Reveille for Radicals

1. The Radical: A Champion of All Humanity

The Radical is that unique person who actually believes what he says. He is that person to whom the common good is the greatest personal value. He is that person who genuinely and completely believes in mankind.

Defining the Radical. A Radical is not merely a Liberal or Conservative; they are individuals deeply identified with humanity, feeling the pain and injustice of all people as their own. Unlike Liberals who may intellectually support causes but shrink from direct action, Radicals act on their convictions, fighting for fundamental causes rather than superficial problems. They are impatient with the status quo and dedicated to eradicating evils that anchor mankind in misery.

Beyond tolerance. Many claim to "like people" but only tolerate those "like them," exemplified by "Mr. But" who is broad-minded but maintains prejudices. Radicals, however, genuinely love all people, transcending racial, religious, and ethnic divides. They see injustice to any man as injustice to themselves, embodying John Donne's "No man is an Hand, intire of it selfe."

A force for change. Historically, Radicals have been the driving force behind every significant advance toward equality and justice in America. From Patrick Henry and Tom Paine to abolitionists, labor organizers, and civil rights advocates, they have worn the epithet "Radical" as a badge of honor. They seek a world where individual worth is recognized, human potential realized, and life is lived with dignity, security, happiness, and peace, based on a morality of mankind.

2. Apathy: The Silent Killer of Democracy

Unless the American people are aroused to a higher degree of participation, democracy will die at its roots—the withering disease of apathy in the roots of democracy will eventually cause its death.

The crisis of apathy. America faces a profound crisis rooted in mass apathy, fear of the future, and a vast discrepancy between professed morals and actual practices. Many people long for the past, paralyzed by the unknown, rather than confronting the revolutionary upheavals of the present. This widespread disinterest and non-participation erode the foundations of democracy, leading to a sense of powerlessness and urban anonymity where individuals feel isolated and unheard.

Life without meaning. The average workingman often lives a routine, drab existence, condemned to urban anonymity, feeling no stake in the future. This lack of opportunity to direct one's own efforts or shape destiny leads to profound frustration and despair. De Tocqueville warned that enslaving men in minor details of life breaks their spirit, making them incapable of exercising their great privileges, ultimately leading to a return to a single master.

Consequences of inaction. This pervasive apathy means that social objectives and the collective good become meaningless phrases, replaced by individualistic pursuits. While organized groups (labor, business, farm blocs) articulate their interests, over one hundred million Americans remain silent, effectively denied their voice in shaping the nation's destiny. This stifling of mass participation is a bitter truth that threatens the very lifeblood of democracy.

3. People's Organizations: The Engine of True Democracy

The building of People’s Organizations is the creation of a set of realignments, new definitions of values and objectives, the breaking down of prejudices and barriers and all of the many other changes which flow out of a People’s Organization.

A new power group. A People's Organization is not a philanthropic gesture but a deep, hard-driving force dedicated to waging war against social evils. It is a banding together of multitudes to fight for a decent way of life, recognizing that true solutions lie with the people themselves, not in top-down formulas. Its purpose is to generate power, controlled and applied for the attainment of a program developed by the people.

Beyond conventional programs. Unlike conventional community councils that address problems in isolation (e.g., juvenile delinquency without tackling unemployment or housing), a People's Organization embraces an all-inclusive program. It recognizes that all problems are interrelated and stem from fundamental causes, requiring a holistic approach. Offering "bats and balls" instead of "bread and butter" to those in despair is a "higher form of social treason."

Dynamic and inclusive. A People's Organization shatters the shell of isolationism, fostering mutual understanding and breaking down prejudices among diverse groups—businessmen, labor leaders, religious figures, and ethnic associations. It is a constantly growing movement, limited only by the horizon of humanity itself, providing a never-ending ladder for drives and aggressions to be channeled constructively, preventing internal feuds.

4. Power from the People: Building from the Roots Up

The building of a People’s Organization can be done only by the people themselves. The only way that people can express themselves is through their leaders.

