New Rules for New Radicals

Whether it is anti-war activism or the Great Gearing Up for the work to come around the 2024 elections, or an ongoing cause that is crucial to you, I thought I would compile a list of tips, tricks, and techniques to help you be the activist you want to be in the world and to remember that activism is a great many things. You might even realize you’re an influencer! Spoiler. You are.

Overton Window

First off, this is the Overton Window.

Know it.

In fact, there is a great video of this human explaining it very well and its implications if you understand things better that way.

TLDR: Society does what society allows. If the “public discourse” will allow for ideas, they are more likely to come to pass. For example- If people aren’t visibly up in arms about Health Care for All (ahem) then it’s easier to not make it a reality.

Is this part of why it’s so important to call your representatives, get into the street, post the well researched and data- inspired infographics to everyone you know and love? Yes, yes. it is.

Connect People

I can’t tell you how many times I have gone up to people in the movements I am in and said- “I am good at this, I would like to do this, I can do this” and have given my number or information. (download Signal now and get on it. Thank you.) only to never hear from them again or for the momentum to dissipate. Follow up and stay connected with the people who you want to be in coalition with. If someone drops the ball on you (reach back out, remember TikTok has helped a lot of people realize they have ADHD so people forget. It’s ok. Let’s remind each other that our liberations are tied together.)

Stay Together. Those in “Power” count on flash fads and people to exhaust themselves. Don’t give up. We have more power together than they have in their chambers.

Art- this includes music, graffiti posters, film, videos, theater, street art, sculpture, etc.

Do not now, or ever, discount the power of the art you see, make, or have around you. This is maybe THE secret weapon. Think about how much you remember pieces of art that have changed you, your perception or your perspective. Museums are lousy with art from the Vietnam War. Dr. Suess ( I know the controversy AND let’s honor where he wasn’t ignorant, since you are not going to cancel Dr. Suess.) took to drawing political cartoons during WWII

The Woman’s March had some of the best protest art I have seen in years.

During Occupy Wall Street, I created an entire Bed-In with Franny Silverman inspired by John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s Bed- in. We dropped a bed in the middle of Washington Square Park’s fountain in February. The people were curious, sat with us and discussed politics.

Stop and think of the controversy of who gets to use whose songs for campaigns.

Music matters. Your art matters. Make it.

Art can do things that words, chants, and marches can’t. (Do both.)

Give people the things to talk about it

In my day, whippersnappers, we made fun of slacktivism-posting things on the internet and thinking you had done your work for the day. We really screamed “out of your house and into the streets” at onlookers.

A few things about the power of social media- Do not forget: the Arab Spring erupted through twitter (RIP Twitter), that Tik Tok is a microphone for the world (for good or for bad) and that digital activism is also accessible for all bodies and abilities. Don’t prioritize walking and running around as the only method.

I choose with great consciousness the things I share, the things I don’t share, and how I frame them for my audience. Let’s say I have a hundred people who constantly view my “stories” or posts, that is one hundred people who might think something new, research, or become inspired themselves. They affect the next hundred people that I don’t know. Your reshares, likes and posts are like food. Memes are seeds. What are you planting?

Know everything you can about your given topic of advocacy.

Moveable people and vectors

Lastly, Ruth Bader Ginsberg is fondly remembered as saying “Lead in a way that will make people want to follow you.” Do that. Bring people with you. A bloodless revolution is possible if you bring everyone with you. Aspirational, but an aspiration worth having.

The other day, I saw a video of a young activist talking to a senior Senator in the bowels of the Senate building. And something happened that made me wish I could have been there to side coach. The politician stopped to talk to them. This is huge. As someone who has Bird Dogged, I promise you, even getting them to stop is a win. But then something happened that was a tad frustrating to an aging radical. The Senator (I will not name him to protect the young person and their efforts. Go you and go again!) asked if he could speak. And the young activist said “no”. The Senator then turned on their heel and walked away.

Pause. This moment is a little like the scene in Ghostbusters where Winston says to Ray after everyone was blasted by the Stay Puffed Marshmallow Man, “the next time someone asks if you are a god, you say yes!” If you want people to listen to you, it is both a tactic and wise to say yes.

The Rabbi Hillel, You know, “If not now, when?” That Rabbi. He was successful in getting people to agree with him because he and his crew stuck to some main ideas that one of my colleagues, Dan Libenson, taught me years ago. I still use it to this day:

Show up with Humility.

Listen Deeply.

And know your “opponent’s” argument as well as you do yours. So much so, that you could repeat it back to them first, before ever making your own.

We are on a precipice that is going to take all of us. All of our skills. I hope this helps in perpetuity.