How to Imagine a Better Future for Democracy | adrienne maree brown and Baratunde Thurston | TED

TL;DR

Embracing the concept of being a citizen as a verb, the content explores the importance of embracing change, connecting globally, and practicing care and repair in order to transform democracy and create a more just world.

Transcript

want to start with this word yeah citizen yeah and we've both been doing work around tapping into the power of the people The Power Within people yeah and context for me is that I've been co-creator and producer and and partial voice of this media movement called how to Citizen yes you have where we take citizen to be a verb it's something you do a... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥡 Being a citizen as a verb involves actively engaging in society and taking on a role to bring about change.
• 💱 Change is inevitable, and individuals must learn to adapt and become fractals of belonging within their communities.
• 🌐 Global collaboration and learning from other movements are essential for addressing common challenges and creating a sense of global community.
• 😨 Satisfaction in the experience of being a citizen comes from designing a society that prioritizes care, repair, and belonging.
• 👶 Democracy needs to be transformed, acknowledging its shortcomings and embracing new practices and methodologies.
• 🌍 Grief and mourning are necessary for recognizing historical injustices and moving towards a more inclusive and just world.
• 😨 Practicing care, repair, and facilitation are crucial in creating a society built on empathy, trust, and collective action.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the meaning of being a citizen as a verb?

Being a citizen as a verb means actively participating in society, taking on a role, and recognizing the power we hold as individuals to bring about change. It involves engaging with power dynamics, investing in relationships, and committing to the greater good.

Q: How can we address the gap between what people want and what the government does?

The speaker highlights the need for global collaboration and learning from other movements facing similar struggles. By connecting with and supporting one another, we can develop new ways of thinking about citizenship and democracy, leading to more effective and responsive governance.

Q: How can we create satisfaction in the experience of being a citizen?

The focus should be on designing a society that prioritizes care, repair, and belonging. This requires practicing care for each other, acknowledging and addressing historical injustices, and creating systems that are built on trust, empathy, and inclusivity.

Q: How can we navigate the challenges of change in the current world?

Embracing change and recognizing its inevitability is crucial. By becoming fractals of belonging and imagining a world that feels just, individuals can take small steps towards creating a better future. It requires humility, learning from others, and actively practicing care and repair.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The content emphasizes the importance of being an active citizen and embracing the power within to bring about change.

• It highlights the four principles of being a citizen: showing up and assuming a role, understanding power, committing to the collective self, and investing in relationships.

• The conversation focuses on the need for global collaboration, learning from other communities and movements, and envisioning a world in which everyone feels safe, heard, and belonging.