Tools of Activism

Social activism is basically an act with the intent of Bringing about socio-political change. You would be considered a social activist, if you are sincerely working towards such a change and feel strongly about it. An active activist is someone who is actively struggling for social change within his/her society. Activists do not necessarily engage in illegal activities but social engagement is part of their job description. The other people who might be considered to be socially active include students, grandparents, housewives, parents, teachers, professionals and anyone else who want to make a difference in the world.

Activists have two types: political activists and social activists. A political activist is someone who fights for political rights of human beings. There are many types of political rights; freedom of speech, right to assemble, right to vote, and many more. A social activist fights for the human rights of these same people. A social activist might engage in activities such as lobbying, civil disobedience, sit-ins, picket lines, demos, marches, fundraising, lobbying, press releases, graffiti, street demonstrations, and many more activities to bring about changes in the society and government.

Social media is one of the tools that are being used by the social activists for social activism.  Agency  of the social media websites are creating spaces for dialogue and public expression. If you are involved in any kind of activism, then there is a chance that you would have participated in social media activism before. People can easily communicate on these sites and this creates a space where people can openly express themselves.

Another tool that is commonly being used by social activists for social activism is the internet. People have created social networks on the internet such as Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and others. Activists can use these websites to stay connected and to share ideas and to create communities. The internet is becoming a great way to create connections with people who are part of different political, social, and environmental rights movements. Activists can use the internet as a way to generate donations, recruit new members, and to keep in touch with activists in other parts of the world.

An organizer of a social justice campaign is someone who is passionate about the cause of social change and who wants to make that change happen. They will bring together members of their group to focus on the common goals of the campaign. The organizer is the one who makes sure that all of the groups working together towards the common goal are united in their efforts. This is important because otherwise there can be confusion within the campaign, and this can weaken the movement.

Another tool that is often used by social activists is literature. In  Agency , a human rights activist will start writing articles and essays on issues that are related to social change and they will distribute them widely so that everyone can read them. Sometimes these articles and essays will contain statements or ideas that are critical of the status quo and that will highlight the ways that the current system of injustice is unjustly benefiting people. This literature can be very influential for other activists to consider alternative forms of social organization.

Another tool that is commonly used by social activists is mass education. This is not the same as public schooling, which many see as ineffective. In public schooling students are taught just a fraction of the information that they need to survive in the world today. Social activists make sure that the information they spread is well-informed and that it reaches a wide audience so that citizens understand the importance of social activism. Education is the key to successful social action.

These are just some of the tools that are used by activists who are trying to bring about change through social action. There are many other forms of social activism that are used by activists around the world; some of them more impactful than others. No matter what type of social activism you choose to engage in, there are many things that you can learn from the experiences of those who have come before you.