Mimicry Is Not Activism

Knowing What to Look For in a Time of Online Posers

It is a predictable sight nowadays for one to log onto the World Wide Web and view the latest Internet discourse topic bobbing amongst the waves in the ocean of politically-centered social media accounts. From my point of view, it has become quite common to see takes ranging from basic to decent- proffered from the wheelhouse of established content creators who are regarded as leftist or progressive- during these chapters of online leftist historical documentation.

I have noticed that some prominent online figures nest on the unproblematic bandwagon just enough to eschew any verbal cuffs from chronically online browbeaters. They repeat what they believe is the least problematic or polemic take so they can satisfy their politically stagnant followers (and the larger online populace) while retaining their Internet celebrity status and stockpile of clout. It is seemingly enough to convince most social media scrollers that the “activist” behind the account is sincere and dedicated to radical politics and revolution. My qualm about that is….I believe many of them are not interested in changing anything. I believe they are likely communal narcissists or attention-seeking fame chasers.

It has become easier for me to spot these charlatans because my own political goals and education has evolved past reactionary takes and the I-need-to-find-the-Leftbook-approved answer so many people are seeking. I now focus on taking planned action and solving problems. I identify what our problems as marginalized people are and I’m working to resolve as many as I can. Unfortunately, too many self-identified progressives are still content with locating and gluing themselves to anyone who claims to be progressive/feminist/radical/Marxist/anti-Trump/anti-fascist without considering what else the “activist” has done apart from spouting all the acceptable buzzwords online. Take, for example, the self-styled “Guerilla Feminist”, Lachrista Greco. I first met Greco in 2011. I was starting out as a feminist and I was searching for like-minded people. At first, I believed she was a genuine ally to WOC. She and I became online friends…or so I thought. As time went on, I saw that what she uttered and how she treated femmes of color did not align. One would hope she would evolve over time, but my recent interaction with her proved that she’s not changed. If she is “anti-racist”, she should not first spuriously denounce white feminists for remaining taciturn on Palestine, and then block Ashtin Berry (a Black woman) and myself for criticizing her bland takes, and in my case, her history of being an inauthentic charlatan. She has trained herself to become adequate at mimicry. However, mimicry is not activism.

What can one do to spot such an individual among the vast ocean of self-proclaimed “activists”? My suggestions are these:

1. Know Your Political Goals and Stay Focused on Them: My mistake as a fledging activist/feminist was to let other people tell me what my political beliefs and goals were and to cave into pressure to follow the herd. I wish I had believed in my own intelligence and concept-creating abilities enough to know that I did not need anyone to lead me. I am also capable of being an independent thinker while learning from others.
2. Take Notice of Who Creates Original Writing and Content: Is the content creator simply taking screenshots of another person’s intelligently composed standpoint and reposting it? Are they only sharing memes of what we already know to be facts? What do they post that you think you need at this stage of your political growth journey? What are they offering that you don’t need anymore?
3. Do They Ever Take an Audacious Stance or Think Outside the Box?: If they seem to be afraid to speak their mind for fear of losing followers or getting dragged, I would not want this person to lead me in a battle against fascism. A coward online will also be a coward offline.
4. Are They Following Leftbook’s Ironclad Rules?: Activists who are committed to collective liberation will not need a cult controlling their every thought, action and post. When one’s mind is on the ultimate goal of liberation, they will handle their activism as best as they know how. They will let themself evolve, grow, adapt and become the activist the community needs. An independent, critical thinking activist or organizer will be capable of making their own decisions and actions without Leftbook controlling everything they do. Any person who submits to Leftbook is not an unfettered insurgent who can function on their own.
5. Their Communication Style and Interpersonal Skills Are Important: any sincere activist would educate and engage with people in a mature, earnest and solution-oriented manner. Whenever I see someone feverishly blocking people, or flying off the handle at mild criticism, that raises a red flag for me. While trolls and bad-faith actors are aplenty in these online spaces, not everyone who disagrees with the content creator needs to be blocked. Sometimes a hearty exchange can lead to more enlightened minds.
6. Do They Support Other Activists? Who Do They Collaborate With?: I am always suspicious of people who only ever platform themselves and never praise or propound other activists, especially if the content creator claims to support all marginalized people. I would expect to see them live their politics. If I see a PhD-holding creator only ever post quotes or text from academics, scholars, and published authors, that makes me wonder if they ever talk to the average person who is not academically privileged.
7. What Do Their Results Look Like?: If they have been posting the same tired, repeated quotes and statements over and over again, and it does not look as if they achieved solid results in any way, that means they have not done any real activist work. Everyone who follows them already knows that we need to abolish capitalism, smash the patriarchy, and relieve billionaires of their coconuts. At this stage, we need to see activists achieve system-rattling results. Nothing else should be tolerated.
8. Activism Should Not Be a Career : None of us should regard this work as a lifelong career. I hope my work as an organizer becomes obsolete someday. Any person who talks about social justice or feminism and accepts money for it should be considered with skepticism, unless they are disabled and it is their only source of income. Generally, social justice should exist to save lives and change systems, not to fill the bank accounts of grifters and opportunists.
9. Always Keep Raising Your Standards and Demand Solution-Oriented Activism: activism is always a collective effort. Online content creators are only ever relevant and popular if the people make them popular. If a creator does not evolve and offer social justice activism meaningful contributions to the changing times, it is always an option to unfollow and find someone more action-oriented. Keep asking yourself, “what does this person do that makes them deserving of the title radical or activist?”.
10. Decide for Yourself What Kind of Society is Acceptable to You: we all have our visions of what we would like to see happen in the future. We can share ideas and work on building communities where everyone gets their needs fulfilled and is treated with respect, compassion, and decency. We do not have to let others decide for us what liberation should look like. Every person has a right to speak up and have a say in what they would like out of their community. Never let any content creator make that decision for you. If you are a community member, you have a voice too!

When people allow themselves to become braver and less dependent on online platforms to lead them in their political journey, they will feel more confident challenging the imposters and grifters. This will help others feel validated in addressing their own suspicions about those who should not be considered activists. We have to root out and turn away the frauds. We need authentic activists, not fair-weather mimics/wannabe celebrities. Be brave enough to choose authenticity and genuine social justice instead of temporary reprieves from the mainstream political factions. Be the one who helps eradicate the need for social justice in the future.

© Christina Zamir 2024

Christina Zamir is a writer and mental health advocate based in NYC. Her eclectic and personal writing can be perused at Writer in Reverie. Her other ventures include content creating at First Sky Studios and soapmaking at Duchess of Soapshire. You can subscribe to her future published works here. She accepts tips for her literary work at Paypal and Venmo.