Code Switch Why the trope of the 'outside agitator' persists
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May 15, 2024 Exploring the debate between student-led protests and outside agitators. Challenges the myth of 'outside agitators' hindering movements. Discusses historical impact on activists like Martin Luther King Jr. Unpacks the trope's use to undermine protests and shift blame. Concludes with acknowledgments and promotions for sponsors and social media.
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Outside Agitator Trope
- The term "outside agitator" is used to discredit protesters and their causes.
- It suggests they are plants or opportunists, making their cause illegitimate.
Abolitionists as Agitators
- The "outside agitator" trope dates back to slavery.
- Abolitionists like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass were labeled as such.
Red Scare and Civil Rights
- During the Red Scare, civil rights activists were labeled as communist outside agitators.
- This tactic aimed to discredit their push for racial equality.