What we see and don't see meeting another culture: Edward T. Hall’s Cultural Iceberg Model

Not all activism is created equal. The line between real activism and performative activism has never been more important to draw. One strengthens movements. The other drains energy, spreads misinformation, and fractures solidarity. TL;DR - Performative activism = optics over impact. It looks good and sounds good, but doesn’t generate real change. - Real activism shows up in many forms, from public comment campaigns to protests, parenting, art, and community organizing. - Everyone has a different role to play. We cannot expect every single person to behave and engage the same way because all have different circumstances, privileges, educations, identities, and situations that dictate what's realistic (and safe) for us. - The harm of performative activism is that it distracts, erodes trust, and undermines those doing the actual work. - Accountability is different. It’s valid to ask people with power, platforms, or privilege to step up in meaningful ways. - We don’t all have to do everything. Specializing in one area deeply can be just as powerful as touching on everything superficially. - Everyone starts somewhere. Sometimes, the most impactful work that you do won't be visible to others, and that's okay. All that matters is we keep trying our best and keep moving forward. In other words: The difference isn’t about how loud you are or how polished you look. It’s about whether your actions move us closer to justice or just make you look like you care. Performative Activism vs Real Activism: What It Is, Why It’s Harmful, and How to Do Better