10 Ways We Can Advance Social Justice

"Social justice is recognizing that even if you think you're the chosen one, you're never the only one. Until you come to my side of the fence to see what I see and I come to your side to see what you see, we will struggle with social justice. Johnson's book will help get us there." JC Watts, politician, clergyman, businessman, and athlete Social justice matters because we—each of us—matter. Unless we learn to co-exist as equals, we will never live optimally. To denigrate any one of us is to demean all of us. Absent the wholesale embrace of social justice, we risk succumbing to human tendencies to stereotype, "otherize," and scapegoat. Those tendencies, left unchecked, lead to horrific ends. When we see ourselves in others, we understand that our shared humanity eclipses all else. Through our disagreements, we must never doubt the dignity and worth of the other. Certain facts and factors that cause misalignments in the social order—inequality and inequity—social injustice—but there are ways to intervene and interrupt them. This book offers 10 ways we can advance social justice. We pay a cost for failing to internalize and act upon history's lessons. For example, our history teems with examples of fractious relations among racial, ethnic, and cultural groups and an overarching white supremacist ideology that places some at an advantage at the expense of others. Recognizing our shared humanity—and the power of "we"—and rectifying disparities and inequities are among the chief aims of social justice initiatives. Through critical thinking, we best position ourselves to tackle seemingly overwhelming social justice issues. To be ready, we must know, care, and act: know—look at ourselves, others, events, and institutions; care—reflect on recurring inequalities and inequities; and act—work on solutions to effect and advance meaningful, measurable, maintainable solutions. Critical thinking animates the three core activities necessary for social justice advancement: introspection, engagement, and advocacy. Achieving social justice is an aspirational pursuit—an ongoing journey that can be fraught with peril and disappointment. It is nonetheless an odyssey worth taking—a quest so many of us have no choice but to embrace. Introspection, engagement, and advocacy are essential stops along the way. Examine yourself. Plug in. Speak truth. "Hannibal B. Johnson is a powerful and authentic voice for truth and constructive action for racial equity. His approach of honest introspection, community engagement, and collaborative advocacy offers an effective framework. This is a practical handbook for those seeking to heal and rebuild their communities." Rob Corcoran, Training Consultant, Initiatives of Change International