Grassroots Social Action: Lessons in People Power Movements

by Charles V. Willie Charles William Eliot Pro, Steven Ridini, David Willard

Overview

With the ever-expanding boom of grassroots organizations and their growing importance for public policy, many organizations have been forced to rethink the effects of social, economic, and political disparities in society. This collection of essential essays and case studies will help activists, researchers, and students engage in this process of reevaluation and strategizing.

Grassroots Social Action explores power negotiations and examines effective and ineffective community actions from the bottom up. Willie and his colleagues focus on the influence of common people in relation to hierarchical forms of social order. Paying special attention to nine case studies, including the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the chapters show the complementary relationship between dominant and subdominant people in public policymaking.

Grassroots Social Action offers a critical and empowering assessment of how change occurs in communities.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742560482
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	01/28/2008
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.31(w) x 9.39(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Charles V. Willie is Charles W. Eliot Professor of Education Emeritus, Graduate School of Education, Harvard University

David A. Willard is a doctoral student in Administrative Planning and Social Policy at Harvard University

Steven P. Ridini is vice president of programs at The Medical Foundation

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Theoretical and Conceptual Issues in Effective Community Action
Part 1 Part I: Concepts, Theories and Illustrations
Part 2 Part II: Education Case Studies of Grassroots Social Action
Chapter 2: A Perfect Grassroots Movement: The Montgomery Bus Boycott
Chapter 3: The Alpha Case Study on Human Sexuality and Health Education
Part 3 Part III: Political Case Studies of Grassroots Social Action
Part 4 Part IV: Conclusions and Implications
Chapter 4: A Grassroots Tale of Fighting High Stakes Testing in New York
Part 5 Part V: About the Authors
Chapter 5: Creation of the Africana Studies Center at Cornell University
Chapter 6: Community Action in Lemon Grove For and Against Integrated Education
Chapter 7: A Comparative Analysis of Grassroots Studies in Education
Chapter 8: Freedom Rides in Southern States
Chapter 9: The Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party
Chapter 10: Toxic Waste and Environmental Justice in Warren County, North Carolina
Chapter 11: The Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, Alabama
Chapter 12: A Comparative Analysis of Grassroots Studies in Politics
Chapter 13: Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

This politically rich and educationally sound collection illuminates how social conditions and practices affect grassroots movements. With valuable insights from case studies, including the authors' thoughtful reflections, Grassroots Social Action makes a well-defined contribution to the scholarship the discipline.

Caroline Hodges Persell

Willie's introduction and commentary on the essays is valuable to understanding how the case studies fit his conceptual framework of grassroots movements.

Choice

In this captivating set of studies, Willie, Willard, and Ridini, present a full-blown picture of effective and ineffective grassroots social actions with real-life case studies. Grassroots Social Action characterizes these movements as being in solidarity with organizations and causes outside of their specific communities. We learn what's happening at the core of grassroots movements, and the importance of legitimization and implementation as concepts for measuring outcomes.

James A. Hefner

Willie's introduction and commentary on the essays is valuable to understanding how the case studies fit his conceptual framework of grassroots movements.

Choice Reviews - 2008

Willie's introduction and commentary on the essays is valuable to understanding how the case studies fit his conceptual framework of grassroots movements.

Choice Reviews

Willie's introduction and commentary on the essays is valuable to understanding how the case studies fit his conceptual framework of grassroots movements.

CHOICE