In the chapter called “Civil Rights and Megachurches” from the book The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg, an author for the New York Times, discusses a three part process to social change. Duhigg believes that social change can be successful as long as habits of friendship and the growth of communities are maintained through new, meaningful habits. He begins the chapter by describing the role that strong and weak social ties had during the Civil Rights Movement. When Rosa Parks, a well respected and known woman, was arrested because she refused to give up her seat for a white man on a public bus, thousands of people stood behind her during her trial. Rosa’s role within the community and because she had many connections with various people in her city, citizens were more likely to support her during this time, which proves Duhigg’s idea that friendships and a sense of community can inspire social change.
Later in the chapter, Duhigg explains that creating new habits within communities can maintain the strength of a movement and further “propel” it in order to produce wide spread social change. Duhigg mentions the development of the megachurch, called Saddleback Church, which uses a “recipe” for its members to follow every day. This recipe relates to the habits performed and led by Martin Luther King Jr. during the Civil Rights Movement. He constantly reminded his followers to maintain peaceful and nonviolent during every protest that was held. This new habit united the community of citizens fighting for a change and was eventually successful at ending segregation laws within the United States.
After reading this article I have a new understanding of how social change can be created. I never considered the power of friendship, or even peer pressure, when discussing the start of a movement. Duhigg provides interesting ideas and analysis of large movements that took place within the United States.
