A drunken walk into Activism

July 13 2024 – 11:00AM

It is fair to say that I embody the concept of a "passive activist," albeit an unconventional term. While I have never pursued a political career or considered myself an ardent voter, my worldview and beliefs are undeniably influenced by a commitment to social justice and equity.

I have recently gained insight into the fact that much of my work in innovation and facilitating change, through technology and other means, can be considered a form of activism. Much of the insight generation came about when a friend recently inquired as to why I was not participating in the ongoing street protests in Nairobi.

I must have instinctively responded that I may not be "that kind of activist." This realization came with a reflection of the different modes of activism that exist, and which of those I might be ascribed to. My general feeling is that activism isn't something we have to intentionally engage with, or has to be in tandem with separate social justice movements. It is and can be a thing on it's own. Neither is it to be confused with wokeness, which is a deeper sense of empathy for those marginalized in society, and isn't necessarily a form of action.

I am genuinely captivated by the innovative ways that activists across the globe and throughout history have expressed their dissent, advocated for change, served as catalysts for transformation, and brought attention to their respective causes, experiencing both successes and failures in the process.

I draw inspiration from both local and global figures who have made significant impacts in their respective fields: In my personal journey, the work and writings of Wangari Maathai have been instrumental in shaping my life mission. On a broader scale, I am an avid student of Marshall Ganz, renowned for his role in crafting Barack Obama's groundbreaking grassroots movement that propelled the Democrats to victory in the United States. Ganz's concepts of Public Narrative, Collective Action, and Power serve as the foundation for my approach to fostering inclusive innovations within public health in Kenya. Last year, a visit to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta left me deeply moved by the history of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthplace and the origins of the modern Civil Rights Movement.

Closer to home, an astonishing revelation came to light when I discovered my family's connection to freedom fighting history: My father's uncle is depicted alongside President Kenyatta in the famous photograph commemorating their association with the Mau Mau resistance movement. Growing up in Meru, I would often hear tales of the Mau Mau rebellion and rumors about undetonated bombs buried beneath playgrounds where my friends and I would play. However, these stories initially did not resonate as personal history but rather as lessons from a distant past.

Generally, my interest in art, exhibitions, and installations may be rooted in the powerful expressions of activism found across various artistic mediums. I believe that art serves as a potent tool for activism, alongside literature, movies, music, and documentaries, each playing a crucial role in shaping public consciousness and driving social change.

As I share jokes with my writer friend, who I believe writes so powerfully because she embodies activism in her core, she reminds me that my diverse political perspectives have always struck her as inherently activist in nature. It is fair to say that I embody the concept of a "passive activist," albeit an unconventional term. While I have never pursued a political career or considered myself an ardent voter, my worldview and beliefs are undeniably influenced by a commitment to social justice and equity.

Shifting away from a direct activist discourse, we are a generation forged by various cultural creative movements. As an early millennial, I am conscious of ongoing leadership changes with more peers ascending into leadership positions. A transition that comes with unique difficulties given the challenges of navigating a crucial liminal stage. I can't help but think of what is expected of me. 

This is why:

  1. I have decided to reignite my long-standing teaching focus on ethical practices in data and innovation, and morph it towards an activist brand archetype. Before, the workshop focused more on pedagogy, now it will be organizing and mobilizing many others to support the mission. I will be sharing more in the coming months.
  2. I have enrolled in a brief Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) on EDX called "Unpacking Activism." This course offers an engaging mix of activist language exploration, analyzes current movements, explores our own identities and positions within various forms of activism, and develops skills to engage with and contribute to activism. Through this course, I can unify the motivations behind my actions and have a more streamlined personal narrative.
  3. In retrospect, I now understand why the work of Adam Curtis, has long inspired me to think and act for a different world. Adam’s films are the gold standard if you are keen on the origins of the polycrises the world faces today. I highly recommend investing some time in watching them.
  4. My interests lean towards collective action and fostering positive futurism among the causes I care about. As you let this settle, riddle me this: does the idea of Dennis Maorwe, an Activist, resonates with you?

I believe I know why this matters to me now. Engaging in activism, passive or active, helps me come into terms with history, embrace probable alt-histories that have forged the present, and contemplate the future. This is a quest for a sense of personal freedom that accomodates the ideals of equity, justice, and well-being and makes them central to my being. Perhaps this is where my version of activism steeps from, and will continue to evolve from. Wish me luck.

Additional context

This article from Psyche explores why many protests fail and what successful activists do differently. It highlights that while protests have become more frequent, their success rates have dropped significantly. In the early 2000s, two-thirds of mass protests achieved their goals, but by the early 2020s, this had fallen to just one in six.

Key reasons for this decline include:

  1. Lack of organizational structure: Social media can quickly mobilize large crowds, but without strong networks and organizational structures, sustaining meaningful change is challenging. Effective movements have robust organizational structures and clear strategies.
  2. Smart repression: Governments use advanced techniques like censorship, propaganda, and misinformation to undermine protests. Strangely, Nonviolent campaigns are more than twice as effective as violent ones.
  3. Misguided strategies: Protesters often act impulsively, using tactics that backfire, such as violent actions or incendiary slogans.

In an interview with The Creative Independent, Adam Curtis discusses the complexities and potential pitfalls of self-expression. He argues that while self-expression is often seen as a form of political action, it can sometimes lead to conformity rather than genuine change. He highlights several key points:

  1. Historical Shift: The emphasis on self-expression as a form of political resistance emerged in the 1970s, following the collapse of the new left, or much of what is the politically leaning left. This shift was partly a response to the perceived ineffectiveness of traditional political activism.

  2. Conformity: Curtis suggests that self-expression has become so ubiquitous that it no longer serves as a radical or transformative act - which is quite an astonishing fact, that uproar is not necessary a transformative act. Instead, it has become a form of conformity, much like the uniformity seen in past eras.

  3. Art and Politics: While art can distill and describe the mood of a time, Curtis argues that it is not a substitute for political action. He believes that true political change requires more than just individual self-expression.

  4. New Perspectives: Curtis calls for a new way of looking at the world that goes beyond the current focus on self-expression. He suggests that future generations might view our current obsession with self-expression as a form of conformity.