Indigenous leadership is paramount. A People's Organization must be rooted in the communal life of local people, expressing their traditions through their own leaders. These "native" or "indigenous" leaders are the true representatives, accepted by their communities, and are the "roots" that nourish the organization. Without their support, any organizing venture is doomed to failure.

Identifying true leaders. Conventional community organizers often fail by selecting "leaders" who are similar to themselves (professionals, businessmen) but lack genuine connection or following among the rank and file. Real native leaders, often called "Little Joes," may occupy humble roles—a labor steward, a bartender, a garage mechanic—but command the trust and loyalty of 20-30 people. They are the "telephone number of the people."

Developing leadership. The organizer's crucial task is to identify these natural leaders and work for their development, expanding their influence from limited spheres to well-rounded leadership. This process goes hand-in-hand with the organization's growth, as a broad program demands broad capabilities. An outside organizer can stimulate and catalyze, but only the people and their own leaders can truly build and sustain a People's Organization.

5. Strategic Engagement: Leveraging Self-Interest for Collective Good

The Radical recognizes that in order to work with people he must first approach them on a basis of common understanding.

Meeting people where they are. In a materialistic society, people are often driven by self-interest, suspicion, and a "little bit of larceny." The shrewd organizer doesn't condemn these traits but uses them as potent weapons for good. By appealing to individual ambition, greed, or competition, people can be initially drawn into an organization, only to later discover collective benefits and genuine altruism.

Exploiting contradictions. People often live in a world of contradictions, espousing morals they don't practice (e.g., Christianity vs. prejudice). The organizer can utilize this "Achilles' heel" by creating situations where individuals must either participate or publicly admit their lack of faith in democracy. This forces them to reconcile their morals and behavior, leading to genuine engagement.

Tactics in action:

• Greed for good: Businessmen like Mr. David and Roger, initially motivated by advertising and competition, become apostles of cooperation after personally encountering the suffering they sought to alleviate.
• Ego and pride: The "Pastor and Red Rowe" story demonstrates how appealing to ego (e.g., "Red Rowe worships the ground you walk on") can overcome deep-seated animosity and lead to collaboration.
• Social pressure: Creating a "new social situation" where an individual is excluded or challenged can compel them to join and adjust, as seen with "Big John" and the "personal" letter.

These tactics are temporary expedients, preparing the ground for an environment where innate altruism can flourish.

6. Conflict is Inevitable: Fight for What's Right

A People’s Organization is a conflict group. This must be openly and fully recognized. Its sole reason for coming into being is to wage war against all evils which cause suffering and unhappiness.

War against social evils. A People's Organization is dedicated to an "eternal war" against poverty, misery, injustice, and despair. This is not an intellectual debate; there are no rules of fair play when fighting for one's children, homes, jobs, and lives. Liberals, comfortable in their "ivory towers," often criticize the "viciousness" of a People's Organization's tactics, failing to grasp the life-and-death stakes involved for the rank and file.

Strategic warfare. Leaders must understand and skillfully employ conflict tactics. This involves:

• Exploiting weaknesses: The "Tycoon's Department Store" example shows how arrogance and disdain for common people can be turned into a fatal vulnerability.
• Unconventional responses: When facing a stronger opponent, "smash the plan" by not reacting in the conventional, expected manner, drawing the opponent into confusion.
• "Fight in the bank": Maintaining a reserve of minor grievances allows the organization to channel aroused aggressions after a major victory, preventing internal feuds and ensuring a satisfactory outlet for collective passion.

Leveraging tradition. Just as knowledge of terrain is crucial in military tactics, understanding community traditions is paramount. Violating deeply held traditions can unleash powerful forces, as seen in the French Revolution when insulting an old man ignited a city-wide cry to arms. Resourceful leaders can utilize these traditions to maneuver stronger opposition into vulnerable positions.

