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Is Activism Acting?
As a kid, I grew up with activism. My father has been with his union for decades and raised me on the picket line. When
other kids were playing street football or watching cartoons, my dad was bringing me to rallies and protests. I hated it, and
would beg me parents not to go. They would reply, "How do you think the farm workers we are fighting for feel? They work
in the sun for countless hours. One hour won't hurt you." I was unable to comprehend how important these odd events
filled with men and women fresh off of the nine to five really meant. It didn't matter how many picket signs I held or rallies I
attended.
As I grew older, I was able to grasp the reasons why I was standing out in the hot sun chanting slogans. My change in
perspective on activism had to do with personal experiences. The simplest things, such as working minimum wage jobs
and not getting let on the bus because I looked like a hoodlum, forced me to face injustice and the need to fight it.
Nowadays, I see activism everywhere. Its wings are expanding everyday -- you see it walking down the street, going to get
some coffee, dancing at concerts, and being written on brick walls. It seems like everybody is trying to "free" somebody, or
to be against the latest big-name corporation. The current popularity of activism today can't be denied, and everyday
reaches new people to shed light on struggles that we all face.
But as its popularity rises and becomes more and more accepted by the mainstream, activism is running a great risk of
becoming diluted of its meaning. Activism may be gliding effortlessly across college campuses, poetry slams, and
neighborhood campaigns, but its foot might get caught on a hurdle called "trendy." What if, for example, the Gap started
making "Ché" and "Malcolm X" shirts? Would that be positive for the raising awareness?
I am happy that young people are now willingly going into activism, and not being forced to into it as I was when I was a
kid. But the activism seems to have morphed into more of a form of expression than an agent of change. You can wear
activism if you buy the right clothes, say it, if you use the right words. Everywhere you turn, you see a political figure on a
shirt. Don't get me wrong, as a trend it is much better then a trend of violence or racism. But trends need to be careful
about its steps. People cannot mistake fashion for the real thing.
Trends tend to fade and I wouldn't want to see activism go out like another pair of MC Hammer pants. Activism is
ultimately not about what lingo you speak, or the music you listen to. It's what sacrifices you are willing to make for
yourself and for others.
All rights reserved. Martin Rocha
Copyright © 2006 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
Grassroots Journalism
www.barriozona.com
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Activism seems to have morphed into more of a form of expression than an agent of change.