Gladwell2010.NewYorker.Small_Change

Introduction

• Malcolm Gladwell's article discusses the dynamics of social activism in the context of historical events and modern social media.

The Sit-Ins of 1960

• Greensboro Sit-In: On February 1, 1960, four students from North Carolina A. & T. protested at Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, NC.

  • They were denied service because they were black, leading to a nonviolent protest.

  • Protest grew from 4 to 300 participants in just a few days, despite warnings and hostility.

  • The sit-in inspired further actions, spreading to various colleges and resulting in around 70,000 students participating across the South.

  • Activism was a response to a deeply entrenched social injustice, occurring before the rise of digital communication tools.

The Role of Social Media in Modern Activism

• Social Media's Influence: Modern platforms like Facebook and Twitter have revolutionized how activism is organized.

  • Events like Moldova's "Twitter Revolution" and student protests in Iran are highlighted as examples of social media's role in organizing protests.

  • Critics argue that social media activism lacks the depth and commitment required for high-risk activism, often relying on weak ties rather than strong personal connections.

High-Risk vs. Low-Risk Activism

• Key Distinction: High-risk activism entails a deeper personal commitment and often involves facing significant dangers.

  • Participants in high-risk actions, such as the Freedom Summer in Mississippi, often have strong personal ties with fellow activists.

  • Studies show that activists who are more connected personally are more likely to stay engaged in high-risk environments.

Social Structures

• Weak Ties vs. Strong Ties: Social networks foster weak ties, which can spread information but may lack the solidarity needed for serious activism.

  • Example: The case of Sameer Bhatia showcases how weak ties can mobilize support for low-risk actions like donor registrations, but do not parallel the sacrifices made by civil rights activists.

Historical Context of Activism

• Civil Rights Movement: The organized, strategic approach of activists in the 1960s was essential for the success of the civil rights movement.

  • Organizations like the N.A.A.C.P. played critical roles in mobilizing people and maintaining discipline during protests, contrasting with the unstructured nature of online activism today.

Limitations of Networks

• Challenges of Networked Activism: Networks are effective for spread but lack the strategic capacity required for organized resistance.

  • Successful high-risk activism relies on structured organizations that can handle logistics and maintain morale.

  • Historical examples such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott illustrate the necessity for centralized leadership to achieve systematic change.

Conclusion

• Social media, while powerful in many contexts, should not be seen as a complete substitute for the type of dedicated, high-risk activism that characterized the civil rights movement.

• Activism today needs to recognize the importance of strong personal ties and the need for strategic organization in the face of entrenched social issues.