Class Matters: Cross-Class Alliance Building for Middle-Class Activists

Movements for social change could be more powerful if they had more class diversity—a factor that has limited their past size and clout. But attempting to cross class barriers has frequently left middle-class activists frustrated, with few resources to turn to for help. Based on interviews with 40 diverse activists and thinkers, Class Matters fills this gap by demystifying this taboo topic. A guide to building bridges across class lines and collaborating more effectively in mixed-class social change efforts, it is designed in lively, highly readable short “bites,” full of stories, ideas, quotations, tips and resources. Economic justice activist Betsy Leondar-Wright is the communications director at United for a Fair Economy. She has worked in mixed-class movements for over 25 years.