The Status Quo of Protesting the Status Quo
In recent years, social activism has become significantly more accessible to the general public. From web surfers communicating through online forums to students demonstrating on college campuses, people are voicing their opinions on social, political and cultural issues more comfortably.
Does the act of more people getting involved more comfortably make activism more derivative?
A few decades ago, public protests succeeded mainly due to the element of shock. The Prague Spring, the South African Defiance Campaign, the Washington Civil Rights March, and many other famous demonstrations– all these movements ended with thousands of arrests. Protests weren’t participated in to kill free time between classes, they were an indefinite commitment of time and safety. At that time, protesting meant placing your freedom on the line, and because of that, it meant so much more.
GEARing UP to Make a Difference
This article was written by guest contributor Blake Jones.
GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded program aiming to positively impact underserved middle school and high school students. Activities range from tutoring and mentoring to the facilitation of lessons and conversations about financial literacy and college readiness. I’m currently working as a GEAR UP Coach at Ben Franklin High School. This experience has honestly been life changing in some of the most unpredictable ways. I did not have any expectations of walking into the school like someone’s savior, just as a student trying to help others. There’s a certain level of authenticity within the students that one can never fail to appreciate, especially if you communicate that same level of genuineness.