What It Means To Be An Activist

Back in September, I described an activist as a person who openly and actively advocates against an injustice in our society, whether it be social, political, or economical. Since September, my understanding of what an activist and what social justice, equity, and community organizing are has expanded drastically. Yes, an activist is all the things I mentioned before, but an activist is also someone who works tirelessly and puts all they have into a cause that goes against the common opinion in a society where the big and powerful corporations tend to get what works best for them. An activist keeps going and fighting for what they know to be their truth, even when the odds are not often on their side. However, being an activist and doing community organizing also means finding and being a part of a larger community of like minded thinkers who help and support you to work towards a solution together. These people become a sort of family to you. You are with each other through bad situations, but you also get to celebrate huge triumphs with them. You find people you can count on to support you and listen to you, even if they don't always agree – because not everyone agrees all the time – but you still respect one another. Being a part of a
Through reading I’ve discovered the pro-woman line, which I try to implement in my everyday life because I feel that it is the first step in achieving everything I mentioned before. I have learned more about rape culture and the specifics of how it operates and affects people, which is something I was interested in before and now I have more information on so I am able to critically analyze and think of solutions for situations in which rape culture is present and affecting. This class and collective has allowed me to really consider and tweak what I value and believe, which is something I and grateful for and would never take advantage