WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Helpful Definitions:
Western Imperialism & Colonialism: "Imperialism" means the practice, the theory, & the attitudes of a dominating metropolitan center ruling a distant territory; "colonialism," which is almost always a consequence of imperialism, is the implanting of settlements on distant territory.” In the context of Western imperialism & colonialism, this situates contemporary activism in the Western world as raising awareness of the Western government’s origin in & continued participation in these processes—including, but not limited to Turtle Island and Latin America. Click here for more info!
White Supremacy: Often the content of imperialism & colonialism in the context of the West, white supremacy is the interlocking systems of material violence, displacement, & exploitation of non-white communities in the service of systems-oriented toward privileging, expanding, & empowerment of white communities. As an ideology of racial, ethnic, & often cultural supremacy, it is produced & supported by material systems that proportionally service such communities through the denial of resources to, or inflicting of violence against, racialized communities.
Abolition & abolitionism: a theory, movement, & opposition to carceral systems in which justice is defined in retribution, punishment, and control. Opposing not only prisons themselves, abolitionists also challenge broader social systems & ideologies that posit and enact forms of social policy and governance through imprisonment and institutional imposition of limitations upon communities and individuals. Check out more detailed information here! If you’re interested in the Abolition Constitution of Harvard Law, click here!
Feminism & Patriarchy: Patriarchy is a historically developing & present system of domination & exploitation of women & gender-non-conforming folks. It operates on the level of men & masculinity as a socially privileged & empowered social category, as well as a system supported by imposing limits upon & regulating normative conceptions & notions of gender as they are conceived of & actualized in the world. This is often done so through carceral (see above) means that disproportionately target other marginalized communities—chief amongst them racialized communities, LGBTQIA2S+ communities, unhoused & financially precarious communities, & more. Feminism, meanwhile, is a wide-ranging historical movement to challenge, abolish, or transform patriarchal structures & social norms.
What’s the difference?
Activism can be defined as the collective efforts that assist an individual or group of people in attaining social or political changes, & demonstrate or advance their social & political principles or beliefs. Activism typically occurs when a community feels unsatisfied with its social or political position & seeks social change to attain justice &/or peace.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/activism
https://www.liberties.eu/en/stories/activism/44871
There are many types of activism; the most traditional ways include participating in marches & protests, lobbying for change or taking direct action. Activism also includes non-traditional types such as local movements to educate others through community outreach, volunteering in local community services or raising funds for an organization.
https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/types-of-activism/
Some people consider activism a way of life in which they collaborate to bring justice & peace to their communities. Activism in the context of community care aims to promote solidarity, empowerment, & collective well-being. By actively engaging with community concerns & taking effective action to address them, activists help to establish a more just, inclusive, & compassionate society.
https://www.humanrightscareers.com/issues/activism-101-types-examples-and-learning-opportunities/
https://activisthandbook.org/theory/what-is-activism
Direct Action: distinct from other types of activism, direct action as a type of activist organizing involves communities organizing themselves towards a certain goal or movement. Differing from being organized by an established structure or indirectly supporting a cause through signalled or material support, direct action is the direct involvement of social groups and individuals organizing to challenge or transform elements of society. One example of direct action is the recent toppling or spray painting of statues of historical figures who committed racist acts and/or upheld colonial/carceral systems, such as statues of John A. MacDonald or members of the Catholic Church who were part of the Indian Residential Schools/Boarding Schools. These direct actions are often considered by the state to be violent, while communities most impacted by the colonial/carceral violence often consider these acts to be part of struggles for liberation. Most forms of direct action, like ‘non-violent protest,’ and sit-ins, are considered direct action as a means of directly disrupting oppressive systems. Violent resistance has also been used in cases of self-liberation, but the state, businesses, the broader public, & even your fellow organizers will have different thresh-holds, personal capacities, and circumstances that may cause them to support or not support a violent action, as well as interpret it as violent. For example, Franz Fanon wrote about the Algerian struggle for liberation from French colonization in Wretched of the Earth. It is critical to understand that Direct Action is not the same for everyone; we must also conduct our research to understand & consider the legal implications of any action in which we intend to participate.
Direct action is “the insistence, when faced with structures of unjust authority, on acting as if one is already free,” (Graeber, 2009: 203).
What does activism/direct action mean when talking about community care & talking about helping people in the community learn & be safe?
Activism & direct action in the context of community care involve proactive efforts to address social issues & support marginalized/vulnerable communities directly. This can encompass a variety of actions aimed at creating positive change, fostering safety, & promoting learning within the community.