4/20 - Race Rebels & Weapons of the Weak


Both readings from Robin D.G Kelley’s article, Race Rebels, and Scott James’s from Weapons of the Weak demonstrate how everyday resistances are demonstrated in the present and throughout history. This was an important reminder to me be more mindful and “creative” of ways I can incorporate everyday resistances in my own life. I am often in part of activist spaces that focuses on more restructuring institutional laws and programs. However, reforming activism is also limiting and time consuming. This made me challenge the ways activism is framed, particularly within student organizing vs. grassroot/ community activism. For that reason, a striking and important statement that Kelley argues is that we have to “define what is ‘political’” and “question a lot of common ideas about what are ‘authentic’ movements and strategies of resistance” (98).  By doing so, we are challenging the notion that a person has to identify within particular organization or union to be heard.

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