
My research topic will discuss social movements and what makes social movements effective. A social movement as defined by Lewis M. Killian, Neil J. Smelser, and Ralph H. Turner, is a “loosely organized but sustained campaign in support of a social goal, typically either the implementation or the prevention of a change in society’s structure or values (Killian).”  This type of movement can be seen throughout history and range from supporting different issues as in the “Pro-life movement” to the “Ku Klux Klan movement” and “Black Lives Matter.” My interest on the topic of social movements came during the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. #BlackLivesMatter started as a hashtag and evolved into a movement concerning the issues of Black American lives being at the back burner of another race in America.  Throughout this paper I will acknowledge what makes a social movement effective. I have also found some drawbacks to social movements, but I see the benefits of a social movement outweighing the non-beneficial factors of a not having social movements in our world. And when comparing BlackLivesMatter to the research of what makes a social movement effective, I have found BlackLivesMatter to be an effective social movement.

There are those who would argue that social movements do not make a difference in societal laws and regulations. “Thinking About The Influence Of Social Movements On Institutions” by Edwin Amenta, is an article that explores the effects of social movements on institutions. Amenta, along with many other scholars believe that social movements should be taking out of the equation of political issues. Researchers considered the impact of social movements and its primary attributes as, “the degree and type of resource mobilization, protest and framing strategies, and political opportunities (Amenta, 357).” These three key attributes were believed to measure the influence and effectiveness of social movements. Many different social movements strive to impact different institutions in countless ways, such as #BlackLivesMatter. #BlackLivesMatter not only meets these stated attributes but they are also doing so in the early stages of this movement. In 2015, the movement made a huge leap forward in political opportunities; it was arranged for eleven young activists to have a 90 minute sit down with democratic candidate Hillary Clinton to express their grievances. What started off as someone putting a hashtag on Facebook back in 2013 has now evolved into different groups with the same goal meeting with huge political figures (Altman).  Not only are activist meeting with political figures but they are also utilizing protest as a framing tool in their strategy to make a change. Their attempt to make other Americans feel a small amount of discomfort as a black Americans feel in America can be seen in many of their protest. This group as “weaponized protest” by specially targeting places such as shutting down Chicago’s Magnificent Mile on a Black Friday and hindering traffic on one of the most eventful days in Washington along I-395 (Altman).  Using protesting as a means to make a statement and seizing opportunities to sit and speak with powerful political officials to mobilize a cause makes #BlackLivesMatter and their leaders a focus to be reckon with.

Chip Beret wrote an article entitled, “Social Movements Need an Infrastructure to Survive.” gives its readers a list of fundamental building blocks of what creates a strong social movement. The article states that “social movements pull politicians and political movements towards them, and not the other way around (Berlet).” An example given in the article states the civil rights movement leaders influenced the Democratic Party in the northern states to separate themselves from the segregationist demands of the southern states’ Democratic Party. Leaders of political movements can be clearly set and known to the public on who they are. Although BlackLivesMatter do not follow the traditional concept of one specific leader, its concept of “leaderless” leadership works into the ultimate goal of the movement which is to implement ways to make life better for the black communities. Because every community is different having chapters rather than one group benefits each community on a personal level. A person can be more effective in helping a community in which they know and understand the grievances and needs of that community. 

 A “leaderless” concept is a term associated with most social movements.  “Participants in these movements, adhering to egalitarian principles, seek to emphasize the absence of leaders” and because of this many associate theses movements as “leaderless.” The concept of “the autonomous leadership theory” proposed by Simon Western is a driven force behind uprooting the myths about Social movements not having a leader.  “A powerful and lucid ideological vision linked to strategies and tactics that have some reasonable chance of success (Berlet),” this is crucial because without a goal there is no movement. #BlackLivesMatter has a powerful and lucid ideological vision of the improvement of black lives. This vison can be seen throughout the different chapters across the nation.  “The skillful framing of ideas and slogans for multiple audiences such as leaders, members, potential recruits, policymakers, and the general public (Berlet),” is said to make social movements effective. From, “no taxation, without representation” slogans can be remembered throughout history. BlackLivesMatter is not only the name of the social movement but it is also the slogan. The skillfully crafted symbolize in itself is “a piece of linguistic jujitsu, vague enough to seem inclusive yet charged enough to sow conflict (Altman).” And lastly Berlet attributes, “the recruitment of people into the movement through pre-existing social, political, and cultural networks (Berlet),” through the power of social media BLM have used this as a platform to not only show people in America the mistreatment of black Americans but the world now about to see with their own eyes. 

