Small Change
Malcolm Gladwell’s analysis of “strong ties” and “weak ties” in determining a movement’s impact is exemplified in Gregory Orr’s memoir, “Return to Hayneville”, where Orr recounts his involvement in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Orr’s firsthand experience provides a real-life context for Gladwell’s ideas and opinions on social and political emancipation. In particular, Gladwell’s examination of the lunch counter sit-ins in Greensboro, North Carolina, is highlighted in his article “Small Change: Why the Revolution Will Not Be Tweeted”.
The text highlights the importance of one’s relationship with the participants of a civil rights movement or any form of activism. It showcases Gregory Orr’s experience in the civil rights movement of the 1960s, where his lack of close friends involved in the movement distanced him from the cause. According to Gladwell, who examines Orr’s experience, individuals are more likely to be motivated and stay committed to a cause if they have close friends engaged in it. Orr, being a white man, joined the civil rights movement not because of personal connections but to find purpose and escape the guilt he carried for accidentally killing his brother in 1959. Due to his lack of relationships with other activists, Orr found it easier to disengage from the movement when faced with challenges.
Gladwell argues that a “strong-tie” relationship and passion are essential for social activism to truly take place. Orr’s experiences support Gladwell’s viewpoint, as they align with the examples Gladwell provides. According to Gladwell, real social activism requires strong ties. Orr’s experiences helped him discover more about himself and the importance of living. However, Gladwell suggests that Orr joined the civil rights movement primarily to find himself amidst chaos, rather than out of a genuine passion for the cause. Gladwell describes the sit-ins as a “fever” spreading across the South, and Orr became caught up in this contagious movement. He endured beatings and witnessed injustice along with others, but his motives were not centered around civil rights. Orr realized this when he was taken captive and reflected, “Even in my despair during my time in that oppressive jail, I recognized my desire to live” (Orr, 223). Feeling ashamed, Orr left without informing the COFO office. It was easy for him to walk away from the cause because he didn’t have any personal connections or commitments to leave behind. Gladwell states that “weak ties seldom lead to high-risk activism” (Gladwell, 137).
In his essay, “Return to Hayneville”, Gregory Orr reflects on his experience as a Civil Rights worker in Alabama in 1965 when he was abducted by armed vigilantes. However, Orr traces the beginning of this journey back to the death of his younger brother in a hunting accident when he was twelve. Holding the gun that killed his brother, Orr believed that his life could have easily ended six years later due to the harsh beginning he had experienced. The haunted place where his brother died continued to weigh on Orr’s mind, and upon returning to the jailhouse in Hayneville after many years, he felt a sense of excitement knowing that he was the kid who had sought death for a noble cause. However, instead of meeting his end, Orr discovered himself and went on to live a fulfilling life. The connection Orr had with the civil rights movement was different from those described by Orwell as strong or weak ties. He did not join the cause for the sake of the movement, but rather embarked on a quest for enlightenment and self-discovery.The importance of a centrally organized movement in achieving success within an organization is emphasized by Gladwell. Orr’s experiences provide a contextual background for Gladwell’s analysis, distinguishing between networks and organizations. According to Gladwell, networks lack a singular central authority like hierarchies do, and the connections that unite people within networks are more flexible and loosely defined (139).
Gregory Orr’s encounter with the Civil Rights movement during his youth was life-changing, although he is not recognized as an activist. Instead, his involvement focused more on personal growth. This perspective aligns with Gladwell’s ideas, offering context while defying classification as strong or weak ties. In his final year of high school, Orr joined the movement to immerse himself and experienced a mix of confusion, enthusiasm, and determination. He desired to belong to a collective and find meaning in his existence. Orr even had aspirations of becoming a martyr for the cause, longing for simplicity and transcendence. Now, after four decades have passed, Orr has transformed into a poet and professor who devotes time to sharing his poetry at colleges and universities. Wanting to revisit the place that deeply impacted him, Orr made the decision to return to Hayneville—the small town where he once felt trapped.
Throughout history, individuals have always strived to improve themselves. Various societal norms and principles have guided people in their pursuit of prosperity and self-discovery. By embracing notions of freedom and pursuing personal dreams, individuals can embark on a journey of self-discovery.
Gregory Orr’s “Return to Hayneville” reveals how his life was a pathway to self-discovery, as he overcame obstacles along the way. Similarly, Janette Winterson’s “The World and Other Places” depicts a quest for self-discovery that begins at a young age. Both characters demonstrate that patience and hard work were essential on their respective paths of self-discovery.
Moreover, these characters illustrate how self-discovery enables individuals to gain profound insights into their own character and life goals. To achieve such self-discovery, a positive attitude and perseverance in the face of adversity are necessary.
“Small Change” by Malcolm Gladwell examines the influence of social media on contemporary activism. Previously, activism relied on physical gatherings such as sit-ins, which brought together large numbers of people without utilizing social networking. However, technology has revolutionized our approach to activism and equipped us with tools to enhance our methods. Social networking platforms have facilitated effortless collaboration among individuals with weak connections, enabling them to create collective power. In contrast, during the 1960s, the NAACP had to establish strong personal relationships in order to drive change within the Civil Rights Movement. It is worth noting that technology has both positive and negative aspects; acquaintances inspire individuals and provide them with fresh ideas and information. Social media motivates people to make sacrifices for which they can receive social recognition, although these sacrifices are not excessively demanding. Unlike the NAACP, social media lacks organized control or regulation, resulting in a dearth of authority and tangible outcomes.
While Gladwell emphasizes the importance of strong ties in successful activism, the significance of weak ties should not be overlooked. Social media effectively promotes weak ties, while other structures strengthen strong ties. In certain cases, social media can serve as one such structure. Both strong and weak ties are necessary in activism that drives change.
