Saul Slinsky Video

The Democratic Promise

      Saul Alinsky was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1990.  He was able to attend college and graduated with a degree in criminology in the 1930's. Saul became a researcher and got personally involved in Al Capones gang in order to study gang violence.  He was also determined to find the causes of juvenile delinquincy. During this time, the Great Depression was in full effect and Saul Alinsky began to see how much poverty there was which was being caused by poor working conditions and poor pay wages that were continually decreasing for hardworking laborers.  So Saul began to help form an organization that consisted of the union, thousands of laborers, as well as the Catholic Church.  Together they formed the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council.  Saul theorized that social justice could be achieved through an american democracy.  He wanted all sectors of the community to come together to work out social issues against those who were unjust.  Saul taught memers of the community that by coming together and organizing themselves to work towards a common goal that they could stand and win against government corruption as well as large companies.  With the formation of this council, they began to rally against various packaging companies, form protests and strikes in order to win fair wages and working hours and other various common goals. This council created other community services such as the Welfare Station in order to provide families with enough food.  Saul Alinsky also wrote a book called the Reville for Radicals which brought him and his efforts national recognition.  He was also able to create the Industrial Areas Foundation which allowed Alinsky to spread his community organization efforts across the nation.  Saul Alinsky's has long passed on but his efforts still remain in effect today.    

"Change means movement, movement means friction, friction means heat, and heat means controversy"

I liked this quote because what he is basically saying is with change will come controversy.  There's no escaping that and therefore we as social workers need to be prepared to meet that controversy and move though it in order to reach our goals.  Overall, I really did enjoy this video.  I think Alinsky had a passion for justice and he used tactful methods to reach social justice for members of society.  I admire his efforts and the work that he did.  This documentary has taught me that there is definitely power in numbers.  Organizing a community of oppressed members to fight for social justice is an effective strategy when standing up to large corporations and the government.  It is no wonder why Saul Alinsky is known as the prophet of power to the people.