Road Map for Revolutionaries: Resistance, Activism, and Advocacy for All

by Elisa Camahort Page, Carolyn Gerin, Jamia Wilson

Overview

A handbook for effective activism, advocacy, and social justice for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Are you ready to take action and make your voice heard, but don't know how to go about it? This hands-on, hit-the-ground-running guide delivers lessons on practical tactics for navigating and protecting one's personal democracy in a gridlocked, heavily surveilled, and politically volatile country. If you want to start making a difference but don’t know what to do next, Road Map for Revolutionaries provides the resources needed to help you feel safer, more empowered, invested in, and intrinsic to the American experiment. The book addresses timely topics such as staying safe at protests, supporting marginalized communities, online privacy, and how to keep up the fight for the long term, breaking down key issues and outlining action steps for local, state, and federal levels of government.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780399581649
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	09/18/2018
Pages:	208
Product dimensions:	6.51(w) x 8.49(h) x 0.52(d)

About the Author

ELISA CAMAHORT PAGE, one of the early advocates for social media as a communications and marketing tool, cofounded the pioneering women's media company BlogHer. As part of the founding team, Camahort Page was recognized by Fortune, Forbes, and Fast Company, among others. CAROLYN GERIN is the creator/art director of the best-selling "Anti-Bride" series from Chronicle Books. She leads Cannawise.co, a strategic branding firm for companies in the B2B and B2C cannabis industry. JAMIA WILSON is the director of the Feminist Press. Wilson has contributed to the New York Times, Today, CNN, and more. She is the author of Young, Gifted, and Black and wrote the oral history in Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World.

Read an Excerpt

From the Introduction

"I’m scared. Can you help me?"

This is one of the jarring questions we’ve fielded again and again, day in and day out, from friends, family, and coworkers since Inauguration Day 2017. After the 2016 election of Donald Trump, we too were afraid of threats to our freedom (and that of our neighbors), but we wanted to move as quickly as possible from states of fear and outrage to those of action.

In rapid response to the anxiety surrounding those Election Day results, we decided to do something about it—by creating a tactical field guide to understanding, using, and defending the rights we have and to fighting for the justice that we still need to achieve. We are writers, creatives, and community builders, and we’ve reached out to activists, journalists, artists, public servants, and business leaders to help create and share this resource for all of you who want to make a difference in whatever way you can.

"I’m angry. How can I channel that into something positive?"

The majority of us are affected by discriminatory travel bans, attacks on reproductive freedom and sexual orientation, barriers to education and free expression, and economic anxiety about jobs, health care, and student loans. Still, this road map isn’t just about being against a particular political policy or position. Nope. Instead, we’re on a mission to demonstrate how to be for something, by getting more engaged in our communities, seeing and measuring progress, and protecting our rights and liberties every day (not just every four years). We believe in the power of the people, and that the adage about safety in numbers applies. A group of passionate citizens making their concerns known at a town hall meeting can move lawmakers from apathy to action quickly (if only out of self-­preservation).

"I’m overwhelmed. Where do I start?"

Whatever time you have to engage is enough to make a difference. We’ll show you how to be an effective advocate and make it count! You may already be an activist (or a slacktivist—no judgment here; doing anything is better than doing nothing at all!). If you can be a changemaker while saving time, you’re an effective revolutionary—and you’re in good company.

So, let’s go!

You want to make positive change, pro­tect your community, and take back your power (starting with your hometown), right? The sky isn’t falling (yet); but if it were, wouldn’t you rather be out there finding a solution instead of hiding under your bed?

We know that Rome wasn’t built in a day and that tactics must be coupled with strategy and community building to form culture-­shifting movements. But being proactive rather than reactive to the daily revelations of this truth-­is-­stranger-­than-­fiction world is a good position from which to start. Collaboration, consensus, and shared ideals are critical to turning ideas into action. Creat­­ing micromovements, tracking results, correcting course, and consistently building on successes that lead to tangible results are game-­changing tactics. We aim to help you figure out what you want to do—and how to do it.

Is it possible to make change and still get your kid to school on time (with ten minutes to spare before the board meeting)? It is if you know where to begin. And we have your road map right here.

