Let's talk strategy

The labor left (that's us) is scattered, disorganized, vilified by our "allies" and enemies alike, and relatively small and powerless compared to the groups we have to defeat to get what we want. We squabble amongst ourselves as to strategy. Demexit? Or Deminvade? Put on pussy hats and march with the establishment? Or 1) learn to knit; 2) knit dick and balls hats; 3)?????; 4) profit.

But there is some good news. We don't have to fix any of that right now to build a successful movement.

Let's look at the Civil Rights Movement.

Black people have never been more than 13% of the population. They didn't start with numbers or support. There was not internal agreement in the black community as to how to proceed or even what they wanted as outcomes. But yet they made huge progress. Everyone in the black community got some of what they wanted. How? MLK was a brilliant strategic thinker.

Sitting on the back of the bus was not the largest problem facing the black community in 1955. It wouldn't even crack the top 10. Further, segregation on transportation happened all over the South, not just in Montgomery, Alabama.

So why on earth did MLK pick the Montgomery Bus Boycott as his first major action?

1. There was broad consensus in the black community that bus segregation was a stupid and degrading law.

2. It was achievable with the resources he had on hand.

3. It asked one clear thing of protestors (stay off the bus), and demanded one clear thing of those they were protesting against (integrate seating on the bus).

4. It had a tangible effect on the target (it hit them in the wallet).

5. With the exception of Rosa Parks, he wasn't asking anyone to risk arrest or direct confrontation.

6. It gave protestors something they wanted (dignity) immediately, even while it asked them to sacrifice their comfort.

7. It was symbolic of the whole wretched system.

And it worked. It got the buses desegregated in Montgomery. More importantly, it put MLK on the map and laid the groundwork for a movement.

So how did he pull it off?

1. He organized the community ahead of time. Got consensus on his plan.

2. He CHOSE his moment. Rosa Parks wasn't the first to be arrested on the bus. He selected her because she made a good poster child to rally around.

3. He organized continuing community support. When rides could be arranged for those who were most disadvantaged by staying off the bus, they were arranged.

We don't have to do everything. We just have to do one thing right. Let's do that one thing.

EDIT: Word, see below.