One of the initiatives I started this year in my role as Diversity Coach is the Diversity Collective. I envisioned a group of teachers delving into meaningful equity in a supportive environment. During the October Staff Day, three teachers stopped by my drop-in session where I pitched my concept. After some discussion of various possibilities, the group decided to read Viral Justice by Dr. Ruha Benjamin over the course of the school year. Some additional teachers and administrators joined the group, and we held our first meeting in December.

I’ve read Viral Justice twice before; this time I’m listening to Dr. Benjamin’s audiobook which I highly recommend. Dr. Benjamin, a sociologist and Princeton University professor, uses the metaphor of a virus to not only explore how injustice spreads but also how justice can grow in a viral manner through intentional acts of care and resistance. 

Dr. Benjamin examines how small, everyday actions can collectively lead to systemic change.

I’ve discovered five themes in this work: The Power of the Individual, Intersectionality and Inequity, Imagination and Hope, and Actionable Justice. 

(1) The Power of the Individual: Benjamin argues that seemingly small, individual, localized efforts to challenge injustice in systems like education, healthcare, technology can lead to meaningful, large-scale transformations when undertaken by multiple individuals and communities.

(2) Intersectionality and Inequity: These themes are central to her exploration of how injustice is deeply rooted in societal systems. Dr. Benjamin explores intersectionality, a framework for understanding how various forms of discrimination, oppression, and privilege overlap to create unique experiences of equity or inequity for individuals and groups. If we are to address social injustice through viral actions, we must recognize that inequity is embedded in our institutions and practices and understand that we must address this intersection as part of our work.

(3) Imagination and Hope: Benjamin emphasizes the importance of imagining better futures and fostering hope as a form of resistance. Her narrative encourages readers to not only critique existing systems but also to dream and build alternatives. (Her newest book, Imagination, expands upon this premise.)

(4) Actionable Justice: We may want our institutions, politicians, or celebrities to initiate sweeping reform, but we lose the opportunity for impact and relinquish our power when we wait. Dr. Benjamin encourages readers to engage in viral justice by seizing opportunities for change where they are and where they have influence. If we all engage in actionable justice, our collective endeavors can grow exponentially and move us forward to social justice.

Viral Justice challenges readers to see themselves as agents of change, planting seeds of justice and nurturing equity through small but meaningful actions. It’s a call to action for anyone invested in creating a more equitable and compassionate world. If you’d like to join us for our next discussion, please contact me at the email listed below.