. This is where we check and shape each other, how we create shared visions and values in order to move forward together. But remember: It’s not the responsibility of the oppressed and marginalized communities to educate the privileged.

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http://worldnewstrust.com/collective-efforts-self-education-social-change-mickey-z