Rebecca ParsonKonto zweryfikowane

But being an activist isn’t some hallowed circle of uniquely brave and talented people. To be an activist, you just have to stand up when you see injustice. My journey to become an activist began in a terribly mundane way. I was just sitting on a bus.

It was November 2014, and the bus had stopped. I wasn’t in a rush, and my book was great, so I didn’t notice we’d stopped until I heard other people complaining about the BLM protesters. I got off the bus and joined the protesters that night. And the next night. And the next.

Soon, I was organizing alongside those organizers, and before I knew it, I was doing it on my own. There was no big moment where great wisdom was imparted to me. I just sort of kept putting one foot in front of the other and my feet kept finding ground.

So what I've learned from this is that we’re all potential activists? Some of us just haven’t heeded the call yet. You. Your friends. They could all be activists. The first step is showing up. If you don’t see a space that suits you, make one. You'll have to make a lot of spaces.

Especially if you don't belong. If you're young. If you're a woman. If you're not white. People will just subconsciously (or consciously) think you don't belong there. But just remember. One foot forward; keep moving, whoever you are. I'm just some loud-mouthed black kid from LA.

So yeah just like get out there and be an activist, be somebody who's engaged in politics. Knock doors for a candidate. Or textbank. And if you don't know where to start? I recommend a progressive training (like Movement School). You'll learn things and you'll meet people.