Fear of Activism by Grace Gartlan

The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change; activism. An unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain or harm; fear. In a society where so many appreciate the need for change, why are people scared to stand up. Is the fear of activism the biggest factor limiting needed progression? More importantly, how can we deconstruct this fear when lives are at stake?

Racism, similar to other forms of discrimination, is an exceptionally diverse issue spanning all levels of society. Consequently, activism in response has to take a variety of forms; this can include protests/strikes, petitions, education, raising awareness, charity etc. Whichever way a person feels comfortable to support the fight for equality is brilliant, especially because if they feel confident, it will be the most effective. Therefore, people should not feel pressured to conform to one type of, typically public, activism, especially if it just for show, and is not supported by a genuine commitment to the cause. In any time, it is wrong to ignore people pleading for humane treatment, but with the availability of information today and the different ways to stand up, there is no excuse to not partake in some form of activism. We have to be anti-racist. Yet so many remain silent due to fear.

Is it the fear of being political? Surely politicians have to question why the people to whom they are accountable feel ashamed to be involved in politics, especially given that it is their own lives that it affects. In a democracy where we have the right to vote and speak freely, we need to start utilising our power. This is important, but it is equally important to realise that racism is not just a political issue. Yes, it does need policy change and education reforms, but it is more of a humanitarian issue. It is not political to call out basic hate or ignorance, just as it is not political to want equality in job opportunities, for example. So many aspects of racism require individual changes in attitude. Even if it were a political issue however, any one person’s reputation as ‘distant from politics’ is not more important than the fight to have millions of people treated fairly.

Or is it atychiphobia, the fear of being wrong? Well more so the fear of being told we’re wrong. In a constantly evolving world, and as part of a progressive movement to fight racial inequality, we do need to be prepared to make mistakes. Wrongdoings like sharing incorrect information or using the wrong terminology can be forgiven, when people apologise, educate themselves, and move on making conscience efforts to avoid further mistakes. Wrongdoings like watching a person say that they can’t breathe and then unlawfully die at the hands of a police officer but do nothing about it can never be forgiven. We need to stop thinking that being silent prolongs our perfect appearance when in fact it prolongs a history of accepted and institutionalised racism. Activism is not always being publicly vocal, but the day to day quiet acts. In both places it is possible to make mistakes. Part of activism is the learning that follows an attempt to support the movement or, in fact, the realisation that you were hindering it.

Perhaps we ought to place some blame on the media. Is the press holding the movement back by focusing on a few situations to scar the reputation of Black Lives Matter, or are they holding the campaign to unobtainable standards? The media are very quick to focus on when protests become violent, but have they considered that some of this disruption may be at the hands of those who are resisting change, and doing so by utilising the judgemental and profit-minded press to detract from the real issue of discrimination. This was suspected by the Mayor of Minnesota, the state in which George Floyd was tragically killed, after the media headlines focused on looting that occurred at the time of curfew, when in fact, there had been a day of entirely peaceful protests prior. However, even if the campaign did use force, is that not part of such a momentous fight for equality. The Suffragettes are glorified for their work in securing votes for women; their actions included smashing windows, arson and planting bombs, yet because this was not very common, it is not widely focused on. BLM protestors are stereotyped to be unnecessarily violent due to similar actions when fighting for equally important rights. Thy hypocrisy and negative press have not only detracted from the real issue, but instilled fear within people who consequently do not want to be associated with the campaign. Is this surprising when approximately 94% of journalists are white?

So why, when racism is such a diverse issue, when black culture needs more appreciation and history needs to be taught more honestly, did I choose to write about the fear of activism. It’s because I’ve felt it; I still feel it. Working through what is a subconscious fear in so many is crucial in this movements so that more people stand up for what is right. Moreover, it allows us to be the activist that we need to be so that we can be as effective to the cause as possible. Personally, I haven’t been active on social media as, whilst seeing the sheer number of posts helped me to see the magnitude and importance of the issue, it was not the place where I felt most able to educate myself and therefore others. Other people would completely disagree and again, that is fine because we all learn and fight for what is right in different ways. Even more truthfully, I was scared that if I shared a link or a post, I would allow myself to become part of the ‘moment’ and not the movement. I took time to think, and promised to sign petitions, confront racism that I witnessed, and continue to educate myself. Before all of that, however, I took a lot of time to think. A time in which, I now realise, I was processing my fear of activism. A time which was enabled completely by my white privilege. A time which delayed my support of the movement.

But this is not about me and my fear. This is about hundreds of years of racism being accepted as the status quo such that it is 2020 and people are still dying, people are still experiencing hate daily, people are still having opportunities taken away from the and people are still living in fear because of the colour of the skin. We need to move past fear and become activists.