Library: Social Activism: Home

Audre Lorde Poster

ILLUSTRATION BY MEREDITH STERN

Audre Lorde (1934-1992) insisted upon the dignity of intersectional identities, including her own: She famously described herself as a “black, lesbian, feminist, mother, poet warrior.” In her writing and her activism, Lorde fought for equity and justice for people of color, women, members of the LGBTQ community and more.

From: Teaching Tolerance.org https://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/TT-One-World-Spring-2019-TT61-Audre-Lorde-Meredith-Stern.pdf

Social Activism

Books

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Student Activism in the Academy: Its Struggles and Promise by Pietro A. Sasso (Editor); Joseph L. DeVitis (Editor)
ISBN: 9781975500368
Publication Date: 2019
It Was Always a Choice: picking up the baton of athlete activism by David Steele
Call Number: GV706.35 .S755 2022
Publication Date: 2022
A Voice but No Power: Organizing for Social Justice in Minneapolis by David Forrest
Publication Date: 2022
Shelter in a Time of Storm: How Black Colleges Fostered Generations of Leadership and Activism by Jelani M. Favors
Publication Date: 2019
Radical Academia ? Understanding the Climates for Campus Activists, He167 by He; Christopher J. Broadhurst (Editor); Georgianna L. Martin (Editor)
Call Number: ebook
Publication Date: 2014
Music Is Power: Popular Songs, Social Justice, and the Will to Change by Brad Schreiber
Publication Date: 2019
The Black Revolution on Campus by Martha Biondi
Call Number: ebook
Publication Date: 2012
Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict in Our Lives and Relationships by Donna Hicks; Desmond Tutu (Foreword by)
Call Number: ebook
Publication Date: 2011
Dirty Water: One Man's Fight to Clean up One of the World's Most Polluted Bays by Bill Sharpsteen
Publication Date: 2010-01-05

Selected keywords and search strings:

"college student activism"
activism AND "college students"
"student protests"
protests OR demonstrations
"student movements"

“Moyers & Company: Social Activism 2.0—How Citizens Are Standing Up for Democracy.”
American history is rich with stories of social change inspired by the actions of motivated individuals and organized groups. Today’s activists are no different—facing long odds against powerful and systemic special interests. In this edition of Moyers & Company, Bill Moyers talks with young but very experienced organizers George Goehl, Ai-Jen Poo, and Sarita Gupta, all involved with a nationwide citizens’ initiative called the 99% Spring, which took place the week of April 9, 2012. Organizers aimed to train 100,000 Americans to teach about income inequality in homes, places of worship, campuses, and the streets. The program concludes with a Moyers essay on what citizens can do to find out who’s paying for all those political ads running on their local television stations. Broadcast date: March 30, 2012. (56 minutes)

“Moyers & Company: Social Activism 2.0—How Citizens Are Standing Up for Democracy.” Films Media Group, 2012, fod.infobase.com/PortalPlaylists.aspx?wID=97865&xtid=48984. Accessed 12 Dec. 2019.
#ReGENERATION - Social Activism
Ryan Gosling narrates this engrossing film about social activism, the forces that galvanized the Occupy movement, and how a new generation of young people is coming to terms with a rapidly changing world. (80 min.)

#ReGENERATION. Dir. Brian Dickett, Jeremy Goulder, Joel Goulder, Matt DeRoss, Phillip Montgomery, Ryan Gosling. Media Education Foundation, 2012. Kanopy. https://stclair.kanopy.com/video/regeneration

