Activism

Performative Activism
vs.
Substantive Activism

Goals:

Students will be able to analyze the lure and value of individual performative activism.
Students will be able to discuss the grey areas of product support, monetary gifts, and levels of social equity.
Students will be able to discuss the values and setbacks of performative acts.
Students will be able to discuss the impact of activism in achieving social equity.

Performative Activism: 

Individually a person might participate in marching, protesting, posting social media support but there is not commitment attached.
Corporations give money, release ads, but do not change hiring practices or set up programs to rectify inequalities - no mentoring programs nor long term scholarships are set in place. When the political climate changes - the corporate support changes.

Substantive Activism:

Individually working to make policy changes through politics, donating money and/or time to mentor, train, campaign.
Corporations donate money and make sure they have equitable representation, scholarships, mentorships. Representation on all levels within the corporation, management and administration.

Questions to Consider for you Discussion/Debate:

Are both types of activism helpful?
Is one more meaningful than the other?
Can performative activism become substantive?
Oftentimes a corporation has unjust hiring practices, but donates money to a cause - to make themselves look supportive. Should the organization accept donations from the corporation? If they do what message are they sending?
These are just a few of the questions and resources that could be used in discussing this topic... you might discover more as you research and talk about the topics.

Instructions

Read the following articles on different forms of activism.
You might have additional credible sources to help you explore the topic. Refer to the Questions to Consider above and you might formulate even more questions.
The information will help you to present a solid cohesive argument and will allow you to be open to other people's ideas as well.
You can either have a classic debate, use Philosophical Chairs (instructions are under the Freedom of Speech Assignment) or you can discuss the topic in a Socratic Seminar.