Read on Twitter
Recently I have been reflecting a lot about a minority of people that call themselves activists, who tend to dominate certain campaigns/appear very vocal & influential, but are actually divisive. Often difficult people who can't work with others & silence genuine change makers.
I campaign across a range of issues so move in different spheres: women's sector, interfaith, racism. In each of these I have come across one or two that like to appear as THE ONLY voice on campaigns relating to tackling bigotry & prejudice.
A word of caution to funders, journalists & supporters- if someone tells you they are the only voice on racism, or no one will dare to speak up about Islamophobia or Anti-Semitism in the way they do - be wary. There are many activisit voices & all make various contributions
Usually the people doing the hard graft at a grassroots level are the ones who do not have time to write divisive Op Eds, claiming no one else tackles the issue they are writing about. They also often don't have the time to sit on twitter all day WRITING IN CAPS THE WORD RACISM
The genuine activists are usually the ones who change lives, but do not over claim, unfortunately often overlooked & pushed aside by much louder difficult personalities.
So don't be duped by large followings on social media. Some personalities call themselves activists but all they do are media appearances time and time again, because they have put themselves forward as the spokesperson on racism when in actual fact they do very little.
Its to easy to sit on social media, tweet slogans & soundbites but what change are such people actual making? Are they changing attitudes? Or are they polarising? Often the latter, speaking to a bubble of people online that think like them & want to see controversial statements.
Tackling entrenched negative views & attitudes towards the other, takes handwork, it is an investment of time, energy & requires emotional strength. It is about working for the longer term, building relationships, & involves listening. Not SHOUTING on twitter or in Op Eds.
hardwork* not handwork!