An article written by Matthew Ingram, “How Social Media Affects Protest Movements: It’s Complicated,” sheds light on the positive and negative effects of social movements on political issues. The article introduction states that people tend to have two view-points of social movements: “a) agree that they can be very powerful tools, or b) argue that they are just sound and fury, signifying nothing, and have had no real effect on the outcome of these (Ingram),” of the causes.  Ingram then goes to state that the answer is actual deeper than what many think; he justifies his claim by stating the works of a researcher by the name of Zeynep Tufekci, who has dedicated her career in studying social stages influence on political behavior. Tufekci studies the different protesters in not only her native country of Turkey but other countries as well. What she found in her studies were that although there are positive attributes to social movements on political issue there are deeper negative effects as well

This opposing view point claims social movements are not beneficial. I believe social movements have a profound impact on social and political issues more so than the negative effects. #BlackLivesMatter is a prime example were social media has been more of a help than it hindered. The origin of the name started from a Facebook post by a woman named Alicia Garza. In her post she wrote a letter expressing her love for black people and her ending words in her post was “our lives matter.” Her friend then altered the last three words and adds a hashtag to give us what is today the coined phrase #BlackLivesMatter (Cobb). If Facebook was not a social forum where anyone could speak their mind and have any and every one read it, the #BlackLivesMatter would not have been what it is today. I would even argue that it may not even at exist because if Garza did not post on a forum for everyone to see it probably would have gone unnoticed. Tufekci says although social media has made finding like mind individuals faster than the past history of social movements, and by allowing the movement to be effective at a rapid rate; on the other hand it is less likely to survive over a lengthy period of time. Whereas, you have traditional political movements, sometimes looked on as the opposite of social movements, have had  years and years to be development and organized to what they are today and though the amount of time it took for the political change to come about the movement itself can be seen as more impactful that today’s social movements. This may hold some truth to its claim but with anything in this world, evolution is bound to happen. And #BLM has seized the opportunity to utilize its resources and changes the traditional of social movements.  

Education is a key aspect in social movements. In modern day times there is a link between the internet and social movements. “The Impact of Social Movements Hinges on Bridging the Digital Divide,” by Tony Abraham talks also about bridging the gap between the elderly and internet use. In this article Abraham uses the movement #BlackLivesMatter and its involvement to educate those on how to use social media to stay informed. The article states that the extent of the movement is based on being able to gain access to the web, but for this social movement in particular, #BlackLivesMatter, the major of their communities’ lacks either internet access or in the case of this group the elderly do not know how to navigate the web. The article raised a valid point, “how much impact can a social movement make if many of the people it represents don’t have the resources nor the means to get involved (Abraham).” The organization ‘Philly Coalition for REAL Justice’ is linking the elderly in their communities to different social platforms. The idea that everyone has access to the web can be argued when looking at the not only black communities but poor and elderly communities as well. By tying in the social movement that jump-started my research of social movements; Professor Todd Wolfson, a member of the Media Mobilizing Project board, states, “What’s amazing about it [social media] is, it moved across the country and the world and organized people to that concept (Abraham).” Historically speaking, media has not shed a positive light on African American communities; but the different social media podiums have given more of a democratic forum, states Wolfson. Wolfson and this group of youth are educating others so that the social movement #BlackLivesMatter can strive and be a successful movement.

As I have acknowledged what makes an effective social movement and a non-effective social movement; I will still stake my claim that #BlackLivesMatter would be deemed a successful social movement. When speaking on education, #BlackLivesMatter have those who are educating others on the issues of their cause. And with its many chapters fighting to gain justice and positive investment into the black communities, a change is bound to come. Also it is a positive sign that this activists are not merely just protesting they are sitting and speaking with political figures to make an impact of the black lives in America. #BlackLivesMatter. This movement demonstrates the “leaderless” concept as explained by Chip Berlet,but this does not take any effectiveness away from the movement. Although #BlackLivesMatter is a new social movement, it builds upon other movements such as the Civil Rights movement, and because of this I believe #BlackLivesMatter will strive and evolve just as its predecessor.
