Why You Can’t Build a Revolution on White People

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the fleeting and superficial nature of much of the activism and engagement with global issues, particularly among those who are not directly impacted by the issues. It explores how privilege, attention spans, and "main character syndrome" contribute to this phenomenon, and the challenges it poses for movements that rely heavily on the support of those not directly affected.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Fleeting Nature of Activism

1. What are the key points made about the fleeting nature of activism, particularly among those not directly impacted by the issues?

• The article argues that our engagement with global issues, especially those that don't directly affect us, is often very fleeting and superficial. We're quick to jump on the bandwagon of the latest cause célèbre, but our fervor tends to fade quickly.
• This pattern is particularly evident in movements that rely heavily on the support of those not directly impacted by the issue, such as the Pro-Palestine movement in Western countries.
• The article suggests that sustaining this level of engagement over the long term is incredibly difficult, especially for those who don't have a personal stake in the outcome.

2. What factors contribute to this fleeting nature of activism?

• The article cites several factors, including:
  • Our inherent self-centeredness and tendency to prioritize our own experiences and struggles
  • The privilege of being able to choose which causes to care about, without facing real consequences
  • The "disaster tourism" mentality, where we engage with issues temporarily and then move on
  • The amplification of this phenomenon by social media, leading to "hypetivism" and activism as personal branding

3. How does the concept of "main character syndrome" play a role in this dynamic?

• The article suggests that even when engaging with global issues, there is often an underlying current of "how does this reflect on me?" or "how can I use this to show that I'm a good person?" This can lead to a kind of performative activism that is more about the activist than the cause.

[02] Challenges for Movements Relying on External Support

1. What are the challenges faced by movements that rely heavily on the support of those not directly impacted by the issues?

• The article argues that these movements are in a precarious position, as the initial surge of support from Western voices is likely to wane over time as the news cycle moves on and people's attention is pulled in other directions.
• The challenge lies in finding ways to maintain engagement over the long haul, to turn that initial burst of passion into sustained, meaningful action.

2. How does the article suggest these movements can address this challenge?

• The article suggests a few potential approaches:
  • Focusing more on building sustainable, local movements rather than relying too heavily on global attention
  • Finding ways to make these issues more personally relevant to a wider audience
  • Accepting the ebb and flow of public attention as part of the process and learning to work with it rather than against it

3. What is the article's key message about the limitations of relying on the support of those not directly impacted?

• The article concludes that "building a revolution on white people just doesn't work" and that the real work, the sustained effort that leads to actual change, often happens in the quieter moments, long after the hashtags have stopped trending and the profile pictures have changed back.