Recipes for Disaster: an anarchist cookbook

Therefore, though it may seem insular or even isolationist, in the long run it can be beneficial for other communities as well as your own if you focus energy on building up infrastructure, relationships, and consciousness in your immediate social circles. Working in your own community is what you are equipped to do best, anyway, and can be the most efficient application of your time and energy. If, for example, radical individuals in an apolitical punk rock scene refuse to desert it to pursue traditional service-oriented activism, but instead stay connected to that social base and do the work necessary to politicize it, that scene can eventually become a place in which young people develop an awareness of the perspectives and circumstances of those of other walks of life, and in which well-attended benefit shows that support the organizing efforts of people from other communities are held regularly.

When it comes to attracting diverse groups to a coalition, sometimes the most effective approach is to expand incrementally, approaching immediately adjacent communities with whom you have much in common, rather than attempting to start at the opposite end of the spectrum. Once there is some diversity in a coalition, it can be easier to gain more; at the same time, be careful not to let a monoculture develop in your coalition that would put off groups that have little in common with the others involved. It's a good rule of thumb to involve groups in projects from the very beginning, rather than approaching them once things are already in motion when it will be difficult for them to feel a sense of ownership. Regardless of how you go about reaching out to others, whatever you do will work best if it's based on existing relationships and natural affinities. Coalition Building Within diverse coalitions, it's generally a good policy to defer decision-making to

i88 those most affected. People of color, for example, have more at stake when it comes to

police brutality issues than the average white person does. It makes sense for them to be the main decision-makers in local struggles against police brutality, because in the long run they will likely be the most affected by the decisions.

To be a good ally, you must be consistent and reliable: do what you say you'll do, don't suddenly disappear, keep coming back. Over time, this will build trust, and a stronger working relationship from which future projects can grow.

Choose issues that are close to your heart, and stick with them. Many organizers of color have spoken about how white activists often have the liberty to pick and choose which issues to address and when. They have said that when these white activists get burned out, or want to move on to a more trendy issue or just hit the road, they just disappear. If you absolutely have to leave, make sure you let your fellow organizers know in advance. Figure out ways to have your responsibilities and roles covered while you're gone, stay in touch, and get back into action when you return.

Don't just go to groups when you need something from them. Go to support what they're doing, and stay involved in their projects for the long haul. Insofar as you share goals, what's good for them is good for you.

Hang in there even when you don't like some of the things going on. If you hear sexist, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted speech?^which can happen or not happen in any social context, regardless of common stereotypes or expectations?remember it's okay to feel uncomfortable for a minute. Again, everyone is learning and growing, and what one person says does not represent the whole group. If you stay as an ally and build a strong relationship, what you have to say about it later on will be more meaningful.

Get to know your allies as people, not just as organizers who give you access to a certain community or who play a part in your political strategy. Enjoy the people you meet in the course of your organizing, share parts of yourself with them as it becomes

Stick Around

Coalition Building

Coalition Building T90

natural, build personal relationships as well as organizing alliances. At the same time, if someone doesn't want that with you, don't push it.

As your relationships with people outside of your usual circles become stronger, you may get to the point where it makes sense to talk about your poHtical differences in order for the relationships to grow. Don't go into these discussions expecting to change anyone. Look on such conversations as opportunities to learn as well as teach. Ultimately, coalition building is a way not only to connect with others for political expediency, but also to expand ourselves.

Collectives