Emerging Adults, Emerging Activists
A College Activism Retrospective & Practitioner's Guide
ARTIVISM /CRAFTIVISM
"ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER"
Amos Koffa (they/them)
Amos Koffa is a fierce LGBTQ+ advocate and current social work major at Rutgers University. Amos uses their voice to bring awareness to social injustices through written and spoken word poetry.
This poem is titled “All Black Lives” and it stemmed from society’s lack of recognition of the injustices faced by trans women of color and their exclusion from feminism and Black Lives Matter.
IF WE WANT THE WORLD TO BE MORE BEAUTIFUL, KIND, AND JUST, THEN OUR ACTIVISM SHOULD BE BEAUTIFUL, KIND AND JUST.
- Sarah Corbett
Artivism and Craftivism are both variations of the use of creative arts to advocate for social change. It can be loud and public- like a flash mob or an art installation. It can also be quiet and private like embroidery or poetry. Sarah Corbett cites the potential for craftivism to make space for introverted activists. Her talk, Activism Needs Introverts highlights the importance of building inclusive activist environments to ensure we can prevent burnout and highlight creativity.
Explore below to find different examples of artivism/craftivism, resources, and reflections from other activists
Individual or Personal Acts
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Yarn bombing, weaving, crocheting, knitting
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Embroidery, quilting, and hand-stitched messaging like Fine Cell Work
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Quilting signs like the work of Significant Seam
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Handprinting notes, postcards, messages like the Guerilla Kindness Project
Public Acts and Performances
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This piece that brings attention to abandoned basketball hoops as a critique of the sports industry
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The Blood Bag project
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The iconic Aids Quilt
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Dance Magazine has chronicled the way dance has been used in protest since the murder of George Floyd here.
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The use of poetry as a political action as demonstrated by the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, Amanda Gorman, in this video
