stephanie
01-24-2009, 04:55 PM
Saul Alinsky
Saul Alinsky was a community organizer and organized the Industrial Areas Foundation in Chicago. Born in 1909, Alinsky's strategy was social reform by the organizing in mass power and teaching us the ability to act until his death in 1972. He was a compassionate social reformer of magnitude and wisdom and brought together community groups to work with the socially aware churches. No one had more experience or was more successful in bringing together activists for united community action. We may truly have Alinsky to thank for all the good that came out of all that was bad of the Democratic Convention of Chicago in 1968.
Saul was born and raised in Chicago, studied archaeology and criminology and worked as criminologist. Alinsky saw the hypocrisy of Madison Ave, the middle-class and the Protestant moral superiority of which he recognized the ignorance inherent in the attitude that to be controversial is practically a cardinal sin. Alinsky believed that conflict and controversy are the very elements of a democratic, free way of life. In Chicago, he helped organize the Back of the Yards Council, the Industrial Areas Foundation and the Woodlawn Organization which organized inner-city blacks to solve problems. His efforts survived for some years after his death but interest waned during the materialistic "me generation" of the Reagan and Bush years. Some work was done in resurrecting the IAF with churches coming together again.
Although much of his work was done in Chicago, there was also organizing activity in all the big cities due to the activist and evangelistic spirit of his students. Alinsky's field of action was the field of change and a constant stream of conflict. Alinsky knew that in today's world, people are not motivated by altruism, you need to somehow appeal to their self-interest. The right thing usually done for the wrong reasons. When he came into a community in order to organize it, he had to get the local churches involved. He said that he never appealed to the ministers or priests in terms of Christian principles because they did not really believe in Christianity. Therefore, Alinsky appealed to what really motivated them, their self-interests and talked more about membership and more money. It worked every time.
The tension was felt wherever his people went, especially if he came with them. When Alinsky came to Rochester, a "howl of protest" came up. He seemed to work best among the socially aware churches, which were generally labeled "liberal" and the black holiness churches.
Saul Alinsky's book, Rules For Radicals was first published in 1971 and is his impassioned advice to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change. The Rules became a primer for hell raisers. Alinsky wanted us to know "the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one." Alinsky loved the American democratic tradition and his book outlines the rules of the game for organizers to follow in bringing together people bent on social and political justice.
[209, 273, 180]
Rules for Radicals
by Saul D. Alinsky
A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals
read it all..
http://latter-rain.com/ltrain/alinski.htm
Saul Alinsky was a community organizer and organized the Industrial Areas Foundation in Chicago. Born in 1909, Alinsky's strategy was social reform by the organizing in mass power and teaching us the ability to act until his death in 1972. He was a compassionate social reformer of magnitude and wisdom and brought together community groups to work with the socially aware churches. No one had more experience or was more successful in bringing together activists for united community action. We may truly have Alinsky to thank for all the good that came out of all that was bad of the Democratic Convention of Chicago in 1968.
Saul was born and raised in Chicago, studied archaeology and criminology and worked as criminologist. Alinsky saw the hypocrisy of Madison Ave, the middle-class and the Protestant moral superiority of which he recognized the ignorance inherent in the attitude that to be controversial is practically a cardinal sin. Alinsky believed that conflict and controversy are the very elements of a democratic, free way of life. In Chicago, he helped organize the Back of the Yards Council, the Industrial Areas Foundation and the Woodlawn Organization which organized inner-city blacks to solve problems. His efforts survived for some years after his death but interest waned during the materialistic "me generation" of the Reagan and Bush years. Some work was done in resurrecting the IAF with churches coming together again.
Although much of his work was done in Chicago, there was also organizing activity in all the big cities due to the activist and evangelistic spirit of his students. Alinsky's field of action was the field of change and a constant stream of conflict. Alinsky knew that in today's world, people are not motivated by altruism, you need to somehow appeal to their self-interest. The right thing usually done for the wrong reasons. When he came into a community in order to organize it, he had to get the local churches involved. He said that he never appealed to the ministers or priests in terms of Christian principles because they did not really believe in Christianity. Therefore, Alinsky appealed to what really motivated them, their self-interests and talked more about membership and more money. It worked every time.
The tension was felt wherever his people went, especially if he came with them. When Alinsky came to Rochester, a "howl of protest" came up. He seemed to work best among the socially aware churches, which were generally labeled "liberal" and the black holiness churches.
Saul Alinsky's book, Rules For Radicals was first published in 1971 and is his impassioned advice to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change. The Rules became a primer for hell raisers. Alinsky wanted us to know "the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one." Alinsky loved the American democratic tradition and his book outlines the rules of the game for organizers to follow in bringing together people bent on social and political justice.
[209, 273, 180]
Rules for Radicals
by Saul D. Alinsky
A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals
read it all..
http://latter-rain.com/ltrain/alinski.htm