This post was originally published on Word In Black.
By: Keith Boykin
There’s so much going on right now that it’s impossible to keep track of it all, and that’s the point. They want us to be overwhelmed so we can’t keep up or fight back, but today, I want to give you 10 action steps you can take to stay engaged, make a difference, and protect your peace.
The new administration is breaking laws and pushing boundaries in a desperate attempt to remove the guardrails that protect democracy, weaponize government, repeal civil rights laws, erase Black history, platform billionaires, open up a concentration camp at Guantanamo, revoke LGBT rights, disrupt vital government programs, purge government workers, pardon an army of militant insurrectionists, endanger the lives of former government officials, fire government watchdogs, and threaten Mexico, Canada, Greenland, Colombia, and Panama.
And we’ve only just begun. So what are we going to do about it?
I spent four years covering the previous Trump administration as a political commentator for CNN, and it was exhausting. Nearly every day, there was a reckless tweet, an unvetted announcement, or a new law or norm broken. What I learned is that Trump is a chaos agent who needs as many distractions as possible to stay in power.
So here are 10 action steps we can take to stay focused, not just to survive the next four years, but to win the future.
1. Stay informed but not overwhelmed.
We cannot tune out and sleepwalk into fascism, but neither can we allow ourselves to become depressed by the enormity of the challenge. So don’t try to do everything. Start by following your expertise and interests. Focus on issues important to you. And protect your peace by stepping back from all the trees in front of you so you can see the larger forest.
2. Share truthful, factual information with friends, family, and followers.
Part of the reason Trump is in office today is because the right wing built a media infrastructure to serve as an echo chamber of lies and misinformation. It’s your job not to recirculate that propaganda. Instead, seek out reliable truthtellers and factual posts. Share them regularly and widely with your friends, family, and social media followers. Do not share misinformation unless you’re rebutting it.
3. Raise your voice to elected officials.
I know it’s old-fashioned, but visit the offices of the people representing you or write a letter. A study by the OpenGov Foundation during the first Trump administration found that in-person visits, personal letters, and social media were the best tools for being heard by members of Congress. Share a personal story of how an issue affects you. “The more effort a constituent puts in, the more engagement and impact they can expect,” the study found.
And as political commentator Reecie Colbert notes, target vulnerable Republicans who won their races by less than 2%.
4. Run for office.
The people in Congress, your state legislature, and city council are no smarter than you. So launch your campaign. Talk about the issues that resonate with you and your community. Raise some money. And run for office.
5. Go to court.
If you’re a state attorney general or practicing attorney, you’ve probably already thought of this. But even if you’re a government worker, a federal contractor, or a private citizen adversely affected by right-wing MAGA policies, call a lawyer, and sue for your rights.
6. Reward the good.
We have economic power in where we spend our dollars. In the face of the current anti-Black assault, some companies, like Costco, Delta Airlines, Patagonia, Apple, Pinterest, and even JPMorganChase are standing behind their DEI programs. Support Black-owned businesses that are down for the cause and businesses that support you. And donate to nonprofits and organizations that work on issues important to you. If you’re not ready to boycott, try a “buycott” or a “buy-in.”
7. Punish the bad.
The list of companies capitulating to MAGA’s anti-DEI threats is long. Target, Walmart, Meta, McDonald’s, Ford, Coors, Amazon, Lowe’s, Harley-Davidson, and others are rolling back their DEI programs. Some are easy to quit, but others are integrated into our lives, making it difficult to cut them off completely.
So let’s organize creatively to develop new ways to make an impact. We may not get everyone to participate in an endless boycott of all these companies, but we can create targeted campaigns that leverage pressure points to achieve specific goals.
