Youth Activism Panel Blog

During the panel discussion about youth activism surrounding the book Same Sun Here, the two girls and the middle school educator on the panel discussed the importance of and challenges faced by youth activists. In the short question and answer dialogue that transpired, the audience was able to hear from a few perspectives encompassing youth activism. One of the two girls is heavily involved with environmental reforms. The other was a member of the social activism group Muslim Girls Making Change, which uses slam poetry as a medium to challenge people’s perspectives and expose truths about social issues. The last panel member was a teacher who’s cutting edge pedagogical approach uses youth activism to encourage his students to find their voice and use it to enact positive changes in the world. Each of the panel members had an interesting perspective to share which helped to further my considerations of youth activism.

Through sharing their experiences as notable youth activists, the audience heard two different stories about the cultural backgrounds that make activism so important. Both of the youth activists on the panel are extremely intelligent and passionate young woman. Despite the shared passion, they demonstrated that activism can have different meanings and implications for different people. One of the two girls described activism as an important part of her life, while the other seemed to view her activism as an extension of her identity. Both youth activists had a sincere concern for the social issues they attempt to change. However the young lady from Muslim Girls Making Change seemed especially weighed down by the stress, struggle, and novelty her activism presents her friends and family. While she desired to put distance from her work as an activist, it sounded like she felt her identity made it almost difficult for her to forget about her passion for equal treatment for all Americans despite their religion. 

Through listening to the exchanges of these young women and the educator on the panel, I have a better understanding now why educators need to stand behind their students who choose to facilitate social change. Individuals come from different backgrounds, and yet need to have “equal” opportunity to learn. This basic right is ill provided in our society due to a number of attributes almost none of which a student has control over. During the discussion, the two young women expressed additional hardship and strain as they began youth activism. Essentially that is the image of why we need individuals like them to defend social issues when others may not have the courage. Title IX is supposed to ensure that individuals of all cultural backgrounds have the right to learn here in America. On a personal level, empathetic educators sensitive to the diverse cultural backgrounds of their students ought to be inherently supportive of their students who look to cause societal changes. For those students who look to make the lives of others better, peers, families, and strangers alike may not be as nice or supportive as we would hope. Regardless of our personal perspective on the social issues that students care about, it is important for educators to equip students with the skills and traits to be effective communicators (and thereby effective citizens who can cause change).