The Road Map

In the pages ahead, this simple-­to-­follow, boots-­on-­the-­ground, open-­anywhere guidebook delivers practical tactics for navigating, affecting, and protecting your own personal democracy in a gridlocked, heavily surveilled, and politically volatile United States. With infographics, links to resources and communities, and words of wisdom from people already fighting the good fight, this guidebook is meant to be used and abused. It’s designed to move you from idea to action to part-­time revolution in a quick, efficient, and effective manner.

What Will You Do?

Run for local office? Create a statewide ballot initiative? Legalize cannabis in your state? Change your company’s family leave policies or your college’s sexual assault policies? Institutions in this country may seem impenetrable, but in this field guide we share stories, resources, and tactics from the pros who know what to do at every level.

So let’s get to it: We’ve got a revolution to attend to and we can’t make change without you!

Table of Contents

Foreword xi

Introduction 1

1 Protests And Civil Disobedience 5

Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know 8

Learn Your Rights: The Constitution and Protests 10

How to Use Social Media to Raise Awareness, Consciousness, and Funding 11

Why Marches and Protests Matter 18

Revolutionary Organizer: Patrisse Cullors 20

Ally-Supported Movements 22

Revolutionary Healer: Dr. Tara Sood 27

Self-Care for Protestors 31

What to Do If Teargassed 32

Getting Arrested: How to Deal with Law Enforcement, Police, Immigration Agents, or FBI Encounters 33

Takeaways and Resources 38

2 Protecting Yourself Online And Off 41

Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know 44

Learn Your Rights: The Constitution and Search, Seizure, Surveillance 46

Digital Security at Home, On the Go, and Abroad 47

Protecting Yourself in the United States as a Noncitizen 52

Paranoia 101: What to Really Worry About 54

Terms of Service and Privacy Policies: Where Your Data Goes 57

How to Set Up Your Kids or Parents to Give You Access but Protect Them from Surveillance 61

Takeaways and Resources 64

3 Economic Pressure 67

Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know 69

Boycotts, Buycotts, Divestments: Spending Your Money Wisely 70

Case Study: Taking Down an Oppressor-The Bill O'Reilly Timeline 74

What Shareholders Can Do 76

Where You Work: Company Policies and How to Advocate for Change 79

Case Study: Improving a Women's Company's Health-Care Coverage 85

Takeaways and Resources 88

4 Getting Into (And Out Of) The Government 91

Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know 94

A Local, Stare, and Federal Government Org Chart 96

What Political Parties Do versus What Government Does 97

Revolutionary Candidate Catalyst: Erin Vilardi 101

From the Mouths of Local Officials: Election Know-How 103

How to Embed Yourself in Your Local Political Party 112

Making a Third Party Viable 114

Whaf Would It Take to Reform the Electoral College? 116

How to Protect Your, and Other People's, Vote 120

How to Meet, Lobby, and Influence Representatives 123

Takeaways and Resources 126

5 Reform School: Reforming Other Institutions In Our Lives 129

Field Notes: Terms and Concepts to Know 131

Reforming the Media 132

How to Vet a Media Source 132

Escape Your Media Bubble 135

From the Mouths of Media-Makers: Navigating the Media Landscape 136

Revolutionary Millennial Media Mogul: Tavi Gevinson 141

Reforming through Nonprofit or Advocacy Groups 143

Nonprofit and Advocacy Group Founder Wisdom 143

Art and Advocacy: Embracing Creative Activism as a Career 150

How to Make the Most of Online Petitions 154

From the Mouths of Organizers: Building Sustainable Grassroots Organizations 156

Reforming the Education System 163

Influencing and Improving Campus Sexual Assault Policies 163

Learn Your Rights: The Constitution and Free Speech on Campus, and Other Issues 168

Revolutionary Educator: Kelly Wickham Hurst 170

How to Push Back on Unfair Dress Codes 173

Reforming Your Health-Care Rights 176

How to Fight for Your Reproductive Rights 176

How to Get Contraception Affordably 179

Revolutionary Transgender Rights Activist: Bri Barnett 182

Getting Access to Disability Services and Support 185

Takeaways and Resources 189

Acknowledgments 191

Index 192

Editorial Reviews

"Road Map for Revolutionaries answers all the questions you were afraid to ask, plus some you never thought of. It's portable, requires no batteries or electricity, and was created by three smart women. I recommend it!"
—Gloria Steinem, activist and writer

