What is activist rhetoric? The simple answer I like to give is persuasive action.  Activism is the practice of action or involvement as a means of achieving political or social change. Rhetoric is the art of persuasive speaking or writing.  Activist rhetoric is essential our ability to create effective and persuasive communications and actions.

I first came across this idea through a course I had taken as an undergrad entitled Activist Rhetorics. The course taught me that effective communications are the most important aspect of creating social or political change. We are, after all, reliant on communications for nearly everything that we do. The main text for the course, Rhetoric for Radicals: A Handbook for 21st Century Activists by Jason Del Gandio, is an excellent toolkit for activists that examines all aspects of communications, including public speaking, writing, language and performance.

Bringing about social and political change is a daunting task. It is made more difficult in some ways with the ever-shortening attention spans of the public. Getting a clear and concise message across, especially if one hopes to reach beyond your base of existing support, requires resources and a strategy. The key to successful rhetoric is planning. Creating a communications strategy is critical to developing persuasive and effective messaging and ultimately achieving the social change you desire.

Here are the factors you should consider:
∙ Goals
What do you want to achieve, both in the short-term and in the long-term?
Policy change? Winning support and resources? Political party change? Changes to societal habits or views?
∙ Audience
Who do you want to reach?
Are you trying to influence those with power? Are you trying to influence the masses?
Specific demographics? By geographic locale? By political leanings?
∙ Reach
What is the number of people that you hope to reach?
∙ Resources
What financial resources, people, and skills sets are needed? What resources do you already have? What resources will need to be acquired?
∙ Mediums
What mediums will you use to communicate your message?
Written, vocal and/or human movement?
Live or recorded?
∙ Venues/Platforms
What venues and platforms will you use to get your message across to others?
If recorded audio/visual: online video sharing platform (e.g. Youtube, Vimeo), online audio sharing platform (e.g. Soundcloud), film screenings, podcast, radio.
If online text: online publications, social media, personal blogs and websites.
If online visual: infographic, meme, social media, personal blogs and websites.
If print: books, magazines, academic journals, newspapers.
If visual arts: mural, street art, a gallery show.
If live: venue performance, public space performance, public talk, panel discussion, debate.
∙ Approach
What is your approach?
Are you looking to be direct? Persuasive? Demonstrate the moral correctness of your cause?
Are you looking to be confrontational? Shaming the target? Provoking outrage?
Are you looking to be covert? Planting ideas and messaging that provokes thought? Subvertising?
Are you looking to be comedic? Parody? Dadaist frivolity?
∙ Time
What is the timeline for your plan?
Are there any deadlines or other time-related factors that need to be considered?

After completing your initial communications plan, you should step back and take some time for reflexivity. Learn about similar actions or campaigns to yours to better understand what is effective and ineffective. Also, learn more about persuasion and communications. Get the opinions of others who have previously been involved in similar activism. Take some time to reflect. Ask yourself if you think the action will be effective and a good use of limited resources. Time is the most valuable thing we have — make sure you are using it wisely and effectively. Based on the feedback given, research and contemplation of those on your team, update and adapt the communications plan accordingly.

Knowing what you want to achieve, what resources you need, and how you will achieve your goal will make your communications far more effective. Drawing on the wisdom and experience of others will strengthen your ability to be persuasive. This is successful activist rhetoric.