Want to fight against oppression?
Sen. Cory Booker shows us how.
As I write this, I've been watching C-SPAN coverage of Sen. Booker's "filibuster" (okay, not technically a filibuster, but it shares that spirit) for 6 hours straight.
He's now in the 20th hour of a nearly non-stop speech on the Senate floor in protest of Trump's agenda.
As I'm listening, I'm feeling something I've not felt much since Election Day — hope.
Most especially at this incredibly powerful part of his speech (that happened around the 2:30 pm ET mark):
"Fear is a necessary pre-condition to courage...
Now is the time to get angry, but let that anger fuel you. Now is your time to get scared for what is happening to your neighbors, and let that fear bring about your courage. Now is your time is to stare at despair and say 'you will not have the last word' because I'm going to stand up and give at least one person hope in this country...
What do I want from my fellow Americans? Do better than me. Do better than we in this body."
Where has this energy been from the Democratic leadership for the last 71 days? Thankfully, Booker is bringing it now, and let's hope it continues and expands.
Why am I writing to you about Booker? Because he is not only fighting for America, he's also teaching all of us some valuable lessons about activism that even we business owners can use.
[A big hat-tip to Paige Worthy for inspiring me with her email today about how Booker's speech relates to marketing.]
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Be a better entrepreneur activist
There is a lot to learn from the courage and conviction of Sen. Booker today. As business owners who give a shit, I hope we
- Make a choice. Fighting oppression isn't a passive activity. It's not enough to sit on the sidelines, and wait for others to do the work. We must choose to get involved, choose to use our voices and platforms, choose to do it even when it's difficult (like standing and talking for 20+ hours straight).
- Make a plan. None of us can do it all. Some of us are best suited to picket, others to bring water to the picketers, others to represent those arrested in court (or, in Booker's case, to inspire others to do those things). Complete the "Social Change Now" workbook from Deepa Iyer to determine your role/s, then get in the fight.
- Repeat yourself. In a fight this big and important, it's not enough to post once on social media. We need as many voices as possible repeatedly driving home the change we wish to see. Research shows that people must hear something 7+ times before taking action. That's true with our marketing, and also with our activism.
- Honor your heroes. Recognizing those who fought for equity before us is vital to building on their work and achieving lasting change. Booker has thanked those who fought at Seneca Falls, Selma, Stonewall and more. Learn your history, and teach it to others (this is so important as the authoritarian state tries to erase and re-write our history).
- Lean on your friends. Activism isn’t a solo act. We need co-conspirators to step in when we’re tired, remind us what we’re fighting for, and hand us the next talking point when our minds go blank. Booker's fellow Dems are asking him questions to support his efforts. Build your crew because no one sustains this kind of work alone.
We don’t need to be senators giving 20-hour speeches to make an impact—but we do need to show the fuck up. In our businesses. In our marketing. In our communities. In whatever ways are available to us, with the capacity we have.
So let’s get clear on our roles, lift each other up, and keep going.
It’s time to match our outrage with action. Let’s take a cue from Sen. Cory Booker and be the kind of leaders—and humans—who give people hope.