"As we look around and see this troubling rise of violence, intolerance, and injustice, in our world, many people want to play a more active role in solving these problems. The biggest issue is most of us do not know how. Thankfully, these three brilliant and bad-ass women wrote the book we have been waiting for. Road Map for Revolutionaries is a powerful step by step guide that shows us how to move from outrage to action in ways that lead to sustainable impact and change. If you are ready to change the world right now, read this book and go get to work.”
—Bobby Jones, CMO of PeaceFirst and author of Good is the New Cool

“What a necessary and timely project. I want to buy two more copies immediately to share with my two sons. It is awesome.”
—Ricki Lake, talk show host, actor, and activist

"In one sentence I felt empowered. 'Courage is contagious, and when everyday revolutionaries speak out and come together in solidarity, our mighty power expands exponentially.' Road Map for Revolutionaries gives step-by-step instructions on how to cultivate this courage, what to look for and why it matters."
—Carla Hall, chef and author

"Road Map For Revolutionaries will become THE tool in your toolbox that is irreplaceable in today’s world where advocacy and activism are daily essentials. This new book co-authored by three brilliant women gives you the perfect template for supporting your chosen causes when you have run out of ideas of what more can you do. For young and mature audiences alike, you will want to buy for all those you care about."
—Susan McPherson, founder of McPherson Strategies, a social impact-focused communications consultancy

"Being an ally is one of the most important aspects of my life. Social Justice has never been an easy thing to fight for, but it has gotten exponentially harder since 2016. It's so easy to become overwhelmed. This guide helps me feel empowered, and makes positive change seem less daunting. As a single mother of a cisgender, white, most likely straight male, my job as an ally has become that much more important. Not only do I feel the responsibility to stand up for and behind marginalized people, but I also have to teach my son how to do the same. Mostly my role as a parent seems to be to unteach him the lessons he learns out in the world every day. Our culture tells him wherever he looks that he has more rights and privileges than almost every other group. Road Map for Revolutionaries provides an excellent jumping off point for me to better understand and explain our positions and responsibilities in our culture and gives me practical steps for getting us both involved in making the world a better place."
—Daisy Eagan, actor, writer, activist

“The revolution must be financed. By definition, the system being fought against is much more lucrative than you, the angry mass(es). Chapter 3 lays out a step by step process for direct action with the sharpest spear, the dollar. This misunderstanding of your own financial power is the quickest way toward defeat in today's point and click protests. The backbone of the western world is money. History shows us that all of the rebels and revolutionaries began with securing money first. From Christopher Columbus and George Washington, to Fidel Castro and even Isis, they all started with capital. Money equating to power has been a close value to me throughout my life from firsthand experience. My mother shut down a lunch counter with fellow students active in SNCC. I am happy to see this comprehensive roadmap to aid the next generation who are, unfortunately, facing some of the same injustices past generations had to combat. "
—Chef Ayindè, actor, entrepreneur, president of I Eat Grass, LLC

"What a timely book this is, especifically for this new majority of multicultural and intersectional millennial and Gen Z generations, who care so much about democracy, equality, representation and access, but many times don’t know were to start or what they can do to contribute to make our country a better place. Donating money, signing potions and attending marches are all very important, but this book gives readers so many other examples of how everyone can make a difference, even teenagers, from the comfort of their phone! 
—Beatriz Acevedo, President, Acevedo Foundation and founder, mitú, Inc.

“If you’re eager to make a difference but don’t know where to start, this handbook is a must.”
—Mashable

“The fury and rage here is in motion, fueling rallies and protests, giving rise to specific causes of liberation. This is a new-to-organizing handbook, though even veteran activists will appreciate its detailed and efficient assessments about how to tackle seemingly insurmountable, complex and complicated issues. … In a world overrun with think pieces published hours after the most recent breakdown of democracy, Road Map is a lucid, refreshing, and concise guide that astutely demonstrates how to transform rage into productive, long-term resistance.”
—Rewire

From the Publisher