Defeating Narratives of Division

Also catalogued elsewhere

Community organising approach to changing narratives around division ahead of the next election.

A manifesto for community action that can defeat the far-right and advance democracy. Main focus is to defeat racism and narratives of othering.

It is part of a project initiated by the Ella Baker School of Organising to develop grass roots organising initiatives across the country that can build a new inclusive ‘story of us’.

Convincing analysis of the present moment - isolation and phsycological anxiety, neoliberalism tearing apart community fabrics, inequality and wealth concentration has grown, popular movements tapping into people’s anger and using migrants/ others as scapegoats to distract from the economy / gain power.

Proposed solution: What is needed is a long-term strategic approach at a community level, that talks about building power in disempowered communities. This power can only be built by working across artificial divides, and by finding solutions – rather than scapegoats – to the problems our communities face.

Methodology: Focus is on strengthening local democracy. Go on Ella Baker’s training. Then gather people who celebrate multiculturalism. Discuss harmful narratives and alternative, better narratives. Gather a cross section of people from your community. Have a skilly facilitate conversation to genuinely listen to people’s problems. Collectively decide on tackling one together. Build relationships across difference through collectively solving a shared community problem.

Community organising can build new relationships across difference to defeat narratives of division

Jo: 1. I agree to large amount but feel the ‘unlearning’ approach by GTDF adds something more transformative, which is missing from most community organising approaches. 2. Lots of great stuff but light on tackling deeper values and longer-term logics e.g. internalised coloniality and modernity values 3. Slightly unfair critique of last August’s counter mobilisations imo! The Bristol one doesn’t match their description.