Centering black joy in activism can create systemic change and amplify marginalized communities.
Achieving real power in activism requires strategic action and campaigns with clear theories of change.
Deep dives
Centering Black Joy for Meaningful Impact
Rashad Robinson, activist and president of Color of Change, discussed the importance of centering black joy in the fight for racial justice. He emphasized that black joy is not the absence of pain, but the presence of aspiration and what black people are fighting for. By bringing people together in the spirit of black joy, Robinson believes it is possible to create systemic change and build vehicles for marginalized communities to be heard.
Power vs. Presence in Activism
Robinson highlighted the need to distinguish between power and presence in activism. He stated that presence, such as visibility and awareness, should not be mistaken for real power to change the rules. Color of Change focuses on achieving systemic victories and holding decision-makers accountable. Robinson emphasized the importance of creating campaigns with clear theories of change and strategic action, rather than pursuing cosmetic victories that do not lead to lasting impact.
Building Sustainable Structures for Change
Robinson discussed the need to reimagine the architecture of social justice movements. He emphasized the importance of building structures and campaigns that channel energy and responses to moments of injustice towards systemic pivots. Color of Change aims to raise the floor on what is acceptable and push up the ceiling on what is possible, creating new spaces for change to happen. Robinson stressed the importance of addressing the structural roots of inequality and implementing structural change in order to create a more equitable society.
We have our final main stage event from the 2021 How I Built This Virtual Summit, and it's Guy's conversation with Rashad Robinson, President of Color Of Change, the nation's largest leading racial justice organization. In this live interview, Rashad talks about finding strength and purpose through activism—an initiative that has no clear end. According to Rashad, activism does not have to center around sadness and tragedy; activism is about the power of the people, recognizing victories, celebrating moments of joy, and implementing self and community care.
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