It was 2017, and I was at a presentation about the path forward to win back the House and the Presidency. The entire presentation was about how to convince Trump voters to change their minds.
I asked the question, “what about bringing people who don’t vote into the conversation? Or people who are marginalized in these communities?”
For whatever reason, every young political strategist in that room thought it was easier to change a MAGA person’s mind than to empower people who felt voiceless.
To me, it came down to ideaology – because there wasn’t a ton of specific data about the people in question. There was a lot of demographic info, so the number of people was clear.
To this day, until someone can show me a deeper analysis about the people in question, I think you’re better off trying to help the voiceless have a voice than in arguing with an older person who wants to pretend they never make a mistake.
I mean, I’m not a Christian, but I respect the historical, brown-skinned, rabble-rousing Jesus of Nazareth who told ordinary people, “you matter, this system is evil.”
Because this is the same message, motivated by the same values, that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., founded and led his ministry upon.
The simple idea that justice is love made public, and so we’re a community of equals.
This is the other part of it – the work of canvasing can grind volunteers down – more so when you’re dealing with bigots or folks who love to argue. Your energy gets sucked into convincing people – and most people will never be convinced – and now you lost your time with someone who was happy to waste it.
Versus connecting with people – which I think is different.
Empowerment sparked people in 2018 – the blue waves were real, and it came from helping people find and use their voice.
Beware the advice of those who are quick to tell other people what to do and think, and slow to do the work themselves.
Because chances are, they’re never going to do the work, and just hope you’ll do it for them, their way.