BLACKtionary
In this section, we will offer definitions of commonly used organizing terms like “base-building.”
the action of putting an end to a system, practice, or institution
refers to one person’s ability and willingness to report back to the group and/or the community the group represents on actions they have taken, things they have done or not done, or things they have said, to take ownership of the consequence or outcomes of their action, positive and negative, learn from mistakes, make amends as needed, and change their behavior in the future.
a person who campaigns to bring about political/social change A person who intentionally acts to bring about civic, cultural, economic, political, or social change. This person’s actions support or oppose one side of a controversial argument. Activism may refer to a variety of actions, including protest, writing letters to politicians, participating in rallies and street marches, and many other tactics to bring about change that promotes and protects human rights.
a person from a dominant group who recognizes the systemic dynamics of privilege and marginalization. An ally will take responsibility for their unearned privilege, support non-dominant groups in their struggle for liberation, and leverage their personal power in service of that struggle
A political ideology which aims at or advocates the ownership and democratic control of the means of production, by workers or the community as a whole, and their administration or distribution in the interests of all, encompassing a variety of attitudes, behaviors, and ideas that oppose capitalism.
anything built or serving to bar passage, as a railing, fence, that prevents access
identifying and developing leaders in your base who can be moved to take action for a common self-interest.
an economic system in which investment in and ownership of the means of production, distribution, and exchange of wealth is made and maintained chiefly by private individuals or corporations, especially as contrasted to cooperatively or state-owned means of wealth
a secret action undertaken to influence the course of political events
tactics undertaken by people to escalate a crisis and demonstrate a need for change. Ex: picketing, work slowdowns, strikes, occupation of buildings, and marches
All the people in a political jurisdiction who are entitled to vote in an election (Source: United States Election Commission - Glossaries of Election Terminology).
organizing that is focused on building people and economic power to achieve a shared purpose that is guided by a north star, by bringing people together who have a shared self interest, developing their leadership, and fighting for change at the root of the problem.
organizing that focuses on influencing individuals and organizations who have decision-making power, like advocacy and lobbying. Grasstops organizing includes the mobilization/support of the people being served/advocated for and nurturing relationships with politicians of influence and people with power. The focus is on getting high-profile individuals to take action in support of a cause.
Kimberlé Crenshaw theory that the overlap of various social identities, as race, gender, sexuality, and class, contributes to the specific type of systemic oppression and discrimination experienced by an individual Intersectionality paradigm is a framework coined by academics. Intersectionality is the study of overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression examine how various biological, social, and cultural categories such as gender, race, class, ability, sexual orientation, religion, caste, age, nationality, and other sectarian axes of identity interact on multiple and often simultaneous levels.
Working to influence elected officials to vote according to the group’s self interest, through conversations with those officials
loosely organized social effort by a large group of people to achieve a particular goal, typically a social or political one. This may be to carry out a social change, or to resist or undo one. It is a type of group action and may involve individuals, organizations, or both
a broad act of using skills or resources to help/aid someone due to a common/mutual interest
a person who identifies and develops leaders into a base ready to take action to achieve a common self-interest.”
an expression/declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent, to prevent or avoid
A referendum is a direct vote by the electorate on a proposal, law, or political issue. This is in contrast to an issue being voted on by a representative (Source: Wikipedia).
a noisy, violent public disorder caused by a group or crowd of persons, as by a crowd protesting against another group, a government policy, etc., in the streets, a disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons acting together in a disrupting and tumultuous manner in carrying out their private purposes.
the ability to be maintained at a certain rate or level. avoidance of the depletion
a series of practices and philosophies designed to respond to violence and harm in a way that doesn’t create more violence and harm; cultivates healing, accountability, resilience, and safety for all; and works to transform the conditions that allowed the violence or harm.
describes emotional bonds with an individual that arise from a recurring, cyclical pattern of abuse perpetrated by intermittent reinforcement through rewards and punishments.
the misbelief, theory, or doctrine that white people are inherently superior to people from all other racial and ethnic groups, especially Black people, and are therefore rightfully the dominant group in any society
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