Mutual Aid and Effective Social Movements: it's a MUST, not an option

Mutual aid has always been a cornerstone of broad-reaching, effective social movements. Generally speaking, social movements exist because some need in a community is not being met by the systems charged with fulfilling it. If everyone was content and had what they needed, the social movement would not exist.

Racial justice movements, such as Black Lives Matter, have vast networks of folks who show up for each other when a member of their community needs help. These networks did not appear THROUGH the Black Lives Matter movement; they were established through the pervasive racial oppression in our country. These communities have always relied on mutual aid because our systems are designed to restrict access to appropriate resources in these communities. Black communities have strong, embedded networks of folks who offer and exchange resources such as childcare, transportation, financial assistance, meals and more to ensure that other members of their communities can, not just survive, but thrive and overcome oppressive barriers. They understand that it takes a village.

Interestingly, mutual aid has also been a cornerstone of the MAGA movement. Shiloh Hendrix is a prime example of how that community pooled together to raise money for one of their own. We can wholly disagree with the motivation behind mutual aid in this context, but the reality is that THIS factor, the community factor, has been one of the most attractive elements of the MAGA movement for many people. If they subscribe to the beliefs and commit to the framework, the community stands behind them.

Mutual aid is THE element of social movements that creates cohesion and community through reciprocity and empathy. It is the glue of the community. It is how we show care, support, and solidarity. It is how we build unity.

I have noticed that the current anti-fascist movement seems less interested in embracing mutual aid, and rather, is focused on the political factors. They want a SYSTEM that meets the needs of society. I do, too. But the reality is that we do not have a system that meets those needs and never have.

Those engaged in political activism right now appear to be mainly white and mainly middle class. This is quite the privileged group. They likely have not faced many collective life experiences where they had to rely on mutual aid like food shelves, subsidized childcare, or crowdfunding efforts to pay rent or help with their mortgage. As a GROUP, white middle class folks do not understand economic or political oppression. The system has always worked for them, or at the very least, functioned enough that their lives felt relatively untouched by economic changes.

In short, this group, traditionally, has been able to rely on American democracy to show up for them. They have never NEEDED to rely on their community for their entire group’s survival. There is a lack of understanding of how, exactly, we are to exist under a system that oppresses the white middle class, and the solution appears to be begging the old system to return so as to simply avoid the fallout. But the fallout is coming and America is not ready.

These groups, while strategically organized for democratic activism, seem to lack the sense of deeply embedded community that is present in other social movements. They show up for their meetings and protests, post on social media, and perform their weekly action items, and then return to their individual lives hoping that they did enough to make a dent. The COMMUNITY is not there, and I fear it will take catastrophe for the white middle class to come together.

These groups are aware of this lack. They talk about this often, “how do we bring more people in? How do we get people involved?”

Well, help them. Connect with them. Give them a true cause. Show them you actually care about their day-to-day survival.

You cannot change minds by screaming into the void that the right is wrong. Disengaged folks do not want to join an angry community that fails to show up for them when they are in need simply because they chose not to vote. And without a sense of true, interpersonal cohesion, there really is no “community” to join, anyways.

Calling your reps and boycotting businesses will not shift the general consensus amongst the disengaged in our society… they have no clue you’re doing that and frankly don’t care. Remember, if they are disengaged, they do not see the system as their friend; politics are meaningless to them. As such, they are likely annoyed by this “solution.” Similarly, standing on the corner with a protest sign may encourage folks to question their own beliefs but it will not change hearts.

It should be very, VERY clear by now that the democratic system we had was NOT working for the vast majority of this country. If it was, 36% (the plurality) of the electorate would not have sat out the most consequential election in American history. There would not have been a reason for the MAGA movement (many of whom were actually Bernie Bros before turning to Trump solely because Trump represented change), nor would racial justice movements still have the need to fight for equality.

We live in a horrendously unjust and corrupt society. Our politics are broken. They are influenced by money, white supremacy and patriarchy, not justice. Trump did not start this. He is the outcome of centuries of oppressive dynamics. What people of all kinds want is TRUE social change. The People do not need to wait for the system to produce that. In fact, waiting for a better system ensures we will never achieve that. The democratic system in this country is literally designed to inhibit systemic change. And with the current fascist regime… well, now we’re in a systemic stranglehold.

WE must create the society we are seeking. If we truly want to create unity and community where divisions currently exist, we must show up for each other outside of politics. We must do more than make phone calls, show up to protests and rage post online. We must share our resources for the betterment of everyone. Our common goal must be our collective survival by any means necessary. And we must recognize that it is not the system’s role to drive this change. It is ours.

If you want folks to wake up and join the cause, you must give them a cause to join. “Democracy” is not that cause. “Democracy” did not work for them. “Democracy” is not a community. It is an oppressive system, one that is designed for its own continuity over the will of the People. It sees populism as its antithesis. Certainly, there are ways to do democracy right, but we have not been doing that, and it’s ok to admit that. It’s CRUCIAL to admit that. For until we reckon with this fact, we will fail to establish the actual social movement this moment is calling for.

We need true community. Community that works for everyone. Community centered on empathy, collaboration, and connection. Outsiders must feel embraced and supported without fear. They must know that their community will show up when they are in need rather than being met with silence or “have you applied for assistance?” We need to be giving and generous… understanding that our systems do not, and have not, offered any true semblance of economic support for the lower class. We need less bureaucracy, more direct support. We really can just do it rather than simply advocating for the system to provide. Mutual aid is how we get there. It is how we create the unity we are lacking in this moment.

Politics are inherently divisive. That’s the name of the game. It focuses your energy on the governing system rather than the People. Are you in it for the system? Or are you in it for the People? It’s time to decide.