The Activist Notebook

AcTIvIST NOTEBOOK

Activism is necessary, but it doesn’t have to be hard.

by Henry Haggard

The Activist Notebook is a great way to help everyone get socially and politically active in their communities while learning to understand concepts like teamwork and intersectionality.

— Stephanie Younger, activist, organizer, writer, and editor-in-chief of blackfeministcollective.com Democracy is all about showing up and engaging with your community. Henry has grappled with what that means at a younger age than most. How cool that he put this book together to help the rest of us along!

— Schuyler VanValkenburg, teacher and Member of the Virginia House of Delegates, 72nd District

Name

Contact

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ABOUT THIS BOOKLET I have been fighting for causes I believe in since I was twelve, and this book sums up what I wish I’d had when I started with my first fundraiser and letter writing event.

That event was called Write for your Rights. It was created in support of the ACLU of Virginia, a local branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. Before that, my best social justice efforts were limited to arguing on YouTube.

After Write For Your Rights, I hosted another event with new resources and wisdom from everyone working at the ACLU of Virginia―Constitution Day. It didn’t go as well as I’d hoped, but I learned to thank those that helped me make it happen.

The point is, the things that bring you the farthest down are what eventually push you up the highest.

I suppose the learning curve is like a trampoline more than anything.

Another big issue I faced recently was frustration that an article I had written wasn’t getting published.

Eventually, though it was difficult, on a day at the beach I built my website, henryhaggard.com, and published the piece without vetting and approval of an editor.

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At some point I realized it’s best to do some things myself.

It’s been months since I came up with the idea for this notebook, and those months haven’t been easy.

I want this book to be a reminder to everyone that: Nothing will change if you let it be, and everything can change for the worse if you don’t.

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THANKS TO · Thank you to Tim McCready, Greta Shope, and Ruby Allen-Short for their editing assistance.

· Steve Levenson, Claire Gastañaga, Phuong Tran, Bill Farrar, and everyone else at the ACLU of VA.

· Stephanie Younger, Ruby, Gus Dewald, and Greta for being good friends and inspiring people.

· Mr. Brown and the teachers at my school for supporting my academic career.

· Landon Schroeder and David Streever for publishing me at RVA Magazine.

· All the people at TED× Youth @RVA for organizing and asking me to be a part of that wonderful event.

· My mom and dad for helping me get through hard times and solving problems I couldn’t wrap my head around.

· Dawn Adams, Schuyler VanValkenburg, Maureen Haynes and everyone at the General Assembly who has supported me.

· Llewellyn Hensley and Content–Aware Graphic Design for their help designing & printing this booklet.

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recognize yourself You can check back to this section throughout your experiences to use your strengths, stay on top of your weaknesses, implement your goals, and follow your passions.

Where your passions and issues overlap is where you can make the most change.

Strengths

Weaknesses

Passions

Goals

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your community Understanding the workings of your community, nation, and world are crucial to making connections and using them for change.

Issues

People

Systems

Organizations

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your power How much power you have in society can affect your worldview. It’s easy to forget about the privilege you have, especially if it’s ample. Keep in mind how your advantages and disadvantages change how you think. If you can check these boxes, you’re on the right path. ○ I understand where I lie on the scale of privilege in my community, the U.S., and the world. ○ I understand privilege can mean race, gender, class, upbringing, or things I can take for granted—like access to decontaminated water.

What are some ways I can give voice to those with less privilege?

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PASSIONS

BOTH

SKILLS

WHERE YOU LEARN

WHERE YOU ACT

WHERE YOU DECIDE

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individualize the whats Answer the questions below to narrow down what you want to fight for or against.

○ What do I want to change?

○ What can I change?

○ What should I change?

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the hows Ask yourself these questions, then see the differences between the arts and the sciences of activism.

This area is meant to help activism work best for you.

○ How do I want to change?

○ How can I change?

○ How should I change?

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THE ART

THE SCIENCE

expression, creation, personality, freedom, writing, reading, showcasing, empathizing

problems, solutions, statistics, understanding, discussing, debating, fundraising, voting, teaching

YOUR IDEAS

remember t- gal Think Globally, Act Locally.

Local action is often underestimated. Too much ambition can be harmful because it leads to a lack of clear purpose and sometimes the setting of unattainable goals.

If you know your strengths and know where you can do the most good, focus there. There’s no sense in trying to end world hunger without first starting with a specific, manageable goal. Sometimes even a personal challenge (like promising to recycle or shop from local stores) can do more than something overly dramatic.

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utilize tools Like everything else, activism requires tools.

These tools can be anything from a means of transportation to a stapler. No matter how big or small the tools, they play an enormous role in the success of a movement. ○ What resources do you have access to?

○ How could you harness them for your cause?

○ How can you access additional resources?

