How To Build A Movement - Alicia Garza
Nasty Women Page 225
Summary
This essay captures Garza's personal experience with joining a movement to march for what she believes in. Yet, Garza is unsure through her journey if marching in Washington for the Women's March is the best idea. She struggles with wanting to make a difference and while wanting to be a part of something she one hundred percent believes in. Do her beliefs line up with the white middle-class women marching Washington for women's rights? Garza decides to march and from this decision meets many women from various backgrounds. She highlights how these backgrounds are generally seen as dividers, but they can actually bond us together towards a group fight. Garza talks about how we can all have anger towards the mistreatment of groups that flows from the government, but anger is not enough. Anger can start the spark but it cannot keep the flame burning. She concludes that we can all have different backgrounds, but we can agree that we deserve change. To make a movement means to believe that we can and we will change to promote good. You must put your differences aside and fight to a goal that is bigger than yourself.
Response
The Women's March in Washington, D.C is an event that I was familiar with. I had heard news reports on the march and seen pictures of thousands of women all lined up together. Garza's experience with the march made me consider the event in a different way. I was under the impression that all these women were fighting for the same thing together as one. They all had a centered goal and believed oppression towards women was coming from one central enemy, but I was wrong. The one million women present that day in Washington did not all have the same views. They were not all from the same background, but Garza explains that having the same exact opinions is not the way to build a movement. A movement takes diversity. You must see every angle. A movement breaks down every barrier of class, race, and gender while uniting people who want to see change for everyone. The women's march was not held for only white middle-class women who want to be known for standing up for something good. The movement was made for everyone and needs everyone. The essay made me think about things I am passionate about and want to stand up for. I cannot be discouraged if the people standing alongside me are not one but like me because that is what we need, diversity for a difference.
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