Solidarity and strategy: the forgotten lessons of truly effective protest
Apr 26, 2024
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Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix discuss the power of organizing and solidarity in effective protests. They delve into historical movements, the importance of collective action, and the transformative impact of grassroots organizing. The podcast explores the evolution of disability rights activism and highlights the need for engaged community-driven movements for lasting change.
Organizing turns alienation into connection, despair into dedication, and oppression into strength.
Well-organized minorities drive societal progress through solidarity and activism, not sheer numbers.
Deep dives
Challenges of the Power of Wealth: A Modern-Day Aristocracy
The podcast discusses the concentration of extreme wealth in the hands of a minority leading to an oligarchic rule. The World Inequality Report of 2022 revealed that the richest 10% control 52% of income, leaving the poorest half with only 8.5%. This wealth disparity enables the wealthy upper class to dominate politics, establishing a modern aristocracy. Despite numerical superiority, the power lies in organized numbers, as highlighted by historical examples.
Historical Significance of Collective Action: Achievements and Social Progress
The podcast explores the transformative impact of collective action throughout history. Examples include the abolition of slavery and Jim Crow laws, labor rights improvements, and advancements in gender and LGBTQ+ equality. These changes were brought about by well-organized minorities rather than sheer numbers, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and activism in driving societal progress.
The Effectiveness of Organized Solidarity Movements: Disability Justice Movement
The podcast delves into the Disability Justice Movement as a model of radical imagination and transformative solidarity. Organizing efforts by disabled activists led to groundbreaking legislative changes, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. By challenging discriminatory practices and advocating for inclusivity, the movement exemplifies the power of organized collective action in driving societal transformation.
Organising is a kind of alchemy: it turns alienation into connection, despair into dedication, and oppression into strength. By Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/longreadpod
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