Activism in the US: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Activism has shaped the United States at every stage of its history, but not always in the ways we remember. In this lecture, Dr. Roy traces the evolution of American activism from labor movements and civil rights struggles to modern protest culture, examining how power actually responds to pressure. Dr. Roy explores when activism succeeds, when it fails, and why moral clarity alone has never been enough to force systemic change.


Takeaways:

• Activism in the United States has historically emerged during moments of economic stress, war, and political exclusion.
• Early American activism focused less on ideology and more on material conditions like wages, land, and survival.
• Labor movements were among the most effective activist forces because they disrupted economic systems rather than symbols.
• The Civil Rights Movement succeeded when moral pressure aligned with economic and geopolitical incentives.
• Protest without leverage often results in suppression, co-optation, or symbolic concessions rather than real change.
• Power rarely yields out of empathy alone and almost always responds to sustained disruption.
• Media attention can amplify activism but can also dilute or redirect its goals.
• Modern activism often prioritizes visibility over organization, reducing long-term effectiveness.
• Institutions adapt by absorbing activist language while preserving underlying power structures.
• Meaningful change requires strategy, coalition-building, and a clear understanding of how systems function.

Resources & References:

• The American Labor Movement
• The Pullman Strike
• The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire
• The New Deal Labor Reforms
• The Montgomery Bus Boycott
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964
• The Voting Rights Act of 1965
• COINTELPRO Documents
• The Antiwar Movement During Vietnam
• Occupy Wall Street
• The Black Lives Matter Movement

Beyond the podcast: 

• Want to watch this lecture? Check out the full video.
• Want to support the show? Buy Dr. Roy a coffee!