Skill Set: Taking the South
Grassroots organizing in conservative regions.
By Laura Hosman, University of Southern Mississippi
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Margaret Mead once said that it only takes a small group of committed citizens to change the world, and nowhere is this statement truer than in the American South. Born and raised in Hattiesburg, Ms., I had the privilege of growing up in a state rich in grassroots activism, despite its conservative ideological bent. From Victoria Jackson Gray Adams ( Hattiesburg) and Vernon Dahmer ( Hattiesburg) to Fannie Lou Hamer (Ruleville) and James Bevel (Itta Bena), the state of Mississippi was a showcase for small groups of committed citizens who changed the nation throughout the 1950s and 1960s. As an organizer and activist at the University of Southern Mississippi, I feel honored to continue the legacy of Mississippi’s own Civil Rights activists.
Along the way, I’ve learned some lessons about how to organize in a conservative state. And while every conservative city and state is unique and must be handled individually, there are a few ground rules from which all organizing in such areas can begin. Thus, as Martin Luther King, Jr. so famously said, “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our Northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.”
Discussion, Not Debate
When you first begin organizing around a cause, aim to create a dialogue surrounding the issue, not a debate. This is an important distinction that has to be made, and one that will greatly affect the tone of your organizing efforts. In creating such a discussion two key steps should be taken. First, never tell people who disagree with you that they are wrong. As simple as this seems, it often proves difficult to stick to, especially when one’s opponents don’t follow the same rule. Secondly, stay away from name calling. As tempting as it may be, this too is detrimental to most organizing efforts. Your ultimate goal should be respect. If those who disagree with you become defensive, they will immediately stop listening, begin trying to defend the alternative position, and you will lose any hope of having them consider your point of view. So remember to be friendly. If they call you a “commie,” simply laugh it off and keep going. A sense of humor works wonders in gaining you respect and ultimately support.
Think Globally, Frame Locally
When organizing around a given cause, aim to associate that issue with the prevailing ideologies of your area. Such ideologies often include “family values” and religious beliefs, but they can also include issues such as those that have emerged at the front of the local political debate due to campaigning and upcoming elections. When you associate your cause with local ideologies, individuals within your community are often more likely to consider it. When organizing events, you should try to have people from a variety of local institutions represented, such as churches, local non-profits, the local public school system, university students and professors, and local elected officials. This helps people realize an issue is important within their own community, and not just the concern of meddling “outsiders”—which is how college students are often viewed in university towns.
A tangible way to think globally but act locally is to organize a benefit for a local organization. It alleviates the oft-heard criticism that there are people close to home who need help, and that we should be helping them first.
Coalitions! Coalitions! Coalitions!
When organizing around a cause, building a coalition can be the determining of whether or not your efforts are a success. Because of the sheer lack of activists within a conservative area, building a coalition can instantly double or triple the number of people working on a given cause. Furthermore, building a coalition provides the opportunity to bring on board a variety of people and groups from the community, thus quelling any argument that the issue is only an interest-group cause. You’ll instantly be reaching more people while presenting your issue in a friendlier, less partisan way.
Don’t be an “Extremist”!
When organizing in a conservative area, the absolute last label you want to receive is that of an “extremist.” Avoid this title at all costs. This does not mean, however, that progressives need to “beat around the bush” to appear more centrist. The easiest and most effective way to avoid this label is to establish common ground with those who disagree with you. When you talk to people about your issue, don’t start out the conversation with politics. Ask them how their day was and how work is going. Doing so will put people at ease and prevent them from tuning out your message, as you’ve already established a personal connection.
Another surefire way to be labeled an extremist is to engage in activism that’s more about attention-grabbing than talking about issues. Chaining yourself naked to a tree with a “Save the trees!” sign will certainly attract attention and might delight other conservationists, but people unsympathetic to environmentalism will all too quickly write your cause off as extreme, self-centered, and ridiculous. Make sure your activism is about the issue at hand, not about you.
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