Freedom is a Constant Struggle

Praxis

Davis provides many lessons and ways of thinking that we can adopt in our own lives and progressive organizing.

This section will give you a set of questions for you to reflect upon alone or discuss with others to help you put Davis’ ideas into practice.

1. Think about the organizations or movements you associate yourself with. How have you shown up for this beyond attending mass mobilization efforts? What opportunities exist for you to do more day-to-day work that can sustain this movement?

2. Do you have a historical figure who you idolize? If so, why do you idolize them and has Davis’ writing made you reflect on this idolizing? Do some research into the people and collective movements behind or central to this historical figure’s work.

3. So much history about collective struggle is overlooked in history. Vox Media has dedicated a YouTube series called Missing Chapter that focuses on such overlooked struggles. Look through one or two of their videos and do more research on a topic that particularly interests you.

4. Reflect on how you learned about the Civil Rights movement and the Black Panther Party. If you feel that you did not receive a comprehensive education on these topics, block out a moment of your week where you will dive into these subjects in more depth.

5. How can you be inspired by the Black radical tradition in your life and your organizing?

6. Davis stresses the importance of global solidarity across movements against racism, colonialism, and repressive regimes. Take a look at the foreign news section of a trusted newspaper. What current events worldwide are going on right now and how can you connect them with the struggle for Black liberation and justice? 

7. What do you or do you not know about the Israel-Palestine conflict? Take time out of your week to fill out any gaps in knowledge you might have, but also acknowledge that you need not be an expert on the subject to stand by Palestinians. Also, take time out of your day to identify who organizations around you are or are not including freedom for Palestine in their organizing.

8. Apply the feminist methodology to an issue of interest to you. If, for example, you choose climate change, what can you learn about climate change by looking at the experience of young women in the Global South?