Words by Smiley Team
Social justice has become as prominent as human rights in recent years.
In essence, it's a socially accepted notion of what is and is not fair – this applies to everything from the distribution of wealth and opportunities to basic necessities and more.
Over the years, its use has broadened to include topics such as race, ethnicity, and the environment. So what can you do if you want to get involved and support social justice movements?
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Research movements and get a clear understanding of the causes and their goals. To learn more about climate justice, for instance, visit 350.org and find key climate facts and campaign information on the site. It's a good idea to read books that provide in-depth analysis of a particular social movement and the issues it faces after gathering basic information online. If you're interested in climate activism, read This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein; if you're interested in racial justice, try The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander.
In the event that you're a student or live near a college, you may be able to take a course on your cause.
It's a good idea to form relationships with other people who share your interests. Activists and organizers in the community frequently hold open meetings and are eager to welcome new members. When you become a part of a group, you gain the benefit of having others hold you accountable while you learn new things as well.
Meetings about activism and social justice, for example, can be found near you using Meetup.com. The National Organization for Women has an online directory of chapters, so if you know which one you'd like to work with, you can search for it.
[Also Read: The activist tackling FGM since age 12]
An organization founded by Glenn E. Martin, whose mission is to end mass incarceration, is called JustLeadershipUSA. Martin believes that people who want to get involved in social justice movements can do the most effective work in their own neighborhoods. "Those closest to the problem are also closest to the solution," Glenn says.
To get involved locally, Glenn recommends writing letters to people with influence or chatting about the movement over drinks with coworkers. Keeping social justice issues in the public eye is essential to making progress.
Social justice activists love to post on Facebook, Twitter, and Tumblr. You can join or start a group on Facebook to discuss and organize around a movement. As a user of Twitter, you can find others who share your interest in a given topic and engage in conversation with them.
Tumblr may be the best platform for young activists to use. In just a few minutes of scrolling through her feed, Jenn Li, a Washington, D.C.-based activist, had already learned a great deal about social justice issues and how to be an ally.
“It's likely that there are things you do or say that you don't even realize you're doing or saying, and Tumblr users will have a post outlining how oppressive they are, who they affect, and what you can do about it,” Jenn says. Personal experiences are encouraged in the Tumblr community, which serves as a safe place to discuss issues you might not otherwise discuss in your daily life.
You can also put your activism to the test on social media. Sharing articles, videos, and updates about organizing meetings or information about your movement is a simple way to get your message out to a large audience.
Volunteering can be done in a variety of ways, depending on the cause or movement. If you're concerned about homelessness, for instance, consider helping out by volunteering at a shelter. Volunteering at an inner-city school program is an effective way to combat educational inequity.
Volunteering can be difficult when you don't know where to start. Fortunately, there are plenty of options available online. With no cost other than time, volunteering is an excellent starting point for those who want to get involved in a movement that is fighting against injustice.
There are many ways to get involved in a movement even if you don't have the time or the courage to speak out about it. In every movement, there are various levels of involvement, and one of them is donating money. Participation in a social justice movement can take many forms, including paying dues to an organization, making a small monthly donation, or sending a check in the mail.
Check out CharityNavigator.org for some inspiration if you're stuck for ideas. Using this watchdog site, you can search for organizations by category (Human Rights, Animals and the Environment, etc.), along with ratings and filters, so you can find the best place to donate.
Ultimately, do your best not to contribute to the problem before engaging others. You must first unlearn your own bad habits and behaviors before you can inspire others to do the same.
Have you contributed to a social justice movement, or set up your own project to give back? We'd love to hear from you – email [email protected].
