In the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe, there is an urgent and understandable impulse to get involved. Some of you are realizing what organizers from marginalized communities have been saying all along: They’re coming for all of us. As the Times Editorial Board points out, they won’t stop at abortion (Former VP Mike Pence is already calling for a national ban): While voting restrictions are well underway, contraception, gay marriage, the right of consenting adults to do whatever they want in their own homes are all in their sights. But before you run off to start some kind of action-oriented organization or insert yourself into an existing one, it’s worth taking a breath.
First, remember that there are a LOT of people who’ve been organizing around all kinds of issues–reproductive health; prison abolition; racial and environmental justice, etc.–for years. Find out who they are and what work they’ve been doing. Likewise, their work is influencing, and has most likely been influenced by, a lot of scholarship and critical thinking. Take some time to read and learn what’s been mulled over long before you decided to show up at a meeting with your feelings and opinions.
Make sure you going into these spaces with humility. You’re not going to “lead” anything. You’re not going to speak for anyone. Not initially, and maybe not for a long time. Resign yourself to doing the grunt work. It’s as much about letting people get to know you as it is about you getting to know them and the ins-and-outs of the organization/collective you’re joining.
Be clear: This is about you earning the trust and respect of those who’ve been doing the work for a while. This is going to be hard for some of you who’ve achieved positions of respect in other areas. Be prepared.
No, you won’t get a gold star because you showed up for the first time today. Remember: You’re the newest person in the room, which means you’ll be the lowest person on the totem pole. It’s not because you’re white or a man or otherwise privileged. It’s because, when it comes to movement spaces, you’re most likely to have the least amount of practical, real-world experience in advancing the agenda. You can absolutely gain that experience, but be prepared for it to take time.
Now, go out there and be a good ally.
