All humans need protection. In a way, protection is the most basic need of all, since if you aren’t safe you can’t eat, drink, sleep or sometimes even breathe.
The more vulnerable you are—poor, young, elderly, chronically ill, historically targeted by oppression—the more you need care and protection. But so often in the belly of the Beast you get less.
That’s when you, the activists, step up–you who are the first responders against injustice.
Most often, you arise from those same vulnerable ranks, or the vulnerable folks are those closest to you–your kids, neighbors, coworkers. You share their vulnerabilities and need for basic protection, dignity and rights.
But as activists, folks who step beyond your own private life to confront shared injustices and larger powers, you face additional risks. And need additional protection.
Like what?
That’s what we’re Asking Activists like you about.
But here’s what it looks like so far…
LOVE. [heart graphic]
What do I mean?
Many revolutionary leaders stress the centrality of love in social movements. What does this mean and how exactly does love protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we better cultivate love in our community?
EMOTIONAL UNDERSTANDING.
What do I mean?
How does it protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we cultivate it in our community?
EMOTIONAL AWARENESS.
SUMMARY FOR GRAPHIC:
The Beast manipulates our emotions to divide, discourage us, and dissuade us from going on. We need to protect ourselves from this very real danger by becoming more aware of exactly how the Beast does this, what strategies activists use to combat it, and how we can do this more effectively.
SOLIDARITY-MUTUAL AID.
What do I mean?
How does it protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we cultivate it in our community?
FLEXIBLE, PRINCIPLED THINKING.
What do I mean? Connection
How does it protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we cultivate it in our community?
COLLECTIVE COURAGE.
What do I mean?
How does it protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we cultivate it in our community?
MILITANT EQUALITY
What do I mean?
How does it protect activists?
What happens when it falters or fails?
How can we cultivate it in our community?
Our favorite fiction is full of police and superheroes. And activists?? Not so much. Let’s seek out stories with activists, the courageous first responders against injustice! And let’s look into why there aren’t more of them.
We’ll ask why activists–when they do appear–are so often shown as unappealing stereotypes, not real people.
Does this matter? If so, what can we do about it?
RAINWOOD HOUSE SINGS, a social justice mystery for youth and adults, paints a truthful (with a hint of magic) picture of activists taking on gentrification, police violence, worker rights and cultural divisions; tackling mysteries large and small with creativity, humor and collective action.
Submit form below to preorder and receive publication details
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JB tests the movie Billie Elliot
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A few stories and burning questions from JB
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The POA Fiction Featuring Activists List is a compilation of works of fiction in which activists and activism play a significant role. Use this form to:
