What Do You Think About Community Organizing?

Community organizing is a very important tool for social change and betterment.  The founding of this nation began as an organized protest against the throne of England. Over the centuries of our development and progress in the United States, our nation has benefited as a result of significant responses to conditions, policies and laws that did not reflect democratic ideals expressed in the bill of rights and U.S. constitution. It is because of organized reactions to individual cases, legal challenges, and outrage over social and economic conditions which fuel positive, applicable outcomes for societal betterment.

In modern times we have seen major demonstrations and organized protest over civil rights issues, sexual liberation, equal rights for women, immigrant’s rights, the environment, etc. Many of these organized communities or special interest followed longstanding tactics developed during the slave abolitionist movement, women’s suffrage movement, labor protection of the industrial ages, and 20^th century African American civil rights movement. The methods used are tried and tested. They are often over applied to every group protests and organized effort around any issue. In my opinion, many of the current trends toward social change are cluttered and confused. Following the traditions of their movements may not be the best thing to clarify and identify the importance of that movement. For instance, utilizing and adopting the same tactics, similar rhetoric, and political jockeying of the Black Civil rights movement for gay rights and transgender issues may not be the best approach to promoting this specific issue. The way  in which this issue is often represented by the media and special interest, tend to devalue the importance. Rather than garnering more support for the issue, the public and those most affected by the issue seem overburdened by it and its presentation by those in the movement reflect a watered down view.

Ultimately, all organizing efforts reflect the organic synthesis of the democratic process and the ideals of the republic. Community organizing is the fundamental model for social change. It’s positive or negative affect of the organized effort must be analyzed in the totality of historical context. Not all organized community efforts reflect the greater needs of our democracy. In time, we will see what was true, right and or just for all.

Originally Written 5/2006