Organizations & Activities

Black Lives Matter
#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc is a global organization in the US, UK, and Canada, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.
Campaign ZERO
Campaign ZERO was developed with contributions from activists, protesters and researchers across the nation. This data-informed platform presents comprehensive solutions to end police violence in America. It integrates community demands and policy recommendations from research organizations and President Obama's Task Force on 21st Century Policing. Together, we will win.
Fair Fight
We promote fair elections in Georgia and around the country, encourage voter participation in elections, and educate voters about elections and their voting rights. Fair Fight brings awareness to the public on election reform, advocates for election reform at all levels, and engages in other voter education programs and communications.
IGNITE. Political Power in Every Young Woman
IGNITE is a movement of young women who are ready and eager to become the next generation of political leaders.
Movement for Black Lives
The Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) formed in December of 2014, was created as a space for Black organizations across the country to debate and discuss the current political conditions, develop shared assessments of what political interventions were necessary in order to achieve key policy, cultural and political wins, convene organizational leadership in order to debate and co-create a shared movement wide strategy. Under the fundamental idea that we can achieve more together than we can separately.
NAACP Youth & College Division
The mission of the NAACP Youth & College Division shall be to inform youth of the problems affecting African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities; to advance the economic, education, social and political status of African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities and their harmonious cooperation with other peoples; to stimulate an appreciation of the African Diaspora and other people of color’s contribution to civilization; and to develop an intelligent, effective youth leadership.
Network of Concerned Academics
We are a group of scholars, teachers, students, administrators, and other individuals dedicated to preserving the core values of higher education – the unfettered search for truth, the cultivation of an inclusive democratic culture, and the expansion of access to high quality education for all members of our increasingly diverse society.
New Leaf Project
The New Leaf Project is a Vancouver-based non-profit organization taking bold action on homelessness. The founders of the New Leaf Project are two people united by a passion for social justice and systems change.
The New Students for a Democratic Society
Students for a Democratic Society is a radical, multi-issue student and youth organization working to build power in our schools and communities. The NewSDS is entirely student and youth-led and has over 100 active chapters in high schools, colleges, universities, and cities all over the country.
Onward Together
OT is dedicated to encouraging people to organize, get involved, and run for office to advance progressive values: resist bullying, hate, falsehoods, and divisiveness, and stand up for a fairer, more inclusive America.
Organizing for Action
OFA is committed to mobilizing and training the next generation of progressive organizers and leaders, because real, lasting change doesn’t just happen on its own—it requires a program, it requires organizing, and it requires people like you.
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB), is a national and international collective of anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation.
Port Huron Branch of the NAACP
NAACP Local FaceBook page
Project Implicit
Project Implicit is a non-profit organization and international collaboration between researchers who are interested in implicit social cognition - thoughts and feelings outside of conscious awareness and control. The goal of the organization is to educate the public about hidden biases and to provide a “virtual laboratory” for collecting data on the Internet.
Public Interest Research Group in Michigan (PIRGIM)
PIRGIM is a consumer group that stands up to powerful interests whenever they threaten our health and safety, our financial security or our right to fully participate in our democratic society. For decades, PIRGIM stood up for consumers, countering the influence of big banks, insurers, the oil industry, and other powerful special interests.
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society. Using litigation, education, and other forms of advocacy, the SPLC works toward the day when the ideals of equal justice and equal opportunity will be a reality.
Teaching Tolerance, Southern Poverty Law Center
Educating for a diverse democracy
When We All Vote
When We All Vote is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization that is on a mission to increase participation in every election and close the race and age voting gap by changing the culture around voting, harnessing grassroots energy, and through strategic partnerships to reach every American.
Launched in 2018 by co-chairs Michelle Obama, Tom Hanks, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Janelle Monae, Chris Paul, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw, When We All Vote is changing the culture around voting using a data-driven and multifaceted approach to increase participation in elections.

U.S. Civil Rights

Suggested keywords:

"civil rights movement"
"civil rights"
"Civil Rights Act"

A City Within a City: The Black Freedom Struggle in Grand Rapids, Michigan
Call Number: F574.G7 R63 2013
ISBN: 9781439909218
Publication Date: 2012
The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks
Call Number: F334.M753 P3883 2013
Publication Date: 2013

How Citizens Can Stand Up for Democracy

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