Bridging the Class Divide: And Other Lessons for Grassroots Organizing

by Linda Stout

Book Overview

Again and again social change movements--on matter s from the environment to women's rights--have been run by middle-class leaders. But in order to make real progress toward economic and social... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0807043095
• ISBN13: 9780807043097
• Release Date: February 1997
• Publisher: Beacon Press
• Length: 216 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Bridging the Class Divide: And Other Lessons for Grassroots Organizing

If you care about helping to create a better world, this book will help. Class divisions are one of the most insidious, though least discussed, problems impacting our ability to effectively build movements for change. In an accessible style, with great stories, Linda Stout shares her years of organizing wisdom and makes it clear just what it takes to build effective cross-class alliances. As the Executive Director of Class Action, www.classism.org, I have recommended Bridging the Class Divide many times. It is a useful resource for activists and non-activists alike. Felice Yeksel

A Must Read!

This book should is a must read for everyone! I was first assigned this book in a college course, and it became the best book I ever read to help me understand how change happens. It gave me hope and motivated me to change my life to work for social justice. Because the author is not a college graduate, her language is clear, simple and powerful. If you want to create change in the world, this is the book to read. Even if you're not interested in social change, this book gives you an insight to what happens to people who grow up in poverty and other oppressive conditions. Great stories!

A must read for our times

Linda Stout's book is a very timely reminder of what it will take to create a true cross-class community in this country, and reduce the polarization that plagues our political life. I highly recommend this book.

Required read for all community organizers

Bridging the Class Divide is a "must read" for anyone with an interest in community organizing at any level. Not only is Linda Stout's personal story riveting, but the book also provides concrete steps for how to go about galvanizing groups and individuals. Stout has a great way of reaching out to everyone, not just people who do this full-time, but anyone who wants to make a difference in their community. It is at once inspiring and practical. I read it when it was first published and have referred to it many times since then. My 14-year old recently began bringing together kids to organize around school issues, and I passed it along to him. And if you're not interested in organizing, Stout's personal journey is inspiring all on its own.

How ordinary people can make a difference.

This is a moving personal story that shows how ordinary people can make a difference. It exemplifies the statement of Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Told in simple language, the story has profound insight into the way social class limits opportunities of working class people and how social class prejudice hurts. There are many practical insights about how people can organize effectively to make a better world.