I am curious about this collective energy
which seems to be flowing through history, in waves. It seems like heightened energy regarding
African American Activism sparks up at pivotal moments in history. This isn’t to say black Americans are ever not struggling in parts of United States
history, but effective activism requires collective effort, which our readings have pointed to throughout the semester. I am seeing a theme of collective energies, and crushing blows to
progress can have a twofold effect. On
one hand, this might stifle hope, or this might spark a newer energy. Sustained continual progress is unreal,
African American Activism has faced victories and defeats, yet each wave of
energy, while not achieving its ultimate goal, plants the seeds for later
generations to pick up where they left off.
In Memphis we have seen the crushing blow of King’s assassination result
in a collective exhaustion, yet there seems to be a revival of the energy of
the civil rights movement through the #BlackLivesMatter movement.
In what ways are the collective
energies of activism bolstered or dismantled? Do activist energies burn out, have dormant
phases, or shift areas?
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