7. Education Through Action: Learning by Doing

Education instead of being distant and academic becomes a direct and intimate part of the personal lives, experiences, and activities of the people.

Learning by participation. The very purpose of a People's Organization is educational. By bringing diverse groups together, it fosters mutual understanding, breaks down prejudices, and leads to a new appreciation of social issues. Businessmen and labor leaders, initially seeing each other as "ogres" or "Communists," learn to know each other as "Johnny and Fred," discovering shared human values and common goals.

Creating educational circumstances. A People's Organization doesn't just disseminate facts; it creates the conditions and climate where people want to learn because it's essential to their lives. This involves:

• Practical application: Committee members, interested in housing, find themselves learning about planning, health, and race relations because these are all interconnected.
• Respectful access to facts: Instead of spoon-feeding information, the organization guides people to discover facts for themselves, as seen with the housing committee reading pamphlets together.
• Shattering isolationism: Fighting for a local "Hot Lunch" program leads to understanding national appropriations, governmental channels, and the interconnectedness of local, state, and national issues.

Rationalization as a tool. Organizers recognize that people often act first and rationalize later. The slogan becomes: "Get them to move in the right direction first. They'll explain to themselves later why they moved in that direction and that explanation will be better learning for them than anything we can do." This was powerfully demonstrated in the "Jim Crow" meeting, where labor leaders, maneuvered into a non-segregation stance, subsequently educated themselves on racial equality to justify their actions.

8. "Their Own": The Core of Human Dignity and Participation

What you get by your own effort is really yours. It is a part of you, bound and knit to you through the experiences that you have undergone in securing it.

The dignity of self-achievement. People have a passionate desire to feel they have personally contributed to their achievements. Receiving things as gifts, even life's essentials, can be psychologically demeaning, fostering revulsion rather than appreciation. This is why a People's Organization emphasizes that achievements are meaningful only through the people's own efforts; they must work for what they get.

Ownership fosters responsibility. The concept of "their own" is profoundly important. When asked why their recreation center didn't need a night watchman like a public park, officials of a People's Organization responded, "Our recreation center belongs to us—it's ours—and people aren't going to steal from themselves something which belongs to them." This illustrates the deep sense of ownership and responsibility that comes from collective effort.

Beyond superficial gifts. The story of Mexico's Monte de Piedad, where sewing machines given freely to mothers were quickly re-pawned, highlights that gifts without effort are often meaningless. In contrast, a "dirty store front with very inferior equipment that is really their own" holds more value for boys than a multi-million dollar, supervised boys' club. True participation and ownership are essential for genuine engagement and lasting impact.

9. Democracy as Orderly Revolution: The Only Path Forward

The building of People’s Organizations is orderly revolution, it is the process of the people gradually but irrevocably taking their places as citizens of a democracy.

Democracy is a revolution. Some fear People's Organizations as "revolution," forgetting that democracy itself is one of history's greatest revolutions, born from the American Revolutionary War. To reject this "orderly revolution"—a gradual, active development of popular participation—is to face two dire alternatives: sudden, bloody revolution or the inevitable slide into dictatorship due to mass apathy.

Safeguard against fascism. The fear that People's Organizations could be hijacked by demagogues into "Fascist Frankensteins" misunderstands the nature of fascism. Fascism thrives on apathy, hopelessness, and frustration, leading people to relinquish control to a dictator. A people who are active, interested, participating, and self-reliant, having learned confidence in themselves and their fellow men through a People's Organization, are the strongest barrier against dictatorship.

The path to a people's world. The future of democracy hinges on rekindling its fire through popular pressure. A People's Organization provides the opportunity to formulate programs and the medium to achieve them, pooling the invincible strength of millions. It smashes artificial barriers—sectarian, racial, economic—uniting people to think, work, and fight together as Americans for a world where the "little people" can live in dignity, peace, and security. This is the ultimate democratic program: a democratically minded and participating people.

Last updated: December 4, 2025