Photo by Kathryn Harrington
LSURJ THEORY OF CHANGE
SURJ’s role as part of a multi-racial movement is to undermine white support for white supremacy and to help build a racially just society.
That work cannot be done in isolation or disconnected from the powerful leadership of communities of color. It is one part of a multi-racial, cross-class movement centering people of color leadership.
Therefore, SURJ believes in resourcing organizing led by people of color, and maintaining strong accountability relationships with organizers and communities of color as a central part of our theory of change.
SURJ believes that we must ground our organizing in a framework of “mutual interest” — white supremacy is integral to economic injustice and to maintaining patriarchy and other forms of oppression. Racism and white supremacy keep the many divided for the benefit of the few. We must have an inclusive, open-hearted approach to organizing, calling people into this work rather than creating barriers to participation while maintaining a clear political line. When those of us who are white realize that racial justice is core to our liberation as well, then masses of white people will withdraw support from white supremacy. Together, as part of a powerful multi-racial, cross-class movement for collective liberation we can force the system of white supremacy to crumble.
In order to activate this theory of change, we employ three core strategies:
These strategies are dependent on multi-racial organizing and a specific focus on deepening, amplifying, and centering the leadership and organizing of poor and working-class folks, rural communities, and the U.S. South.
Within this framework, our network is using a number of tactics, including: leading and participating in campaigns, base-building, direct action, relationship-building, communications work and more.
SURJ’s role as part of a multi-racial movement is to undermine white support for white supremacy and to help build a racially just society.
That work cannot be done in isolation or disconnected from the powerful leadership of communities of color. It is one part of a multi-racial, cross-class movement centering people of color leadership.
Therefore, SURJ believes in resourcing organizing led by people of color, and maintaining strong accountability relationships with organizers and communities of color as a central part of our theory of change.
SURJ believes that we must ground our organizing in a framework of “mutual interest” — white supremacy is integral to economic injustice and to maintaining patriarchy and other forms of oppression. Racism and white supremacy keep the many divided for the benefit of the few. We must have an inclusive, open-hearted approach to organizing, calling people into this work rather than creating barriers to participation while maintaining a clear political line. When those of us who are white realize that racial justice is core to our liberation as well, then masses of white people will withdraw support from white supremacy. Together, as part of a powerful multi-racial, cross-class movement for collective liberation we can force the system of white supremacy to crumble.
In order to activate this theory of change, we employ three core strategies:
- Delegitimize racist institutions
- Fight for a fair economy that refuses to pit communities against each other
- Shift culture (meaning the underlying beliefs folks have about people and the world) in a way that undermines support for white supremacy
These strategies are dependent on multi-racial organizing and a specific focus on deepening, amplifying, and centering the leadership and organizing of poor and working-class folks, rural communities, and the U.S. South.
Within this framework, our network is using a number of tactics, including: leading and participating in campaigns, base-building, direct action, relationship-building, communications work and more.