Several years ago I was having a conversation with a friend of color about oppression and social justice when she said she liked how I wasn’t a “guilty white man.” This made me consider the differences between acting out of guilt vs. necessity in the context of social change. I later found what I believe to be the sweet spot of the motivation spectrum (for myself, at least): solidarity. In my experience guilt, necessity, and solidarity are the three main motivators for any sort of effort to change society. They do not overlap much because they depend greatly on the activist’s position in society.
Guilt, in my mind, is the weakest of the three motivators. Guilt is ultimately self-centered. It does not serve the needs of the victim but of the perpetrator. Let’s say my father used to be a Klansman (hypothetically), and I decided that once reaching adulthood and understanding the legacy I was inheriting that I would donate 15 percent of my salary to charities that served African Americans. This would not necessarily be serving the true needs of the victims because I never asked the victims what their needs were. I did not seek out the families that were directly harmed by my father, and I certainly didn’t engage in anti-racist work in my own family and larger community, which would prevent the rise of more Klansmen. I merely sent money to assuage my guilt.
I consider most wealthy philanthropists, who are careful not to rock the boat by pushing for sweeping changes to our country’s political system, to be motivated by guilt. Simply put: donating to the ACLU (while important) because you are sorry that Trump was elected—but then going about your business—does not make you a revolutionary. It makes you a person motivated by guilt.
On the other hand, people from marginalized groups generally engage in activism for social change out of necessity. For example, marriage would still be illegal for same-sex couples throughout the United States if the LGBTQ community had not taken to the media, streets, courts, and capitols to change this. In order for their human rights to be acknowledged and protected by law, LGBTQ individuals had to act.
Most people from lower social stratum are not in a position to simply don a business suit and join the ranks of the privileged. They likely did not have to learn about racism, classicism, sexism, or any other –ism particular to their identity in college: they learned through experience. If they seek to live healthy, safe, and equitable lives, they are forced to organize or agitate in some way. They do not change causes like they change clothes—as some white progressives do. They do not have this luxury.
Solidarity, I would argue, is the proper role of the privileged in relation to the oppressed or the underprivileged. This is not an easy concept to explain. It must be felt by the privileged person on a deeper level than guilt—even though it likely begins with guilt. Those with privilege must ultimately understand that their personal suffering or forbearance does little to liberate those with less privilege. The privileged person must understand that there is an oppressive system at work that manipulates the oppressed and the oppressor alike and that the liberation of one is irrevocably tied to the liberation of the other. The goal of the privileged should not be to pull those who are marginalized up to their level (so to speak) but to challenge the foundation on which those levels rest. The latter is far more difficult than the former because it prefigures structural and cultural change. Pushing for social change is not an act of charity designed to make both parties feel a little better in the short term.
It does not take a careful observer to notice that solidarity is currently lacking at home and abroad. This must change if we are to create a more perfect union of humanity.
—
What’s Next? Talk with others. Take action.
We are proud of our SOCIAL INTEREST GROUPS—WEEKLY PHONE CALLS to discuss, gain insights, build communities— and help solve some of the most difficult challenges the world has today. Calls are for Members Only (although you can join the first call for free). Not yet a member of The Good Men Project? Join below!
RSVP for Intersectionality Calls
—
![]()
Join the Conscious Intersectionality FACEBOOK GROUP here. Includes our new call series on Human Rights.
Join The Good Men Project Community
All levels get to view The Good Men Project site AD-FREE. The $50 Platinum Level is an ALL-ACCESS PASS—join as many groups and classes as you want for the entire year. The $25 Gold Level gives you access to any ONE Social Interest Group and ONE Class–and other benefits listed below the form. Or…for $12, join as a Bronze Member and support our mission, and have a great ad-free viewing experience.
Register New Account
Please note: If you are already a writer/contributor at The Good Men Project, log in here before registering. (Request new password if needed).
◊♦◊
ANNUAL PLATINUM membership ($50 per year) includes:
1. AN ALL ACCESS PASS — Join ANY and ALL of our weekly calls, Social Interest Groups, classes, workshops and private Facebook groups. We have at least one group phone call or online class every day of the week.
2. See the website with no ads when logged in!
3. MEMBER commenting badge.
***
ANNUAL GOLD membership ($25 per year) includes all the benefits above — but only ONE Weekly Social Interest Group and ONE class.
***
ANNUAL BRONZE membership ($12 per year) is great if you are not ready to join the full conversation but want to support our mission anyway. You’ll still get a BRONZE commenting badge, and you can pop into any of our weekly Friday Calls with the Publisher when you have time. This is for people who believe—like we do—that this conversation about men and changing roles and goodness in the 21st century is one of the most important conversations you can have today.
♦◊♦
We have pioneered the largest worldwide conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. Your support of our work is inspiring and invaluable.
—
Shutterstock ID: 549051223
The post The Psychology of Activism appeared first on The Good Men Project.