Interview with an activist
No matter what we’re doing, we all have times we feel like it isn’t enough. Whether we’re right, or it’s just imposter syndrome, one thing can cut through the ennui : talk to someone whose resistance you admire, and who will be frank and honest with you. Invite them to lunch or tea, and invite real conversation.
How to do it:
Hollywood feeds us an unrealistic sense of resistance. The more entrenched fascism is, the more critical even small acts are. In the book Resistance, a fictionalized account of Jewish resistance in WWII, Polish citizens doing things as tiny as creating a distraction, offering a ride, or “dropping” a loaf of bread are literal life-savers. Today in America, simply pulling up lawn chairs outside a targeted school or Home Depot has demonstrably kept people safe for one more day.
It’s hard to feel like it’s enough, though. We all have those moments, so choose someone you feel is doing more than you are, or holding up better than you are, and ask if you can take them out to talk about activism. You can be up-front about it, but you’re likely to get demurrals: the busiest activists I know are the ones who don’t think they’re doing enough, either. Instead, perhaps try this:
“I want to work on resisting more effectively in the new year. Could I take you to lunch to brainstorm?”
Alternatively, plan a non-activism related activity like taking a walk or doing a chore and casually ask how they’re doing. See where the conversation goes. You might be surprised how much uncertainty most people have. The people who will make a difference keep trying anyway.
