It is time for young, Black women to make “good trouble” as John Lewis said. It is time to demand positive social change. Our world continues to evolve and Black, college-age women are critical to this movement. We must be intentional participants. We offer a unique perspective that is crucial to social justice movements and can act as agents for exponential change.
Social justice is the belief that benefits and privileges in the world should be equitable. No single group should hold all the power. And, in our society, this has been anything but the truth. Issues such as racial inequality and gender discrimination still run rampant. But social justice initiatives aim to remedy these inequalities in our society by addressing systemic injustices. With our perspective of intersectionality, we acknowledge the complexities and interconnectedness of lived experiences. Young, Black college students are bringing this to the forefront of social justice initiatives.
Despite historical marginalization in social justice, Black women have still driven progress in social justice movements. Beginning with acknowledging these contributions, we continue to break down barriers and make change.
The first step in engaging in social justice initiatives is identifying a cause that resonates with you. When you connect with an issue, you’re more likely to find a great sense of purpose and dedication to fighting for your cause. But it’s also critical to ensure you’re engaging with a reputable organization, so your contributions cannot be diminished.
One way you can discover social justice initiatives that interest you is by tuning in to Spelman’s The Blue Record Podcast. This podcast run by Spelman’s Social Justice Fellowship Program has a mission to critique counterproductive ideologies and discourses that interrupt the mobility of Black women in society. In each episode they feature current and/or former Spelman students and discuss social justice initiatives. Additionally, the podcast provides a “book list” for each episode to cite the individuals on the podcast and encourage listeners to explore the topic discussed in depth. One of these conversations just may be the spark that helps you find the social initiative you want to focus on.
Once you find the initiative that drives you, you must participate in that initiative intentionally. When you dedicate your time, effort and energy, you can become an agent of radical change. By participating intentionally, you continue to amplify the voices and perspective of young, Black women. As Shirley Chisolm, the first Black woman in congress said: “You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines, whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.” Intentional participation is critical to making transformative change.
College campuses, such as Spelman, are breeding grounds for young, Black activists. We empower women to embrace their individuality without sacrificing community, emboldening them to find their voices and advocate for their sisters. Spelman invests in college-age Black women and is proud to champion future generations of resilient and impactful leaders who are determined to make change.
Spelman’s Social Justice Fellows Program is just one example of how Spelman champions future generations. The Spelman College Social Justice Fellows Program is a living and learning programmatic initiative that creates opportunities for a select group of Spelman women to “make a choice to change the world through social justice advocacy.” Social Justice Fellows are selected to participate in social justice advocacy internships, monthly colloquia experiences, book discussions and social entrepreneurship project design activities. The Program equips students with an understanding of how to effect change at the social, political, and legal policy levels, both nationally and globally.