Definition 5: Solidarity

 Definition

Solidarity is built through action and led by the understanding that our liberation is bound to one another just as our struggles are intertwined in the fight against a common oppressor. 

In Context

Community Engaged Research (CER) involves truly understanding and working with a community in alignment with their needs, wants, struggles, and dreams. Working in ways of solidarity is important because it guides relationship-building beyond the goals of a singular project. Often a co-opted term, solidarity is more than just extending “support” for a cause that you believe in for a community you are not directly “a part of”. In the 4 Levels of Solidarity Framework Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM) presents solidarity in levels of symbolic, transactional, embodied, and transformative. Increasing levels of solidarity is central to the core of many organizations. 

Solidarity is not transactional, it is a duty to each other and shared responsibility to oppressed peoples globally as we fight imperial, colonial, and capitalist power and systems of hierarchy. Specifically to the Asian community, solidarity is important when challenging the model minority myth which leads the Asian community to further the white supremacist agenda through “the myth of meritocracy”. Scholars and activists such as Angela Davis point out that “Our histories never unfold in isolation. We cannot truly tell what we consider to be our histories without knowing the other stories. And often we discover that those other stories are our own stories.” (135, Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement)

Examples of Solidarity

• In August of 2014, protests in Ferguson Missouri against the murder of 18-year-old Michael Brown by Officer Darren Wilson spread across the country with people taking to the streets with massive protests and riots against the countless other murders of Black people by the hands of police. Protesters were faced with immense police brutality and violence from the state, including being tear-gassed. In seeing their comrades facing this state violence, Palestinian activists took to Twitter to express support and gave advice on resisting state violence including what to do when tear-gassed. Activist Mariam Barghouti tweeted:  “Always make sure to run against the wind/to keep calm when you’re teargassed, the pain will pass, don’t rub your eyes! #Ferguson Solidarity.” 

There is a long history of Black-Palestinian Solidarity, which is strengthened by the understanding of joint struggle against a common oppressor. An example of this includes the deep relationship between the US and israeli military, surveillance, and police forces- including israeli occupation forces training US Police Departments. The Twitter exchange between Palestinian and Black American activists demonstrates how although they are an ocean apart, they were facing the same tactics of state violence and therefore could learn from each other's tactics and strategies in organizing and ultimately the fight for liberation. 

Reflection Questions

• How do you position yourself in your work with community partners? How do your identities and/or the communities you are a part of align with the struggles/goals of your community partner? 

• How does your research support the work of your community partner? Is your research something that is needed for the community you are working with?