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Throughout history, there have been many different of activist groups and movements that have had varying success. In class, the examples of the Populists and the Progressives were discussed, with the former being a failure. Nevertheless, it is possible to learn from both, either not to repeat the mistakes made by the Populists, or to model the tactics used by the Progressives. Therefore, some general advice that I would give to a modern activist group would be using media and publicity to their advantage, being inclusive, and educating the masses on the issues.
Firstly, it is vital, especially in the highly digitized and interconnected world of today, to use media to one’s advantage. The accessibility of mass media – via the Internet, radio, and TV, as well as paper media – makes it possible for billions of people to be reached almost immediately. The Progressives used cartoons in order to appeal to the less literate and those otherwise disinterested in politics and social change. Nowadays, using “memes,” the modern equivalents of the cartoons from the last century, would be advisable.
Secondly, excluding a particular group from the movement can be divisive, leading to decreased support. For example, the Populists of the North and the South were divided over whether Black citizens should be included in the activist group and whether they should have a voice. Therefore, not only were the Black votes that could have been extremely useful not utilized, but the support of those that agreed with the movement but not with this sentiment was lost. Likewise, the movements today that strive for equality or rights cannot afford to be hypocritical and exclude certain groups from their statements.
Lastly, I would advise the activist group to both know its target demographic and to educate the masses. It is not enough to grab the attention of individuals with cartoons and loud public statements since once the novelty disappears people will forget about the issue at hand. Therefore, just like the Progressives used “muckracking” to draw attention to and educate the masses on the issues that they were advocating for, it is necessary to provide elaborate information. When people are not only aware of the issues’ existence but understand the extent of them, they are more likely to welcome and facilitate changes.
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