These next few units will take us through some key dimensions of social movements: group communication and identity. Groups are vital parts of social movements and the communication within groups and externally may account for a movement achieving or failing to meet its goals. We will begin with some foundational material in the first week of the unit and then examine two case studies, Civil Rights Movement Groups and BLM groups, in the second two weeks.
Before we continue on, please take the time to read this brief overview of the Communication discipline and Social Movements.
Although this class can be taught in numerous ways, I teach this course using a social justice lens. Other scholars (as you'll note in the Scholars section of the article above) may teach from a rhetorical position. We may incorporate rhetoric and some of its tools, but we will focus on how social movements use communication to accomplish social justice.
Understand and operationalize "group communication" and its various theories and frameworks; how does the power of group communication aid and constrain social change?
Understand how groups aid and constrain the specific social movements of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter
Weekly Materials & Assignments
Week 3
Week Three: Group Communication and Social Movements, Foundations
This week we'll be familiarizing ourselves with the myriad of ways group communication aids and, at times, impedes social movements. We'll also read about how "groups" operate in the digital sphere. In each text, focus on the ways communication is foundational to the social movement. Most will be academic texts, but I have also included a few nonacademic texts to round out the set. Pay attention to the connections to the communication scholarship we read.
Group communication is likely new to many of you (it's not my expertise either :)), to familiarize yourself with the subdiscipline of group communication, please watch this short 12-minute lecture by another professor. As you watch, begin to make potential connections to social movements. What are some ways the various ways the communication discipline views groups may be applicable to social movements?
Week Four: Social Movements and Groups: The Civil Rights Movement
I can't think of a Social movement more complex and richly composed of groups than the U. S. Civil Rights Movement of the 20th century. Just take a look at this list from PBS that includes both groups working for and against civil rights.
I'd also like to draw your attention to the university student groups listed! Students all over the country worked towards racial equity.
The Civil Rights Movement is also an important site of activist tactics, such as non-violent direct action, which we'll be revisiting later on in the semester.
You'll also likely notice some tie-ins with our next unit: identity.
Before we dive deeper into the groups that made up the movement, please take 3 minutes to watch this basic history on the Civil Rights Movement for the 50,000 foot view
Black History in Two Minutes or so. (2021). The Civil Rights Movement. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ppTiyxFSs0&t=1s.
Read & Watch
The University of Georgia Libraries. (2013). Activism in the US. Digital Public Library of America. April 2013. https://dp.la/exhibitions/activism.
This website is licensed under the Creative Commons license CC-BY-NC 4.0.
be sure to read through the website, particularly the sections on establishing SNCC and Alliances and Relationships!
Assignments
Reading Response #3 (on the Digital SNCC Gateway)
due Sunday
Weekly Discussion (assignment forthcoming):
initial post by Wednesday
replies to peers on 2 days across Thurs - Sun
Week 5
Week Five: Groups and Black Lives Matter
This week, we'll continue to examine social justice movements through the lens of the group(s) that constitute them. Black Lives Matter is different in many ways from the Civil Rights Movement and has many similarities as well. As you read and watch the material for this week, don't forget to think about your positionality. You will be asked as part of your discussion post to reflect on how you participated (or did not) in the movement and how your positionality is implicated in that decision.
As you go through this week's material, be sure to pay attention to how groups are and are not important in the functioning of this movement. Particularly in the age of the internet, what makes a group a group versus just social media users posting the hashtag?
Read & Watch
Start by (re)familiarizing yourself with the movement. Watch this 15-minute video about the founding of Black Lives Matter.
BLM is organized into chapters worldwide. Read this HerStory of BLMLA and find at least two other chapters (one in the U.S. and one outside the U.S.) and read about their chapters to give you a sense about the connection between the founders and the various chapters.
Now, let's get into some of the complexities of the group structure(s) of BLM. Here are a few sources that highlight the nuances and challenges (and benefits) of noncentralized, non-hierarchal movement structures.
Note how none of the people interviewed invoke the BLM movement directly (by saying they are associated with BLM) but that the video is labeled as BLM protesters.
