Week 2- What is a social movement?

           This week we discussed the necessary criteria of social movements.  Commonly misperceived among the public (and previously myself up until this past week), a social movement is not merely a publicly wanted change.  Rather, social movements require three factors in a simultaneous and ongoing manner.  They are campaign, social movement repertoire, and WUNC displays. 

            In examination of the social movement and its definition, I took consideration of the Ku Klux Klan.  An organization with a long history stemming from Reconstruction, the Klan has always fulfilled the campaign aspect of the social movement criteria.  However, in their successful public assault of blacks, immigrants, and non-protestants, they continually failed to meet, or if met, failed to sustain the social movement repertoire and WUNC displays.  Although unsuccessful in the past, the Klan is still active with up to 1,500 members nationwide and 150 separate chapters.

            In addition to studying the Ku Klux Klan this week, I also considered another organization with which I will be fulfilling my internship this semester- the Special Olympics.  This organization fulfills the criteria of campaign, social movement repertoire, and WUNC displays entirely.  I look forward to my meeting with the Manager of Program and Volunteer Services tomorrow.