Perhaps you know your way around quite a few revolutionary texts and you’re good at putting them into practice in small ways, but now you’d like to find a space where you can discuss them critically and start putting them into collective practice. Obviously, you’ll need to find other people who are already doing this. But radical groups aren’t exactly commonplace, so finding them is a bit different than locating other information.
How nice it is to discuss world-changing ideas.
Here are some tips for linking up with like-minded people in your area:
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Start at school.
Finding other radicals is relatively easy to do if you’re a college student. Colleges and universities have historically been hubs of leftist activity. Search your school’s website to locate radical clubs––most schools dedicate entire sections of their websites to student organizations. If you’re not a student, you may still be able to attend group meetings at local schools as a campus guest.
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Find radical bookstores.
Most radical bookstores regularly host events that pertain to traditions spanning the spectrum of leftist politics. Even if this isn’t the case with your local radical bookstore, you’re still bound to find like-minded individuals there who you can talk to and begin organizing with. Bluestockings is a New York City bookstore that sells tons of radical texts and also serves as a hub of activity. They host events every single night, including group readings, poetry slams, meetings for radical educators, and so much more. The organization of the bookstore itself is also radical––it’s collectively owned and is run by volunteers.
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Use social media intelligently.
In this case, social media is your best friend. Scour Facebook for radical groups that discuss ideas that you are interested in. If there are some posters in your area who you vibe with, suggest linking up or ask if they know of any groups that would welcome your participation. You can also search Facebook specifically for radical organizations in your area. Meetup.com may be used for the same purpose.
It’s nice to engage with texts and ideas in the coziness of isolation, but it’s even better to link up with people and begin putting your ideas into practice.
If there isn’t a radical group in your area, why not start one? We’ll discuss this next.
Amanda Fox-Rouch (Hunter College)
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