Make Change Summary

"Change won't happen until you make it happen." This book pushes you to reflect on your power as an individual and inspires action for justice and transformation.

1: History is a cycle, not a straight line.

American historian Leopold von Ranke taught Shaun King that history is not a steady march toward progress. Instead, it ebbs and flows with moments of progress followed by setbacks.

For example, the abolition of slavery and the Civil Rights Movement were monumental steps forward, but they were swiftly countered by discriminatory laws like Jim Crow and periods of harsh social backlash. Obama's presidency represented a peak, but the election of Donald Trump signaled a dip driven by years of systemic buildup.

Failure to act during warning signs often leads to dips worsening. For example, ignoring flaws in existing systems enables ineffective or dangerous policies. Recognizing this cycle can equip activists to understand the scale of change needed—and the need for persistence.

Examples

• Post-Civil War Reconstruction gave way to oppressive Jim Crow laws.
• Trump’s presidency followed years of systemic issues that went unaddressed.
• Periods of peace are frequently followed by war or social regression.

2: Your life experiences guide your purpose.

Your personal story directly influences your passion for certain causes. Lived experiences motivate people to fight injustice and seek better futures.

Shaun King’s drive to combat racial injustice stems from being violently attacked in high school based on his race. This event opened his eyes to systemic racism and inspired him to dedicate his life to addressing it. Similarly, anyone can reflect on what issues resonate deeply with their own story and use that to fuel their actions.

Understanding this connection helps to focus energy and choose a cause that feels truly significant to you. It’s not dissimilar to connecting personal health battles to advocacy for healthcare reform or fighting for education due to struggling academically as a child.

Examples

• Shaun’s assault in high school put him on the path to fight racial injustice.
• Personal battles with healthcare inspired activists to demand better systems.
• A difficult upbringing drives many people to ensure equitable education access.

3: Choose your cause and get started, no matter what.

Although you may care about many causes, focusing on one maximizes your impact. Use your strongest emotional reactions to pinpoint the issue you align with most.

Getting started means confronting internal doubts and external excuses. Everyone, regardless of age, race, or social status, can contribute to change. Greta Thunberg proved this as a teen climate advocate, while elders like Harry Belafonte continue fighting racial injustices in their 90s.

Finally, acknowledge that life’s busyness doesn’t lessen your responsibility. You must carve out time for activism—whether it’s through volunteer hours or small efforts fitting your schedule.

Examples

• Greta Thunberg became a global figure at just 16 years old.
• Shaun King returned to activism after seeing injustices like Eric Garner’s death on video.
• Balancing work and activism, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ran for Congress while bartending.

4: Volunteer work begins with action, learning comes with time.

Joining a movement can be as simple as researching local organizations and reaching out to them. Active involvement often starts with small tasks.

Your initial volunteer duties might seem mundane, like data entry or passing out flyers, but every action contributes to the bigger mission. Along the way, you’ll discover where your specific talents fit, such as Shaun’s public speaking capabilities or someone else’s knack for organizing logistics.

Starting today, no matter how inexperienced you feel, means you'll learn as you go and find the best way to apply yourself to the cause.

Examples

• Save the Children provides resources for newcomers to volunteer with focus.
• Shaun honed his public speaking abilities while acting as a pastor and later applied them to activism.
• Student movements often recruit peers to perform simple but essential tasks like petitioning or contacting officials.

5: Movements require people, organization, and plans.

Good intentions lead nowhere without energized people, clear organization, and well-thought plans. Success comes from these three elements working together.

The Black Lives Matter movement built massive awareness across the globe. However, without focused steps, some momentum stalled, and the families of victims saw little justice early on. When efforts narrow in scope, like Shaun's work to pass the "Raise the Age" bill in New York, they are more likely to yield success.

Activists must connect with others, encourage collaboration, and define measurable goals while continuing to inform and inspire people at large.

Examples

• Black Lives Matter became globally recognized by uniting millions through hashtags.
• Shaun King's organization successfully raised New York's minimum incarceration age.
• Civil Rights leaders historically worked in tandem with networks of churches, schools, and local communities.

6: Resilience is built on failing—but bouncing back matters most.

Activism means facing setbacks. Failing is not the end; it informs better strategies for next time.

For example, Bernie Sanders lost multiple Senate campaigns before becoming a senator in 1981. His eventual victories became cornerstones of a progressive political movement. Shaun’s organization Real Justice also experienced defeats before adjusting tactics, which later led to landmark wins in electing progressive district attorneys.

The willingness to learn, adapt, and continue fighting often determines the difference between long-term success and giving up.

Examples

• Bernie Sanders inspired young voters after decades of failure.
• Real Justice used lessons from losses in California to win in San Antonio.
• Prohibition organized resistance took years to find the right political strategies.

7: Self-care is activism, too.

Activism can demand significant emotional and physical energy, often exposing individuals to personal attacks and difficult stories.

Taking breaks, establishing boundaries, and prioritizing family or community connections help prevent burnout. Shaun King emphasizes that resting and stepping back isn’t indulgent—it’s necessary for your well-being and the strength of your cause. Small moments of separation from digital noise protect your mental health.

Without managing yourself effectively, your influence on activism may fade as overwhelm sets in.

Examples

• Activist Audre Lorde called self-care "an act of political warfare."
• Shaun King recommends scheduling offline time for mental clarity.
• Mental health advocates often use therapy or downtime as preventative care.

8: Small actions build monumental change.

Major historical milestones result from the accumulation of thousands of smaller efforts. Every protest, phone call, tweet, and meeting matters in building transformation.

Rodney Reed’s execution was postponed thanks to broad public outcry. Shaun’s campaign galvanized individuals to make phone calls, sign petitions, and raise awareness. While it may seem like single efforts are minor, in combination, they chip away at injustices.

Nothing happens overnight, but collective persistence can reshape systems.

Examples

• Over three million people signed a petition to save Rodney Reed’s life.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 succeeded after years of grassroots work.
• Unions began by attending many small, local meetings before changing labor laws.

9: Our systems are working—for those they were built to serve.

The systems of governance and economy aren’t “broken”; they function as designed—to benefit the privileged. Therefore, activists must deliberately challenge inequality through policy, advocacy, and persistence.

Justice movements must recognize that pushing beyond small fixes is essential. Lasting change arises from not just solving surface issues but addressing the deeper systemic models that amplify disparity.

Activists embrace this truth by continually striving for equity within flawed but changeable systems.

Examples

• Early capitalism disproportionately empowered specific demographics.
• Legislative gaps allowed successions of disenfranchisement to thrive unchecked.
• Wins like marriage equality shifted conversations and policies substantially.

Takeaways

1. Identify personal causes rooted in your experiences and emotions—pick one and focus your energy there.
2. Establish phone-free zones or times to disconnect, reflect, and care for your mental health.
3. Take small, consistent actions daily. Small steps grow into lasting collective achievements.