We Are the Ones We've Been Waiting For

a compendium of people-powered revolutions

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still from Pray the Devil Back to Hell

our ancestors accomplished more, with less, against worse. stay locked in.

- Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò
Professor of Philosophy, Georgetown University

For the last full moon, I shared my experience with grief as it is manifesting in both a personal way and in response to what many of us in the United States are experiencing these days.

On this new moon, a potent time for new beginnings, I want to share some medicine for that grief.

Over the past few decades, I’ve been passionately interested in the stories of people who, facing extremely oppressive conditions, have found the courage and brilliance to turn the tide. I’ve been informally collecting these stories and resources related to them. This feels like a good time to share a few of them with you.

Social transformation contains many dimensions. There’s certainly an element of spirituality and faith (which I’ll write more about on the next full moon), but it’s equally true that it requires people coming together to tap into collective power. At this time when so much of what’s happening can feel overwhelming and lead to despair and isolation, it’s essential to remember these stories from our ancestors and relatives, and find hope in them.

A Force More Powerful

This two-part documentary series, made in 1999, is an excellent introduction to nonviolent resistance. It features six case studies of successful nonviolent movements in India, the United States, South Africa, Denmark, Poland, and Chile, all of which made use of civil disobedience and other strategies to achieve their goals. The Los Angeles Times called it “Outstanding… a veritable manual on how to mount a successful nonviolent resistance movement.”

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict has made the film available to watch for free on their website. You can also find a free 16-page study guide to download and use for educational purposes.

Pray the Devil Back to Hell

I found out about this 2008 documentary from friends in Northern Thailand who do amazing work to support feminists and activists, and was blown away the first time I watched it. Pray the Devil Back to Hell is an excellent complement to A Force More Powerful as it brings the focus on the unique power women hold to ignite and sustain social change. The film tells the story of Leymah Gbowee and the Liberian women who organized in multitudes of ways to drive out a brutal dictator and end a civil war. Gbowee was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011.

The Pueblo Revolt

The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 was the first successful revolution against colonization in Northern America. I have learned about it in the years that I’ve been living in Northern New Mexico, and continue to be awed by the determination of Pueblo people to protect their families and their lifeways, not only historically but in the present day.

The Revolt was an organized response to more than 80 years of brutal domination by Spanish conquistadors and colonizers. Pueblo people suffered violence, their labor and resources were exploited, and they were persecuted for practicing their spiritual traditions. At a certain point, leaders realized that negotiations with the Spaniards were useless, and they took more militant and radical steps – which worked, and preserved their culture and lifeways for generations to come.

Learn more about the Pueblo Revolt on this post that I wrote for my Postcards from New Mexico Substack:

The Pueblo Revolt

The Rosenstrasse Protest

In 1943, twelve years into the Nazi occupation of power in Germany, a remarkable protest took place in Berlin. Two thousand Berlin Jews along with their "mischlinge" (mixed) children, were arrested, detained at a Jewish community house on Rosenstrasse, and awaited deportation. Their Christian spouses decided they could not stand by and do nothing. Over seven days, hundreds of these women gathered outside the building and announced that they would not leave until their husbands were released. They kept to their word, even in the face of threats that they would be shot. It worked. On March 6, 1943, Joseph Goebbels, Hitler’s minister of propaganda, ordered all of the people imprisoned at Rosenstrasse to be released.

I learned about this event through a Bluesky share of this article. You can also learn more in this Wikipedia entry.

Patti Smith: People Have the Power

I’ll end this short collection with one of the most awesome songs of hope of all time. Remember – the people have the power to redeem the work of fools!

What would you add to this resource list? What’s been inspiring you lately?

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