Edmund Burke said, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
Burke’s advice sounds simple enough. If you want change—if you want good to prevail, just do something.
But what can you do? What is social activism, and how you can take part in it? Find out in this article.
What Is Social Activism?
Social activism is action intended to bring about change in society.
Social activism can include attending protests and demonstrations. However, it can also include learning about problems in society and efforts to solve them. It can include speaking out and attempting to educate others about those problems. It can also include changing your own behavior and actions based on what you learn.
Are You a Social Activist?
You don’t have to be an official member of a social movement to be an activist. If you have taken any intentional efforts to create a better world, you are a social activist.
Still, you can always increase your activism and create even more positive change. These three ideas are specific ways to do just that.
Capitalize on the Classroom
At its best, learning is active. It gets you involved—in the classroom and in life. Unfortunately, not every classroom is inherently “active.” Not every classroom builds connections between learning and life.
However, every classroom can do precisely these things. And whether you’re a teacher, a student, a parent, or a friend, it’s up to you to make it happen.
If you’re a teacher, incorporate social skills activities. Learn more about methods of peace education and share your knowledge with your students.
If you’re a student, take advantage of every opportunity to learn. Take responsibility for making connections between your schoolwork and your world. Whether you’re reading Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 or Shakespeare’s Macbeth, read with your world in mind.
Challenge yourself to look for yourself, your peers, your parents, and your political leaders in these stories. Challenge yourself, too, to learn more about the historical context in which they were written and set. Again, draw connections between what you learn and your life.
To take your activism a step further, share what you learn with others. Talk about the connections you’ve discovered with your friends, teachers, and parents.
Learn From the Past
In the world of activism, talking sometimes gets a bad rap. No one wants to be “all talk.” Talking, though, is a valuable part of the social activist’s toolbox.
Throughout history, open dialogue has been the key to peace & change. Learn more about this dialogue from people who lived through it and took part in it.
Older relatives and friends are often eager to share their rich life experiences. Let them know that you’re ready to listen and learn by asking them about injustices they witnessed or faced.
Ask them how they responded. Ask them what they learned and what they wish they had done differently. Ask them for their perspective on the injustices you see in the world today.
Then, let their experiences, lessons, and advice inspire you to keep the conversation going.
Connect with Others
In a pandemic world, it can be difficult to build—and even maintain—connections. However, the Internet and social media are keeping social justice conversations and actions going in creative ways.
Connect to these communities, like the Creative Community for Peace, by following their blogs and their accounts on Twitter, YouTube, and other social media.
Like any good social activist, though, remember to be more than a follower. Share information on your own social media accounts. And as you make connections and exchange ideas, get involved in peaceful protests and creative social distancing activities.
The pandemic has changed the world, but it’s up to activists like you to make as many of those changes as possible deliberate and positive.
Be the Change through Social Activism
In the end, Edmund Burke was right. The key to creating positive change is action.
Still, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to get started—to find the “something” you were meant to do. The wonderful thing about social activism, though, is that it builds its own momentum.
So do something—even something small—and see where that initial action takes you. Today, your desire for change brought you here to this article, which is sending you out into the world to learn and do more.
Before you go, check out more of our content for additional inspiration.
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