Boycott

Over the last several years, I’ve made it a bit of a custom to read, listen or watch something by or about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the holiday that celebrates his life. In the past few years, I’ve listened to his “I Have a Dream” speech, re-read “Letter from a Birmingham Jail” and watched Selma and documentaries about his life.

This year I re-watched the movie, Boycott. The film is an immersion into the particulars of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. It is a reminder of the deep sacrifices and complex coordination that led to its ultimate success – 381 days later. Success was enjoyed not only by the 30,000-40,000 people who directly participated in the boycott but by the millions who benefited by the Supreme Court’s ruling in its favor, which found that segregation was unlawful.

The term and idea of a boycott is relatively new. It is named after an English land agent, Charles Boycott, who in 1880 refused to reduce his rent in the amount requested by his Irish tenant farmers and then tried to evict them.The entire community then decided to isolate Boycott, refusing to work for him or do business with him. The postman even refused to deliver his mail. The success of this original non-violent protest was so thorough that others followed suit, using his name, Boycott, as a verb.

At a time, when many are frustrated at a world that seems unfair, where a few wield power recklessly without fear of consequence, one can feel helpless. Yet in a largely capitalist society, we are best to remember the power we wield with our own capital – both financial and social.

In its simplest form, a boycott is “a concerted refusal to have dealings with a person, a store, an organization, etc. usually to express disapproval.” We have choices of how we spend our time, our money, our attention and who benefits from these choices. Don’t like the actions of a CEO or political leader? Boycott them. There are other places to buy a book, different models of electric cars or better places to connect online or off. If someone obnoxious or unseemly is vying for your attention, don’t allow them to spend a second in your head.

Of course, most successful boycotts are of a collective nature. Thousands of people or more decide to boycott someone or something for a very specific purpose. Other boycotts are of a more personal nature. Individuals, on their own accord, decide that the actions of a person or company are just too contrary to their own values. This incongruity makes us feel hypocritical. How can we complain about someone while we continue to give them our attention, time or money?

Boycotts of all kinds are difficult – particularly at first. They require sacrifice and change. But as we adjust to new habits, we realize that the alternatives, even if more expensive or less convenient, make us feel a little better – as our actions and values are more aligned.

Personal boycotts can also be daunting. After all, most often what we are boycotting has some type of utilitarian value to us. The thought of giving up something we value forever seems impossible. Yet boycotts don’t have to last forever. In fact most don’t. They instead, just happen one day at a time. Until something gives. Us or them. If you’re so inclined, consider boycotting something or someone whose actions you’ve grown uncomfortable with. Give it a week and see how you feel. I’m guessing, better.

This Week’s Recommendation. Watch this trailer for the new National Geographic movie, Blink. Full disclosure, I haven’t watched the movie yet – although I intend to. However the trailer is so profoundly moving and inspiring it alone may impact how you see the world.

Consider sharing this email with someone who is frustrated and at a loss for what to do about it.

Leave a Reply

Sign up here to receive Moving Up Mondays

Receive our weekly email, delivering inspiration and perspective every Monday morning.