Leslie Beckett - Whats Activism?

Published in 2020 by KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC 353 3rd Avenue Suite 255 New York, NY 10010 Copyright 2020 KidHaven Publishing, an Imprint of Greenhaven Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer. Designer: Andrea Davison-Bartolotta Editor: Katie Kawa Photo credits: Cover (top) . Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Beckett, Leslie, author. Title: Whats activism? / Leslie Beckett.

Description: New York: KidHaven Publishing, [2020] | Series: Whats the issue? | Includes index. Identifiers: LCCN 2019005209 (print) | LCCN 2019007972 (ebook) | ISBN 9781534567429 (eBook) | ISBN 9781534567405 (pbk. book) | ISBN 9781534567412 (library bound book) | ISBN 9781534531284 (6 pack) Subjects: LCSH: Children--Political activity--Juvenile literature. | Political participation--Juvenile literature. | Social action--Juvenile literature. Classification: LCC HQ784.P5 (ebook) | LCC HQ784.P5 B43 2020 (print) | DDC 320.083--dc23 LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2019005209 Printed in the United States of America CPSIA compliance information: Batch #BS19KL: For further information contact Greenhaven Publishing LLC, New York, New York at 1-844-317-7404.

Please visit our website, www.greenhavenpublishing.com. For a free color catalog of all our high-quality books, call toll free 1-844-317-7404 or fax 1-844-317-7405. CONTENTS Turning Feelings into Action Everyone has causes they care about. Some people feel strongly about animal rights. Others care about making sure all people are treated fairly. Maybe you care about .

When people feel strongly about issues in the world around them, they often want to turn those feelings into action. This is called activism. Activists work hard to make the world a better place. Activism isnt just for adultskids can also do their part to fight for causes that matter to them! Facing the Facts More than half of Americans between the ages of 13 and 21 believe the actions of ordinary citizens can decisions made by the government about important issues. Activists fight for change and stand up for what they believe, and they do this in many different ways. Anyone can be an activist!2 A Powerful Example Activism isnt easy! Activists work hard, and they sometimes put themselves in danger to stand up for what they believe.

Some activists have even ended up in jail for fighting against laws they feel are unfair. During the civil rights movement in the 1950s and 1960s, activists fought against unfair laws that kept African Americans from having equal rights. These activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., were sometimes put in jail or hurt by people who didnt believe in equality. However, they kept fighting for what they believed was right. Facing the Facts Activism in the 1960s included more than just the civil rights movement.

Activists at that time were also in the fight for womens rights and spoke out strongly against war. Activism isnt new. People have been fighting to make the world a better place throughout history. Todays activists can learn a lot from those who came before them.2 A New Age of Activism Activists have been hard at work throughout history, and theyre continuing to work to build a better world today. In fact, many people believe were living in a new age of activism, in which more people than ever are joining together to fight for causes they care about. Starting in 2017, many marches have been held in Washington, D.C., and throughout the rest of the United States to call attention to important issues.

Activists have , and in support of science and many other causes. Millions of people have taken part in these marches! Facing the Facts Many activists today fight for the rights of immigrants people who come to another country to live there. For example, a group called United We Dream is run by young immigrant activists who are working to make sure all immigrants are treated fairly. Activists know its better to join together than to work alone. When people work together, they can change the world!2 Students Lead the Way Adults are often the faces of activism, but young people have also played an important part in activist movements in the past and present. Students often led during the civil rights movement, and students are still voices for change in their communities today.

For example, a group of high school students became activists after a deadly shooting at their school in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. They began to speak out in favor of stronger gun control laws. They even planned the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C., where adults and young people joined together to take a stand against gun violence. The students who led the March for Our Lives have continued their activism by leading drives to get young people to register, or sign up, to vote. Americans cant vote until they turn 18, but they can find other ways to fight for change until they reach that age.2 Facing the Facts One of the most famous young activists is Malala Yousafzai. When she lived in Pakistan, she f ought for the right for all girls to go to school, but she was shot by someone who wanted her to stop speaking out.

She didnt let that stop her, though, and shes become one of the most important figures in the fight f or girls education around the world. The First Step With so many causes to care about, it can be hard to decide where to start on the path to becoming an activist. The best way to begin is by learning as much as you can about whats happening in the world. Talking to a trusted adult is a good way to learn moreand to get them involved in activism too! When you find an issue you care about, learn about the ways you can turn that caring into action. For example, you can write a letter to a government leader in your community about the issue.