This paper involves a close analysis of Wangari Maathai's autobiography, Unbowed. The book traces Maathai's evolution as a powerful activist, eventually winning the Nobel Peace Prize.

The goal of this paper is to learn about strategies of social activism by studying Maathai's approach. There is much we can learn from Maathai about how to be a citizen and an activist. Ideally everyone in class chooses a different form of activism and then we can share what we learn from each other. For the paper choose one activist strategy or approach, carefully describe how Maathai uses that approach drawing on specfics and quotations from Unbowed, and analyze how this approach works and why it is effective. Your paper should be at least 5 pages.

Possible topics include:

community organizing;

letter writing;

use of media;

use of African languages;

forming, joining, and/or leading organization;

collaboration with other organizations;

mass protest in public spaces;

occupation of public and private spaces;

seeking international support;

planting trees;

story telling - testimonies;

hunger strikes;

use of female gender as a political resistance strategy;

teach-ins;

strategies of resistance – occupying, refusing cooperation, resisting the police, sit-ins;

civil disobedience;

getting arrested; or,

any other strategy you identify.

Created by: allen.webb@wmich.edu
Revised: 1/25