The events of the past few years — including the gruesome murder of George Floyd and the many human rights rollbacks enacted by the previous administration — have made it clear that we all have a responsibility to stand up for racial and social justice.
Many of us feel strongly about human rights issues and social inequities, but are reluctant to take action. Much of this reluctance stems simply from feeling uninformed or not knowing where to start. Fear of conflict or fear of appearing divisive is also common — especially among those who were raised in an environment in which politeness was valued above all else. However, staying silent and appearing neutral perpetuates a status quo that can be harmful and oppressive to many people.
As Bishop Desmond Tutu said,
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
Here’s how you can take steps toward being an effective public advocate, even if you don’t typically consider yourself an activist.
What is advocacy?
Merriam-Webster defines advocacy as “the act or process of supporting a cause or proposal.”
Taking it a step further, the YWCA calls advocacy “work done on behalf of those most negatively affected by a specific policy or practice.”
Advocacy can take many forms, and can be carried out by anyone. You don’t need to be affiliated with a group or organization to be an advocate — although in many cases, it can help. When you call your elected officials to voice support of a proposed bill, you are being an advocate. When you post educational content on social media and encourage others to take action, you are being an advocate.
We practice advocacy anytime we use our personal power and our networks to bring awareness to an issue and empower others to take action.
In today’s charged political climate, there is no shortage of issues to advocate for. Systemic racism, immigration reform, LGBTQ rights, food insecurity, healthcare inequity, reproductive rights, common sense gun laws, criminal justice reform — the list of worthy causes is endless.
Advocacy vs. activism
Are advocacy and activism the same thing? Advocacy and activism are closely related, but are generally viewed as two different things. Activism is action oriented, and involves working on the front lines of a movement. Forms of activism include demonstrations, protests, boycotts, strikes, petitions, and even social media campaigns.
Advocacy, on the other hand, is more people oriented. It requires listening to the needs of those most affected by an issue. Advocacy typically involves working within the system, in the form of contacting elected officials or using your own platform to amplify the voices of others who are at the forefront. Some forms of activism, such as attending a protest or signing a petition, can also fall under advocacy.
Both advocacy and activism are needed to promote change.
Barriers to effective advocacy
Even though you may feel strongly about social justice issues, it’s common to be held back by feelings of ineffectiveness or inadequacy. It’s important to remember that even small actions can make a difference.
Some of the barriers that keep people from engaging in advocacy include:
- A perceived lack of knowledge or expertise
- Not knowing where to start
- Fear of conflict
- Lack of resources
- Feeling like you can’t make a difference
How to overcome barriers to advocacy
1. Educate yourself
If you feel that you aren’t knowledgeable enough about an issue to lend your support, set aside time to learn. Choose one issue to focus on. While you can certainly speak up on as many causes as you like and sign any online petitions that come your way, focusing on one issue that’s close to your heart will help you stay motivated and be a more effective advocate.
There’s always more to learn, so don’t let a lack of knowledge stop you from speaking up when you know something is wrong. Read books on the subject, and follow experts on social media. Remember to always follow the lead of those directly affected by any kind of injustice.
Resist the temptation to ask those directly affected to educate you. They are already dealing with the burden of injustice and discrimination, and educating others creates additional emotional labor. Do your own research. If you see someone speaking out on an issue, it’s usually fine to ask follow-up questions, but make sure you aren’t asking them to do too much work on your behalf.
It may help to narrow your focus to a specific issue. For example, there’s a lot to learn about racial justice. Pick one area to serve as your starting point, such as police brutality, housing discrimination, employment barriers, or healthcare disparities. What you learn about one piece of the system will often relate to other pieces.
2. Start small and find your voice
Find small ways to act, even if it’s sharing someone else’s social media post or telling family members what you have learned. You may not want to bring up a political topic out of fear of starting an argument, but it’s worthwhile to share your informed opinion. Understanding others and finding common ground requires honest communication. If someone becomes defensive or contentious, you have the right to say you are not comfortable continuing the conversation.
You can’t always change someone’s mind, but sometimes that isn’t the point. You might never be able to sway your homophobic uncle, but if your gender fluid cousin overhears the conversation, they’ll know they can consider you an ally.
3. Examine the spaces where you hold influence
If you feel that you can’t make a difference, look at the spaces where you hold influence, such as your friend group or your workplace. If you’re white, speak up when you see racial discrimination or microaggressions in your workplace. Talk to your friends about holding each other accountable and calling each other in when someone uses discriminatory language.
4. Join a group or organization
You don’t have to do it all on your own. Find a network of advocates you can rely on for fact-based information and support. (We like the Episcopal Public Policy Network, which sends out action alerts on a variety of issues.) If possible, find a local organization you can join and attend meetings so that you can build relationships with others you can work with and learn from.
To learn more about being an effective public advocate, download our free guide, 6 easy ways to be a faith-based public advocate right now.
