Member Spotlight: Uzma

We often say DSA is a “big tent”. It’s true that we all come from different backgrounds, but every one of our unique experiences has brought us to the same conclusion: A better world is possible, and it is ours to build. The following is the seventh in a series of stories told by our members about the events and experiences that led them to the Left.

آپ لڑکی ہو

Aap larki ho. You’re a girl. That phrase has defined my life in more ways than expected (language is an extremely powerful tool in this story). It was the reason I was never really allowed to be a child, never free or trusted like my younger brothers, and never really allowed to make mistakes.

Wanting your parents’ approval is normal but when amazing grades, every decision made through the lens of rationality, good behavior, obedience, and even missing out on every experience a teenager has isn’t enough – what do you do? You succumb to years of emotional abuse and brainwashing, forget your own self-worth, and end up marrying the abusive pile of garbage they choose for you to earn their approval.

Read the rest of Uzma's story on our website.

Socialist Sunday School

Join us Sunday, October 11 from 4:00 to 5:30pm to cover The ABCs of Capitalism by Vivek Chibber with a presentation covering each of the three pamphlets, followed by facilitated small group discussions to further grapple with the material. This will be a punchy, fun, and hopefully enlightening crash course on the mechanics of capitalism - not simply a moral case for why it is bad, but how it actually functions as a system and, most importantly, how it constrains and disciplines all actors inside of it—from capitalists themselves to the workers, and even to the state. This is fundamentally important to understanding the terrain in which we are operating so we can figure out how we will win.

Access a free download of The ABCs of Capitalism (Preparation is not required to join!)

Have you recruited 3 new members

to DSA yet this month?

2020 has been tough for all of us. Among many other travesties, the presidential elections are once again a disappointing contest. Americans are disappointed. Your family and friends are disappointed. Many of them don't know that they have more options for participation in our democracy than just voting once every four years.

Present them with a better option: Join DSA! Now is the ideal time to be talking to your friends, neighbors, and coworkers about what they can do to be a part of the change that's well underway. A better world is possible - we know because we're already building it.

The DSA 100k Pledge drive continues through early November. Take the rest of this month to ask at least 3 of your contacts to join Metro Atlanta DSA.

Got questions about the 100k Pledge drive? Ask on Slack in #dsa100k or email [email protected] 

What should you do instead of calling 911?

When Mainline Zine editor and founder Aja Arnold was assaulted by a mentally ill homeless Black man outside her apartment, she did not want to call 911. The extrajudicial killing of Rayshard Brooks - an unarmed Black man - had occurred weeks earlier. Arnold already knew all too well that calling the police was not the right course of action.

So what did Arnold do? What were her options? And what would have been the best solution to the situation? Read her whole account on Mainline Zine (and if you're interested in doing more to build a better system, visit darcatl.com).

Looking to leave your house this weekend?

We've got options.

And on Sunday...

What you missed on #SeizetheMemes

Join us on Slack

Not finding what you're looking for here? If you’re a member, you’ve got access to the Slack channel. (Email [email protected] if you have questions about your access to the Slack.) There’s no faster way to get plugged in to committees, working groups, and find answers to your questions.