Youth activism

Margaret Mead once said to “never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world” (“Quotes about activism”). Many students around the world wholeheartedly agree with Mrs. Mead, and two prime examples were youth activism in Vietnam Era and in the pro-democracy movement of China. The Vietnam Era in the United States got its name from the longest and most controversial war in American history. In the year 1955 president Lyndon B Johnson decided to send American troops to assist the democratic South Vietnam against communist North Vietnam, which sought to unify the country. At first many people were for the containment of communism, yet as the war progressed many people turned cynical towards the tactics and impacts that were caused by the conflict. This led to people developing a…

In this respect, the household model of community organizing teaches that what hitherto seemed impossible may effectively be within one’s reach. In other words, through an active participation in community organization, individuals and households discover that they have the power to make an impact on policies relevant to the Latino community. This can happen through active participation in the electoral process, but also through involvement in educational programs, grassroots political…

‘For the Tropicália movement, music was a form of politics.’ Discuss. The music of Tropicália brought a subtle political message of unity and social activism to Brazil in a time of heavy repression. It developed in 1967, following the psychedelic rock movements of USA and UK, but was quickly restricted the following year when its founding members, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, were exiled as threats to society. Its music applied a mixture of musical styles, from Brazilian traditional dance…

Latino activist from Arizona, with a request to spearhead “Viva Kennedy” political clubs throughout the Southwest to appeal to Mexican American Voters. Even when the Latino voters were occasionally approached on the regional level, most Latinos were denied a pathway to the national political arena. Inspired by the gains of African American activists and confronted with the injustices of American society during the 1960s, many Mexican Americans decided to stand up for their rights and turned to…

Individual social movement participation can be largely understood through transition points – moments in a person’s life when his or her daily routines are drastically and irrevocably changed. Munson (2010) defines transition points as a simultaneous change in an individual’s everyday routines and a change in their social networks. Those who become active in social movements must change their daily routines in order to participate in meetings, protests, and demonstrations. This adjustment is…

In troubling times, many people look to their faith as a source of guidance and inspiration. This certainly rings true in two graphic novels: Maus: A Survivor’s Story, written by Art Spiegelman, and Persepolis, written by Marjane Satrapi. Maus tells the story of Vladek Spiegelman’s experience as a Polish Jew in the Holocaust. Persepolis, an autobiographical novel, follows Marjane, a religious young girl who has a passion for activism growing up during the Islamic Revolution. These two authors…

“Huelga! Huelga! Huelga!” grandma screamed alongside Cesar Chavez and hundreds of other protesters outside the Delano, California vineyards. The rays of the burning sun, searing their skin were the least of their concerns. Protesters were there to proclaim justice for all the farm workers that had been denied the right for proper working conditions in the fields. Bertha Silva came from a Mexican decedent, her parents moved to Delano, California when she was the age of 11. Soon after arriving,…

A word often associated with protesting is activism. Activists are people who are looking for positive change in society (“What Is An Activist”). Activism is a broad term; there are people that seek change in society but don’t call themselves activists, yet they are activists. Activists can change society in a very small to very big way, but the keywords for activism is “positive change”. Activists claim they seek positive change, but who defines positive? Many protests are controversial. Take…

to the category of activism. During social activism, there are two types of people who contribute to social change. There are the motivated people who participate in more risky actions, and there are the less motivated people who use 160 characters or make a few clicks to contribute. For Gladwell, what is critical towards the success of social change is embodied human connection between individuals. This is the foundation for creating the “strong…

Sons of Liberty: Fathers of American Activism The United States has a long history of political activism by and for the people, a legacy that continues today. The day after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, more people took to the streets in protest than ever before. That fiercely American action dates back to the Sons of Liberty, a political group that organized for the rights of colonial citizens in the 18th century, against oppressive taxation from Britain (135-136). Many…