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privilege Abusing privilege in activism (or anywhere) is destructive, to say the least.

Recognize your privilege and use it to help others who have less. This can help your cause grow: in people, voices and merit. â—‹ I understand that, with the privilege I have, I must lift others up and not drown them out. â—‹ I understand intersectionality* and its importance everywhere. â—‹ How can I use my privilege to help others?

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The inclusion of all groups and demographics (ethnic, religious, class, sexuality, gender) in a movement. A lack of intersectionality can divide a movement and defeat its purpose.

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teamwork Society is a ladder. It keeps some people down and others up. It gives opportunities to the people already at the top, and spares no mercy for those at the bottom.

If activism was a ladder nothing would change.

But it isn’t. Activism is a boat, navigating through a sea of injustice, rescuing those who are drowning.

One person cannot change the world—but a group, a team, a movement—can.

Use community groups that are already fighting for your cause. If there are none, make your own. Understand and clarify differences in opinion—even if they are minuscule. Avoid polarization*.

Brainstorm, discuss, and stay afloat in this group.

Work together, find common ground, and use the art and science of activism to your advantage. * Division into sharply contrasted groups. Can be helpful, but standards that are too high can isolate your group from others that could help.

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Never underestimate the power of small groups to change the world.

In fact, that’s all that ever has. — Margaret Mead

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civility Civility is a delicate thing. Staying civil is sometimes difficult and sometimes easy, and typically worthwhile, but occasionally unrewarding.

If you are questioning whether or not civility will be useful at any given moment, ask yourself: Does your anger surpass your desire to come to an agreement?

If yes: That’s totally OK. We can’t hold ourselves to an unreasonably high standard all the time. Breach civility carefully though, and remember all social and /or legal consequences that come with it. Then again, keep in mind that civility and morality are not always synonyms.

If no: That’s completely OK too. Would the leaders of the world get anything done if they were always yelling at each other?

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glittered b .s .

Logical fallacies, if you haven’t heard of them already, are cheap tactics to manipulate the opponent in a debate. Without getting too technical, here are some things to look out for: Ad Hominem: Attacking an individual or group instead of an idea.

Straw man: Misrepresenting the opponent’s argument.

False cause: Confusing correllation with causation.

Slippery slope: Exaggerating the opponent’s beliefs to seem unreasonable.

Loaded question: Asking something in a way where the opponent’s answer will seem absurd.

Burden of proof: Making a shallow claim and expecting opponents to prove you wrong.

Fallacy of origin: Attacking where the idea originated instead the idea itself.

Black / white: Creating a strict “us or them” narrative to divide listeners.

Middle ground: Expecting that a compromise will always be the best option.

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now , you act .

Here are some actions you can take for whatever cause you are fighting for.

Use the prompts and charts on the following pages to organize your thoughts and ideas, solve problems, ask questions, and plan future actions. In blank sections, you can brainstorm your ideas.

But no matter what, remember at all times: If we read, if we write, and if we fight like hell, nothing can stop us.

To those who will try:

I dare you.

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LONG TERM Campaigning

10 MINUTES Registering to vote / persuading others to

1 WEEK Spreading the word about a candidate

1 MONTH Volunteering for a campaign

Writing

Writing a social media post

Writing an article for a publication

Reading

Reading an article

Reading a book / novel

Writing in-depth exploration of topic Reading a more difficult text

Fundraising

Sharing / Making a donating to an small online organization fundraiser

Planning an event for an organization

Advocating a bill

Calling / emailing legislator

Scheduling meeting with legislator

Finding / attending town hall

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GOVERNMENT CONTACTS Find out more about your representatives at whosmy.virginiageneralassembly.gov

President: email: phone: mail: Governor: email: phone: mail: U.S. Senator: email: phone: mail: U.S. Senator: email: phone: mail:

U.S. Congressperson: email: phone: mail: State Senator: email: phone: mail: State Delegate: email: phone: mail: Mayor: email: phone: mail:

anger What makes you angry?

expression How and why do you express your ideas?

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past How has the past made you who you are?

future What is to come?

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books to read

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books to recommend

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NO mATTEr wHAT,

rEmEmBEr AT ALL TImES:

If wE rEAd, If wE wrITE,

ANd If wE fIgHT LIKE HELL, NOTHINg cAN STOp US.

HENry HAggArd is a civil liberties advocate, freelance journalist, political leader, and student based in Richmond, Virginia.

In 2017, he got tired of sitting around, arguing on the internet, and decided to take action. He organized three fundraisers for the ACLU of Virginia, and launched a People Power campaign in his hometown.

He was invited to attend the national ACLU conference this past year in appreciation for his work.

One third of the funds generated from the sale of this guide will be directly applied to progessive advocacy efforts.

Keep up with Henry at henryhaggard.com.

Designed and printed in Richmond, Virginia, 2019